When you take home plants and goodies from The Arc of South Talladega County’s Plant and Raffle Sale, you take home a lot more than something pretty.

You take home the knowledge that you’ve supported the programs and services that help adults with intellectual delays.

The sale has been a tradition for the Arc for Mother’s Day, one that provides essential funding for client services, said Beverly White, who has served as executive director for The Arc for 25 years.

“It keeps our doors open, especially in a time when our funding, like so many non-profits, has been cut on many levels,” she said.

The Arc offers programs and special services and even job training for people over the age of 18 who have been determined to have intellectual delays.

The Arc currently has 26 clients, many of whom would be without organized activities and socialization that is important for all people, White said.

The Arc makes good use of free services for clients as well as those that require funding, including events that are free to the public such as city sponsored or library programs, White said.

The event is the organization’s main fundraiser.

This year’s plant offerings include an array of varieties, including knock out roses and ferns, bedding plants and geraniums, along with petunias and azaleas, lorapedlum, hibiscus and assorted shrubs.

Drawings include the chance to take home a framed cross stitched magnolia piece, two outstanding Mother’s Day gift baskets filled with items that include gift certificates, jewelry, candles and accessories and other treats, with chances for the items just $1 each.

A raffle to win $10,000 offers chances to win for $100 each, and White said so far this year, sales for this prize are down.

Last year, The Arc sold 250 chances to win the prize, but this year, only 177 chances have been purchased.

This year’s Plant Sale and Raffle Day takes place at Blue Bell Station in front of Blue Bell Creameries in-between Norton and Broadway.

Tickets for the raffle may be purchased by calling 256/245-2323.

The mission of The Arc of Alabama is to secure for all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they live, learn, work, play and worship and to reduce the incidence and consequences of intellectual and developmental disabilities through education, research, advocacy, and the support of families, friends and community.

Membership in The Arc is open to any person who subscribes to the mission and purposes of The Arc.

There are currently 4,000 members serving in 29 chapters of The Arc in Alabama.

The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of 32 directors.