Sunshine Communities

Sunshine Communities At Sunshine, each individual lives, works and plays on their terms.

Sunshine enriches the lives of people with developmental disabilities by encouraging them to expand their skills, become involved in their communities and reach their fullest potential. Sunshine Communities, founded in 1950, supports men, women and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering residential, vocational and recreational services. Our mission is to create community among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, friends and staff. We do this by offering services that enable all of us to build relationships through mutual caring and growth. Sunshine Communities offers life-enriching opportunities that celebrate and nurture each individual’s unique abilities, interests and dreams, allowing them to find their place in the community. We support individuals with IDD through our intermediate care facility, vocational center, supported living sites, family care homes, respite care, community recreation activities, employment assistance, and transportation services. Sunshine Communities’ Core Offerings:
• Intermediate Care Facility, for individuals with high medical and/or behavioral needs
• Vocational Center, offering an array of enrichment and employment opportunities
• Supported Living, providing supports within the individual’s home
• Family Care Homes, for community living opportunities
• Respite Care, short term stays to offer families a break
• Community Recreation
• Community Employment for those who desire competitive employment
• Supported Employment
• Transportation Services to and from home and work

Sunshine Communities also operates:
• Georgette’s Fair Trade Grounds & Gifts – A fair-trade coffee and gift shop located at 311 Conant St., Maumee, Ohio. Georgette’s employs approximately 10 individuals with IDD.
• Sunshine Studios – Located on the corner of Conant and Wayne in uptown Maumee, Ohio. Sunshine Studios employs approximately 20 Sunshine artists with IDD who work, teach and sell their art in the uptown Maumee storefront.
• Solana – The premier provider of enterprise software systems to operate human services agencies. Solana provides financial management, client/consumer/individual care and HR & training modules that are designed for the human services industry. Solana also offers web technologies for collecting data for staff time, collecting billing data for consumer care and offers the most powerful staff scheduling software in the industry. Solana further supports human services agencies by providing high-value Medicaid billing and payroll services.

There’s nothing like that deep breath surrounded by fresh flowers—the kind of calm that reminds us the weekend is just a...
09/04/2025

There’s nothing like that deep breath surrounded by fresh flowers—the kind of calm that reminds us the weekend is just around the corner. 🌱

Katie’s Light, Living On: From Mike’s first swim at Special Olympics to Brigid’s 15-year career as an OT and Joe’s retir...
09/03/2025

Katie’s Light, Living On: From Mike’s first swim at Special Olympics to Brigid’s 15-year career as an OT and Joe’s retirement spent volunteering, Sunshine has become home for the Wernert family.

What began with one mother’s determination grew into confidence, belonging, and a community that continues to carry them forward.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/ajevz6ph

Joy is found in simple moments: pause, smile, and simply be.Maumee Branch of Toledo Lucas County Public Library
08/28/2025

Joy is found in simple moments: pause, smile, and simply be.
Maumee Branch of Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Men in the Mission: “Watching coworkers prepare with such love and compassion makes me proud,” shares Mike B.Mike is bre...
08/22/2025

Men in the Mission: “Watching coworkers prepare with such love and compassion makes me proud,” shares Mike B.

Mike is breaking the myth that men can’t be caregivers.
“The support from male DSPs is incredible. If you want meaningful work—this is it. If you enjoy being kind, this is for you. And if you want to go home each day knowing you’ve made someone’s life better—we’re hiring!”

For Mike, the best part of his work is simple: music.

“Seeing my group dance and let loose is what makes every day worth it.”

Gather the Girls: Sometimes a girls’ day means volunteering at a local nonprofit, supporting your friend on the board, a...
08/21/2025

Gather the Girls: Sometimes a girls’ day means volunteering at a local nonprofit, supporting your friend on the board, and ending the day together—bonding in a whole new way. ✨

“What a great day together! We delivered food, met some incredible people, and experienced the beauty that Sunshine offers.” - Pam Schalitz, member of the Sunshine Foundation Board of Directors

• Back row: Kim Kettman, Mary Kulwicki and Marla Krause
• Front row: Karen Kerr, Pam Schalitz, Robin Heinemann and Anissa Yoder

Back to School: Ryan is heading back to class with confidence—and his story shows how Sunshine supports students in reac...
08/20/2025

Back to School: Ryan is heading back to class with confidence—and his story shows how Sunshine supports students in reaching their goals. This is what resilience, independence, and growth look like.

Thank you for sharing, WTOL 11

Ryan Sellers's mother, Diane, said she wanted amplify her son's story as he pursues his goals through Sunshine Communities.

Your next career move could come with smiles like this. 💛We’re hiring Direct Support Professionals in Walbridge, OH.Appl...
08/18/2025

Your next career move could come with smiles like this. 💛
We’re hiring Direct Support Professionals in Walbridge, OH.

Apply Now: https://shorturl.at/ZKpEi

Work as a Direct Support Professional for Sunshine Communities at 7223 Maumee Western Rd, Maumee, US, OH, 43537

Relaxation That Heals: Warm water relaxes muscles, eases pain, and brings calm from head to toe. Gentle, rhythmic moveme...
08/15/2025

Relaxation That Heals: Warm water relaxes muscles, eases pain, and brings calm from head to toe. Gentle, rhythmic movement can quiet the mind, improve sleep, and reduce stress.

For those we support, this relaxation is essential to health and happiness.

We can't wait to be back in water, soon.
Help us get here: https://shorturl.at/Uc7QT


In a field where men are the minority, Dillon Mangiaracina is proving exactly why more should join. In just 11 months at...
08/13/2025

In a field where men are the minority, Dillon Mangiaracina is proving exactly why more should join. In just 11 months at Sunshine Communities, he knows the stereotype: male caregivers aren’t as caring or emotionally tuned in. He’s shattered that.

From stressful situations to joyful Friday night rec events, Dillon leads with humor, heart, and a fierce commitment to advocating for every individual. His advice to other men thinking about becoming a DSP?

"It’s the best decision I’ve made, hands down. I put forth the effort, and not only do I earn a paycheck, but I also have a great time filled with smiles and laughter. Every individual is unique in their own way, which makes the job both interesting and exciting."

Inclusion matters—everywhere.Thank you, Perrysburg Messenger Journal, for sharing about McGivern Diamonds's match campai...
08/12/2025

Inclusion matters—everywhere.
Thank you, Perrysburg Messenger Journal, for sharing about McGivern Diamonds's match campaign to bring back our pool.

It’s important to Perrysburg, to Maumee, and to the surrounding area—because people with disabilities are part of every community, and our whole community benefits when everyone is included.

Read about our friends at McGivern Diamonds in this week's Perrysburg Messenger Journal.

Address

7223 Maumee Western Road
Maumee, OH
43537

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