By Lynn B. Johnson, MFA
Recently, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD) celebrated its fifth-annual Days of Service, where staff volunteer in the community, often alongside people who receive services from the board.
On Oct. 15, Cuyahoga DD staff and participants and staff from the Parma Adult Activities Center, Spark Specialized Services, and the HELP Foundation picked up litter at Euclid Beach.
Everyone got right to work, using pickers to deposit litter into garbage bags.
The beach was cleaner than remembered in previous years. Everyone had to really look to find bits of broken plastic and other small bits of rubbish.
The hunt did not discourage the hunters.
“It’s important,” says Rachel, a participant at HELP Foundation. “We’ve got to keep the beach clean, so the animals stay safe and healthy.”
Her friend Monica agreed. “It’s important to keep the beach ‘green’ and clean, so people can have fun at the beach!” They were happy to pose for a photo together.
“The people in our community want to give back,” said Alex Edeburn, Director of Adult Day Services for Spark Specialized Services. “On the way here, Zion said, ‘we need bags and pickers for when we’re in the park.’ And why not? We go there anyway.”
Cuyahoga DD Community Development Specialist Stephanie Nalepa was fully in favor of the day’s effort. “It’s important for people with DD to work with the people who are speaking up on their behalf. Volunteering is also great for everyone’s mental health!”
Looking around the beach at many happy faces seemed proof of that.
She continued, digging into the topic. “Often, people with DD can’t find volunteer opportunities, so this is a great way to help where they know their efforts will be supported, and they don’t have the fear of not being accepted.”
One group left early, but it was just as another group arrived, so they transferred their pickers to the new volunteers.
John of Parma AAC thought the day was “good!”
“I like that all the groups came out to help!” John says.
For more information, visit Cuyahoga DD
