Santa Comes to Town
On December 17th, the Rotary Club of Fair Lawn held its weekly meeting in a festive atmosphere. The Club sponsored its Annual Holiday Party at the Opportunity Center located on Fair Lawn Avenue. Santa brought gifts to the clients of the Opportunity Center and classical accordion holiday music was in the air during this festive luncheon.
The Opportunity Center is a year round day program for adults with developmental disabilities. It is a non-sectarian non-profit organization established over 40 years ago. This Center was founded by parents and concerned citizens to provide meaningful interaction and skill sets to an underserved community. The Opportunity Center is a flourishing sheltered workshop, recreation center and respite giver to their extended families.
Programs at The Opportunity Center focus on clients' continued personal growth, promotion of self-esteem, and the enhancement of abilities to encourage each individual to achieve his or her highest potential. A typical day includes segments of vocational training, life enriching recreational experiences and academic studies.
Vocational Skill Building - Participants gain work experience in a safe, controlled environment at the Opportunity Center by participating in tasks we subcontract from various companies. Projects include labeling, counting and packaging small health care and grooming products such as combs, hairpieces, barrettes, and shampoo bottles. While these projects generate some income, the real value of the program lies in the participants' satisfaction that comes from knowing that they are capable of being productive and helpful to others.
Academic Studies - Depending upon a client's skills and abilities, staff members work to further develop the clients' intellectual skills. Studies range from basic reading and writing skills to the arts, history, geography, current events and independent living. Participants' interests and skill levels are taken into account in developing appropriate subject matter for study.
Recreation - Indoor activities include dancing, music, bowling, arts and crafts, and group physical education. Outdoor activities foster stimulation and awareness of natural surroundings. In fair weather lunch is served on the front porch of our home. Other outdoor activities include walks, swimming, basketball and hiking.
Special Events - From time to time The Opportunity Center has day trips to cultivate our clients' creative imaginations. These have included educational trips to historical sites, ice shows, dinner theater and plays. And, of course, there are birthday and holiday celebrations, too.
Respite Program - There are two annual vacations where the staff and clients go out of town to a hotel for 3 and 4 days as tourists to destinations like Boston, Mystic, Ct. Lancaster, PA. We also host respites at The Opportunity Center providing the clients with a chance to see new things and experience independence, while relieving parents of their responsibilities for an evening or a weekend.
Learn more about this wonderful local program that the Rotary Club of Fair Lawn is proud to provide assistance to at http://www.theopportunitycenter.org/