Persons With Disabilities At Parc Unite To Help The Hungry

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Dec. 20, 2016 - EntSun -- Last week, PARC clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who participate in the Kiwanis Aktion Club, dropped off 238 pounds of food to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic after weeks of collecting donations.

In June 2016, six clients of PARC's Lifelong Learning Program began volunteering their time at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Since then, they have donated over 50 hours of volunteer time, packed over 500 bags of food for needy families and 200 bags of items for hungry animals in the community. In November, these volunteers heard that the Clinic was running low on food for the holiday season and decided they wanted to hold a food drive as their Aktion Club project. Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities whose mission is to provide adults living with disabilities the opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills and serve their communities.

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The food drive was held on the PARC campus in St. Petersburg, with drop off bins brightly decorated by clients spread throughout all the buildings. On December 12, 238 pounds of food was delivered to the clinic where Beth Houghton, Executive Director of the St. Pete Free Clinic, announced that it would feed over 200 families this holiday season. "What you have here is people who have their own challenges and adversities helping other people in need in the community, and it really warms my heart," said Houghton.

Karen Higgins, President and CEO of PARC, was on-site at the clinic to congratulate the individuals on a job well done. "I couldn't be more proud of them. Not only have they embraced their roles as volunteers here at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, but they have gone above and beyond to do what they can to be a part of the solution here in our community. They have shown all of us the true meaning of the holiday season," said Higgins, beaming with pride.

PARC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities to exercise their independence and experience life to the fullest. Established in 1953, PARC currently serves more than 800 individuals in the greater Tampa Bay area. To learn more about PARC, call 727-345-9111 or visit www.parc-fl.org.

Photo Caption: PARC clients excited to donate their collection of food items to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic