“I’m helpful…. I just like helping others, I guess.” – Joey Baker
Joey Baker wants to make people happy and is always here to brighten the day of everyone around him. He has learned to recognize his areas of need and strives to surmount challenges and accomplish his goals. Through this hard work, Joey has built a life for himself here at the Center that is rewarding in so many ways. When asked what one thing he would want others to know about him, he responded, “That I’m helpful, like with cooking and just helping others out, I guess.”
Overcoming the obstacles that life has thrown at him hasn’t always been easy, but Joey has the determination and grit it takes to put in the hard work needed to make it.
Joey is his own guardian and is able to make life decisions for himself. One area of life that was not always easy was finding long term employment, but Joey did it! Joey is responsible for gathering carts from outside and bringing them in for shoppers to use at a local grocery store. He is meticulous and keeps moving to ensure that each cart is taken care of correctly. He is very proud of his job and takes it very seriously, rarely missing a day of work. He has become very independent since being employed and even takes public transportation to and from his job.
“He is a role model to many of the adult residents on our campus.”
Joey loves outings especially when he can talk about his life and his friends at St. Louis Center and all of the activities they share. Joey can be found adding a heaping dose of good cheer at ball games, celebrations, parties, and holiday events throughout the year.
Joey has been a member of the Aktion Club, a Kiwanis-led leadership development club, for many years, and was nominated by his peers to be a member of the Aktion Club board. He has participated in several community service projects for the Club, actively fund raised, and has attended many social functions. Rick Visel, St. Louis Center Program Director, describes Joey as kind, considerate, friendly, and very hard working. “He is a role model to many of the adult residents on our campus.”
“What I like most about Joe is that he is a hard worker. He is always busy. Joe can be funny at times and will tell a joke. He is always very respectful to me and others.”
If you need a smile or a great conversation, Joey is your man!
Always having something to talk about, Joey works hard to hone his communication skills to better relate to those around him. Once a very fast talker, he has learned to slow his speech and reiterate what is being said to him, making him an excellent listener too. A friend and housemate says of him, “What I like most about Joe is that he is a hard worker. He is always busy. Joe can be funny at times and will tell a joke. He is always very respectful to me and others.”
Read more Stories of #SLCresilience here!
79% of donations received go to the care of the Center’s residents.
According to the 2020 audit, St. Louis Center administrative and overhead expenses were only 21%, in line with well-managed nonprofit best practices. You can be confident that your donation to the Center is going to good use.
St. Louis Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID: 38-6038121
