How I Gave Thanks This Year
This year to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday I wanted to concentrate more on the “thanking” side of things and less on the “giving.” So I decided to start the week by volunteering and joined up with a local Rotary Club on one of their service days. I opted to join the Rotarians in serving Thanksgiving lunch to the young adults at the San Francisco chapter of the ARC.
Skills Training
The ARC (Association of Retarded Children) was founded by a parent of a developmentally disabled teenager so he would have a place to go and hang out with his peers. In San Francisco, the local ARC chapter provides a space for nearly 600 teenagers and adults to participate in computer labs, receive job training, take health and nutrition classes, and enjoy group art and recreation. I hear the monthly dances are a frenzy of uninhibited joyful dancing that is not-to-be-missed!
Support for Families
Nationally, the ARC association is non-profit service and advocacy organization for adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The organization’s goal is to provide the supports that enable people with developmental disabilities to maximize their potential, live meaningful lives, and become integral members of the community.
Community Advocacy
In terms of advocacy, the ARC works to promote educational outreach, the power of community partnerships, and the importance of being a reliable resource for families and supporters. The ARC’s vision is to create a more informed, diverse and inclusive society. Here’s a clip of the important work this org is doing:
Can’t see the link? Click on this: ARC San Francisco Overview
Want to join me in jump starting the holiday season with a baleful of *thanks*?! There are lots of ways to support the ARC:
Volunteering serving Thanksgiving dinner to ARC members reminded me of the joys in life: sharing a meal with our friends, dancing with abandonment, and singing at the top of our lungs. My new friends showed me how everyday they celebrate and enjoy life with gusto! And that is something in which I am truly thankful.
Tags: Association of Retarded Children, Thanksgiving 2013, The ARC
This entry was posted on Friday, November 29th, 2013 and is filed under Hot Orgs.