Two dozen developmentally disabled adults and staff from CCAR traveled to Orange Park’s Town Hall Park to enjoy dinner and fellowship with the Push America cyclists on Thursday, May 15th.

The event was sponsored by PUSH America, Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropic organization that uses bicycling marathons to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phi is a college fraternity with chapters across the country. The University of North Florida fraternity brothers provided the spaghetti dinners for the group.

Eight years ago, fraternity brothers began doing 800-mile cycling treks to attract attention to the needs of the disabled. Every other year they tour in Florida. Twenty-eight cyclists and a seven-member crew train and collect pledges ahead of time. During the two-week journey, they rise at 5:30 am and ride all day as a group, stopping at night to sleep on the floor at a church, school or any place that will have them.

To qualify to ride the tour, cyclists must meet grade requirements, write essays and pass a telephone interview. This year’s crew started May 13th in Miami and was to finish in Tallahassee on the following Saturday, raising more than $13,000 which will be distributed as grants. Throughout the journey, the cyclists stop for “Friendship Visits” such as the Orange Park dinner and dance. It’s a chance to socialize with the people they are trying to help and to personally award grant money to agencies that serve the disabled. At the Orange Park event, Jeff Perlman, a Pi Kappa Phi from the University of Memphis who was participating in his fourth trek, presented a $500 check to Nancy Keating, Executive Director of CCAR, and thanked her for her work. Nancy said the money will be used for – what else – more dances!!

The Clay County community’s response to the annual Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Campaign in support of the disabled was great!! CCAR is sincerely appreciative of the community’s support and generosity which resulted in CCAR Services, Inc. being one of the major recipients of the2004 Campaign receiving donations totalling $9,423.82, exceeding the previous year’s total by $1,000.

Sacred Heart Knights Council #11220 and their families along with CCAR volunteers participated in the Green Cove Springs area campaign and were responsible for contributions totalling $5,200.

A second donation was received from the St. Catherine’s Knights Council #7399, their families and CCAR volunteers who participated in the Orange Park campaign. They were responsible for donations totalling $4,323.82.

Joanne Dotson

Fifty participants, family members, and staff from CCAR enjoyed the hospitality of the Knights of Columbus GCS Chapter for a swim party and pizza lunch at the Eagle Harbor swimming pool on Saturday, June 2nd. The weatherman cooperated, and everyone enjoyed the beautiful day!

As part of the day’s activities, the Knights made a check presentation to Nancy Keating, Executive Director of CCAR, for $5,200 from their annual Tootsie Roll Sales.

Special thanks were also given to Jon Soucie’s mother, a cake decorator for Publix, for her donation of the beautifully decorated “swim” cake.

The people in Supported Living have had a great start to the Spring. We are looking forward to a trip to the Zoo, Disney, and exciting day trips. We have had some rooms painted in a couple of houses and are looking forward to more things being done around the homes.

Petralyn Webster

ADT On Site continues to grow with CCAR anticipating the addition of up to 12 adults to the program. Interviewing for new staff was conducted, and minor facility adjustments are being made by maintenance staff to accommodate the expanding program.

Since the arrival of Gomma, the Production area has been very busy. All contracts have included labeling, assembly, inspection and/or repackaging:

C.F. Gomma USA, Inc.	Inspection of six different auto parts
TCI, Inc.	Packaging and labeling of novelty banks and display cases
Shotski’s	Assembly and packaging
Boca Java	Labeling coffee bags
Armor Holding	Cutting and sewing of Trauma packs for life jackets
Michael’s Distribution Center	A variety of products to be relabeled or repackaged.

Over the past four months, CCAR has added two contracts - and that means new jobs for the developmentally disabled.

In May, the IRS Mailroom contract was added with the inclusion of two hard-working ladies, under the leadership of Denise Casterline, who are responsible for Internal Revenue mailrooms located in downtown Jacksonville, across town, and as far east as the office complexes in the 95/Gates/Butler Blvd area.

In June, the Mayport Naval Shipyard Commissary contract was signed. A completely new staff took over the stocking duties at the commissary.

The dog days of summer are here and everyone is doing great. We have been to see some movies, bowling, concerts, and Fourth of July celebrations. We are still planning the DISNEY trip for early October. We sure are all looking forward to the trip.

We hope that everyone is enjoying their summer as much as we are enjoying ours.

Petralyn Webster

More than 250 people attended the Thursday morning breakfast ceremony at the Hilltop Restaurant to see the Reinhold Corporation give away $60,000 to 90 service organizations and 20 individual volunteers nominated for awards. Representatives from various food pantries, churches, and non-profit organizations attended, not knowing whether they would win an award.

“Your amazing works blow us over each year,” host Jack Myers told the attendees. “Each year you strive to do better. You introduce new programs. You make us very, very proud to sponsor these awards.”

CCAR Services, Inc. was one of the organizations recognized as “cathedral builders of Clay County” by the Reinhold family at their 10th annual presentation of the Reinhold Community Service Awards. CCAR received $500 in the category of Community Programs.

Other CCAR related agencies honored included: Lighthouse Learning Center, Clay County Special Olympics, Clay Council on Aging, Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, Clay County Police Athletic League, Breaking Away the Cycle of Pain (BATCOP), and Waste Not, Want Not.

Also honored was CCAR employee Joanne Dotson representing Civitan Club of Clay County, as one of the top three Clay County volunteers.

The Mobil Job Crew has been temporarily immobilized. However, everyone has been busy…

Part of the crew has been working at the Tree Farm on an “as needed” basis, while the majority of the group has been helping with Production. They have been doing piece work on a variety of contracts doing labeling, inspecting and repackaging. These projects required additional training, which will add to their job skills.

Trainer Lori Steese is attending classes to achieve her Master Gardener status. The group will begin classes in the Spring to achieve their “Green Thumb” certificate.