Check Out Nicole DeVries’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole DeVries. 

Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Wellspring Community was started 13 years ago by a mom named Mary Lou Fenton. Mary Lou has a daughter with intellectual and developmental disabilities and wanted to ensure that Emily’s life after high school was as full and abundant as it could possibly be. So, Wellspring was birthed in Mary Lou’s kitchen with 4 girls with special needs learning to bake cookies. Mary Lou’s faith, prayer, and determination enabled Wellspring to go to the organization it is today. The heart of Wellspring has always been to create a community that honors adults with special needs giving them every opportunity to learn, work, grow and succeed in whatever ways they wanted to. Today Wellspring offers a day program Monday through Friday with both in-person and virtual options. Our participants, who we refer to as STARS, have the opportunity to select from 30 different learning and enrichment classes. They also have the opportunity to join the STARS cooperative and earn money as they work in the Wellspring & Co. Art Studio and Bakery. These products are available for sale at the newly formed Castle Rock Collective. The Castle Rock Collective is home to both World Orphans Market and Wellspring & Co. Coffee and employees adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The idea for this unique collaboration between two nonprofits begun almost two years ago. Over the last year, we worked together to remodel the historic Pink House in downtown castle rock from our old art studio into a charming and fun coffee shop. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh no. Nothing is ever a smooth road and we face challenges every day here at Wellspring. The remodel process was done in the midst of a pandemic and it seemed like one thing after another happened that threatened to stop the project. But God’s faithfulness to Wellspring was evident as each hurdle we faced was quickly met with a new opportunity, a new partnership, someone who would step up and say they can help. Time and again we were amazed at how God would provide. 

The challenges we face as an organization help remind us that our STARS face challenges and hurdles every day that neuro-typical and non-disabled people have a hard time understanding. Our STARS give us hope as they show us what perseverance, hard work, and good attitudes can do. They really are the best of us and we have so much to learn from them. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I joined Wellspring Community almost 3 years ago. I am a recovering CPA who has spent the last 17 years in the nonprofit realm. Seven years ago, I had the opportunity to bring Night to Shine, a prom for people with special needs sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation to Douglas County. I thought we were going to do a great thing for the special needs community, hoping to love them well. It only took doing Night to Shine once to realize that I desperately needed the special needs community. I needed them to learn how to love, how to enjoy life, and how to feel comfortable in my own skin. They have taught me so much, When the opportunity came to work at Wellspring, I jumped at the chance to spend my days with the best group of people I have ever known. 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think we will see our communities becoming increasingly more adaptive and inclusive and Wellspring stands ready to be the thought leader in this. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@wearewellspring.org
• Website: www.castlerockcollective.com

Image Credits
Liberty Pro Imaging