A nonprofit that fosters freedom and independence in the disabled is now housed in a larger facility.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published July 28, 2003
LARGO - The Caring & Sharing Center for Independent Living outgrew its digs in St. Petersburg and has moved to a 10,000-square-foot facility on Belcher Road.
The nonprofit moved from its 1,600-square-foot location to its new $400,000 facility in November. And it held its grand opening on July 3, after modifying the building to accommodate people with disabilities.
"We liked the symbolism of July 4, independence and freedom," said executive director Michael Cook.
The center, which serves Pinellas and Pasco counties, has an annual budget of about $700,000. It provides services and advocacy for about 2,500 people with disabilities each year, Cook said.
Those services include linking people with other advocacy organizations and helping them find jobs.
The Caring & Sharing Center provides links to services such as wheelchair lifts so people can get into vehicles on their own, or subsidized housing so people can leave nursing homes.
"We're not so much a do-for (organization) as we are an empowerment organization," Cook said.
The center loans canes, wheelchairs and walkers to people with broken equipment and donates more sophisticated items, such as motorized scooters or wheelchairs, to people who qualify for them.
It also updates old computers and gives them to people with disabilities. It's a program that opens doors for people with disabilities, Cook said, because computers help them find out about services, communicate with others and even start their own businesses.
"We like to create as many opportunities for people as possible," Cook said.
The new facility at 12552 Belcher Road S has offices for most of its nine staff members, a small workout room and a couple of computers, which are being equipped with software for people who are blind.
It has two large rooms for meetings, exercise classes, and workshops on self esteem, budgeting and grant writing.
Staff also organized a Toastmasters group called Caring Communicators, for both disabled and able-bodied individuals.
The center has numerous pamphlets on hand with information on services, advocacy organizations, loan programs and travel guides for people with disabilities.
Most of the staffers have disabilities, and a couple of them said the center has empowered them as well.
Receptionist Shiela Lewis, who has cerebral palsy, said working at the center helped her gain a sense of independence. The 71-year-old said she didn't need financial support, but she did need emotional support when she came to work here more than three years ago. "They really helped me mentally," she said.
And Mary Jensen, office manager and modification specialist, suffered a spinal cord injury 18 years ago and is quadriplegic. She said the center helped her break out of her quiet nature and stand up for herself.
"My supervisor is one that encourages personal growth. I've done a lot of reading and tried to improve a lot of different skills and learned to advocate for myself," said Jensen, 40, whose husband also has a spinal cord injury.
Through her job, she found out about the Pinellas County Rehab Program which provides low interest loans for home repairs, including modifications for handicapped access, she said.
"We both like to cook. At first the kitchen was long and slender. There was no way for two wheelchairs to get around," she said.
Besides helping people with disabilities, the center also educates people without disabilities about them, through sensitivity workshops.
"Our opinion is that it's another attribute, a characteristic of life," Cook said.
- Lorri Helfand can be reached at 727 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com
