Editor’s Note: This story is part of our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.
CRESTVIEW — HEROES Express Inc. works with developmentally disabled residents.
Under Helping Everyone Respectfully Overcome Everyday Situations, a Medicaid-funded program, clients ranging from age 9 to 70 participate in community activities, learn new skills, and socialize with peers.
CEO Kathy Ellis and her staff of 17 work with clients 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays at their Main Street location.
"A lot of these individuals who are 30 and upwards years of age, once they graduate there's nothing here for them to do. We work on activities of daily living, adaptive skills and social skills," Ellis said.
Response from community organizations like the Crestview Elks Lodge and American Legion Post has been encouraging, she said. The Elks provide space for HEROES clients to learn cooking skills, and they have created poppies the post uses for its annual memorial display in Crestview.
"We have stuffed bookbags, we have stuffed envelopes, we've gone to the police departments and took snacks and stuff like that to help the police department," Ellis said.
HEROES also provides personal support, supported living coaching, supportive employment, in-home respite, and transportation to and from program locations.
Ellis credits her staff, some of whom have been with Heroes since its beginning in 2005, with giving clients the care they deserve.
"I've got great compassionate, awesome (staff members who) want to see our (clients) succeed in life. We want them to be part of our community, and definitely not be institutionalized," Ellis said.
Call Ellis, 305-2946, to learn more about the organization.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Need HEROES? Here are several