Trailways Camp for adults with developmental disabilities hosts first session with special volunteer

Nov. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Twenty-one Southwest Floridians with special needs made lifelong friends in October during the inaugural session of Trailways Camp in LaBelle. Campers hailed from Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Sanibel, Cape Coral, and other Southwest Florida municipalities.  Trailways camp is a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and The Robert V. and Benjamin G. Miller Fund.

The session, which ran from October 22 through October 25, included fishing, campfire roasts, a visit by Special Equestrians, swimming, a talent show, a Halloween party, and more.  The four-day camp was held at the Riverside Retreat Center in LaBelle.

The Trailways Camp mission is to remove the social isolation often felt by people with disabilities by providing opportunities for fun, friends and support. Through outdoor activities, group exercises, crafts, and more, campers have the opportunity to develop recreational skills and build relationships.

“Some of our campers rarely get a chance to experience anything like this. It offers them an opportunity to socialize and be active while also giving their caregivers respite,” says Kirsten O’Donnell, a Goodwill spokesperson. “Our campers truly enjoyed their stay at Trailways. This is a program we look forward to continuing.”

On Tuesday, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-27) and several of her staff members stopped by to volunteer. They assisted campers on a hayride, served lunch, and helped participants paint pumpkins during a Halloween arts and crafts project.

“I don't believe there was a moment when a camper wasn't smiling,” says Benacquisto. “I applaud Goodwill for their diverse programs and their ability to enrich so many lives.”

For more information regarding Trailways Camp visit http://www.goodwillswfl.org or contact Todd Ryan at (239)995-2106 ext. 2285.

The Robert V. and Benjamin G. Miller Fund is a fund of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, which allows supporters from all over the country to support the Trailways Camp in Southwest Florida. For information about the Robert V. & Benjamin G. Miller Fund visit http://www.trailwayscamps.org or call (239)579-0587.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. helps people with disabilities and other disadvantages overcome their barriers to employment and independence in Hendry,Glades, Lee, Collier, and Charlotte  Glades Counties.  In 2011, more than 23,000 Southwest Floridians received assistance from Goodwill, ranging from Job-Link services to disability-accessible housing, career guidance programs for teens, and the SWFL MicroEnterprise project, a small business education program.  To learn more about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, please visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.