Ever wonder what the banners in front of David & Margaret's residential cottages mean? According to Beverly Kottkamp, Intervention Office Manager and a 27-year employee of David & Margaret, the emblems were chosen by the case manager for each house.
Gillette: It was the intake cottage at the time the banners were created. The turtle was chosen as a symbol of getting off to a start, even if it was a slow one.
Lowery: Then Case Manager (now Residential Program Manager) Cheryl Kroll has always loved ladybugs, and she had the girls wear ladybug wings during Service Days. The cottage’s motto was "Back to Basics," teaching them about cooking, sewing, and other basic skills.
Mueller: Then Case Manager (now Foster Family Program assistant) Linda Thomas chose the butterfly from the quote, “Just when the caterpillar thought her world was ending, she turned into a butterfly,” to remind the residents not to give up, and to find the beauty in their circumstances.
Tarr: Sunflowers were a favorite of then Case Manager (now Quality Improvement coordinator) Becky Schaal, so she chose them for their look-to-the-sun symbolism for her residents.
Turner: In Greek mythology, the phoenix is a long-lived bird that is reborn from the ashes of its former self – a fitting symbol for the residents of the cottage dedicated to helping those with substance abuse issues.
Wynn: The swan was chosen to remind the cottage’s young residents that ugly ducklings, as they sometimes thought of themselves, often to turn into beautiful swans.
