We’re a nonprofit full-service floral, gift and garden center, making meaningful work much more accessible by providing training and employment opportunities to adults with disabilities. Our gift shop is home to the Ability Marketplace featuring beautiful products made by children & adults with disabilities from around the country.
OUR STORY
Picket Fence Foundation in Chillicothe, IL, was founded in 2021 by Jim and Laura Sniff. Their son, Jimmy, has Autism. The Sniffs discovered a troubling lack of services and work programs for people like Jimmy. So they set out to bring opportunities to this community on their farm through their flagship nonprofit, Blue Ridge Community Farm, and now Picket Fence Foundation. This registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization was previously Picket Fence Floral and Garden Center, a full-service gift shop, garden center, greenhouse, and floral design studio. With such a wide variety of products and services available under one roof, Picket Fence quickly became a strong platform of opportunities for adults with a wide variety of skills and interests to find meaningful work. Now, Picket Fence Foundation provides the same quality products and services with inclusion at its core.
Our team consists of greenhouse specialists, designers, retail associates, job coaches, and volunteers who bring the joy of serving our community to work with them every single day. We hope you will come out and see us at work any time! Take a look around our Gift Shop, which is home to our Ability Marketplace, stocked with products made by individuals with disabilities. Our Garden Center is stocked with everything you need to design and build the landscape of your dreams. Check out the floral arrangements from our Design Studio and place an order for yourself or someone you love. Or take a stroll through our Retail Greenhouse and pick out your favorite plants to take home with you. Every purchase you make helps us bring training and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
WHAT WE’RE DOING
FORMING CRITICAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
We’re working with other amazing organizations in the Greater Peoria Area to do what we’re doing. When communities work together, anything is possible. These organizations work with us to collect donated items, connect with volunteers, develop work plans and support resources for employees with disabilities, design fundraising campaigns, and spread the word about what we do! Sending our love to these organizations, and all of the individuals and groups who have made our mission possible.
SELLING PRODUCTS MADE BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Have you heard about our Ability Marketplace and Ability Craft Marketplace? We work with individuals with disabilities, community groups, and organizations serving adults with disabilities to celebrate and promote their amazing skills. Take a look around our gift shop and garden center to see all of the creative and unique products!
HIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Our teammates who have disabilities make our campus feel like home, and they’re working in every area of our business. Did you know that in 2021, the jobless rate for adults with disabilities was about twice as high as the jobless rate for adults without? Here at Picket Fence Foundation, we know that our team is at its best when everyone has a place at the table. If you or someone you love wants to join our team, fill out an application today!
PROVIDING VOLUNTEER AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
We love to host groups, classes, and families who want to volunteer with us and learn certain skills. We’re always looking for help with odd jobs, so don’t hesitate to get involved! As we develop training programs with our partners, we hope to make meaningful work more accessible right here on our campus as well as in workplaces all over Greater Peoria and beyond.