There is a segment of our wonderful community that is not having their needs met. Listen with an open heart to this plea for help. “I have a brother with Downs Syndrome whose name is Ray. Ray lives with me, a working single mother, and my nine-year old son. When I go to work my brother Ray stays home and watches television or plays on his playstation. He does nothing all day but stay at home, because there are no services available for him. I started looking around to see if there was some kind of program out there for him to attend and unfortunately there isn’t any. He could go to a day program in Naples, but there is no transportation or extra funds on my part to be able to get him to a day program there. The waiver list that he is on has a long waiting list and the day programs in Naples do not provide transportation for the people in Immokalee. I started thinking; why is there no kind of program here in Immokalee? We are part of Collier County and there are plenty of families here in town with children or adults with disabilities that need that support here, leaving us with a sense of worthlessness. These special people are creatures of God with feelings and thoughts of their own that need to be heard; however, there is no program here in Immokalee where they can go and have their needs met. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a program here in Immokalee where my brother and others like him in the community where they could socialize and have their needs met? He graduated from high school in 1996 and since then he has done nothing but sit at home because of lack of accommodations for people like him.”
Grace Mungia would like to invite the people from the community to join her to address the issues and come up with a solution. Together the families with members of special needs children and adults could come together and address this important need in our community and make a difference for our special loved ones.
On June 6, 2011 we’d like to invite anyone from the community with loved ones with disabilities, and any other organization that would be interested in helping face this important issue, to attend a special meeting at 7:00 P.M. in Sanders Hall next to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. I can be reached at 239.357.7998, or by email at marygrace.munguia@gmail.com.
Subject: IMPORTANT MEETING
There are many disabled adults in Immokalee, and many are not being served by organizations. Would you please attend the meeting next Monday, June 6th at 7 P.M. at Sanders Hall, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to give your input.
Rick
Richard L. Heers, Executive Director, I HOPE, Inc.,
Mailing address: P.O. Box 777, Immokalee, FL 34143-0777
Phone-239.657.3889; Cell-239.229.9970; FAX-239.657.3885
Office and warehouse (I D C) located at 2050 Commerce Ave.,
Unit #7 at the Tradeport Technology Warehouse,
across from the entrance to the airport
3 comments:
I admire you and think you are a very strong and loving woman. I thank you for stopping by my blog otherwise we mightn't crossed paths.
What a wonderful thing to be a part of your community. I think it's unfortunate that programs like this for those with special needs can sometimes go unnoticed, until someone can stand up for them. It sounds like a wonderful plan, I hope it becomes realized.
Thank you Adriana and Jane for visiting and your supportive comments! I do appreciate your stopping by.
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