What happens when a community focuses on abilities instead of limitations?

TradeWinds Services shows the way by helping children and adults build skills, gain confidence and pursue meaningful independence. For more than 50 years, this person‑centered approach and full continuum of programs have made TradeWinds a trusted cornerstone for Northwest Indiana families.

You can support his mission from Monday, June 22, through Sunday, July 5, when TradeWinds Services will be the beneficiary of Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up. Customers across the Region can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar at their local Strack & Van Til store, with those extra funds donated to the organization.

TradeWinds Services CEO Jon Gold says proceeds from the Checkout Challenge Round Up will help support its mission. “Community-driven initiatives like this give us the flexibility to respond where the need is greatest,” Gold says. “Every dollar raised helps us continue providing critical services and expanding opportunities for the individuals and families we support.”

Merrillville-based TradeWinds offers programs from early childhood through adulthood. Children’s programs include Childcare, Children’s Summer & Functional Skills Camps and Speech & Occupational Therapy in local classrooms.

For adults with developmental and physical disabilities, there is the Adult Day Activity Program & Training, Transitional Vocational Training and ABLE — Activate, Build, Learn, Explore — empowering individuals through meaningful activities and community engagement. Other adult services include Sewing Manufacturing, Sign Shop, Behavioral Services and Employment Services.

TradeWinds provides Residential Group and Supported Living Homes, Respite for Caregivers, Deaf Services, a Community Pantry and a Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Clinic serving Northwest Indiana. The Participant Assistance and Care program helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities live successfully in their own homes, offering support to stay healthy, safe and engaged in their communities.

Strack & Van Til has supported TradeWinds for 27 years, and Gold says, “Our long-standing partnership with Strack & Van Til means so much to us. Their ongoing commitment, from in-store campaigns to event support, directly impacts the lives of the people we serve every day.”

Continuing its more than 96-year tradition of philanthropy, Strack & Van Til raises funds through the Checkout Challenge Round Up program to support organizations in the Northwest Indiana communities it serves.

President Jeff Strack credits customer generosity and employee commitment for the Checkout Challenge Round Ups’ success.

“Our stores, with the help of our employees, provide our customers with an outlet to give to some of their favorite local organizations,” he explains. “Our customers are the ones who give back to the community, and we are so grateful for them.”

Participate in Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up to show your support for TradeWinds.

To learn more about TradeWinds, visit tradewindsnwi.org. For information on Strack & Van Til’s commitment to Northwest Indiana communities, see strackandvantil.com/community.