Emergencies can happen anytime—are you prepared? At this FREE event, we’re bringing together experts, vendors, and resources to help people with disabilities plan ahead for any disaster.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:45 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: College of Central Florida, Ewers Century Center

📢 Helping Others, After the Disaster

✅ Learn life-saving preparedness tips
✅ Hear from expert speakers
✅ Explore resources to keep you and your loved ones safe
✅ Connect with vendors offering crucial support

**ASL Interpreters will be provided.**

Don’t wait until it’s too late—knowledge is power! Let’s build a stronger, more prepared community together.

🔗 Register today: www.cilncf.org

📩 For more info, email Kevin Towles at ktowles@cilncf.org or call (352) 368-3788

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The 1st Annual Columbia Emergency Preparedness Expo was held at the Columbia County Senior Services, Lifestyle Enrichment Center this past month on February 22nd. For a 1st Annual event, it was well attended, with engaging speakers and several vendors providing valuable information to participants about their services and how they would be able to assist in the event of a disaster. This area was decimated during the last couple of hurricanes, with several areas under water, and with the new hurricane season fast approaching, these type of events are crucial to help prepare people with disabilities before, during and after a storm. Participants who attended stated this is a very important event to build in the community and they were grateful to have learned about additional resources and services to help keep them prepared and safe.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors, speakers and vendors! Thank you as well to the Columbia County Senior Services, Lifestyle Enrichment Center for hosting our event! Without you, none of this would have been possible!

SPONSORS:
Region 3 Healthcare Coalition Alliance
Northeast Florida Regional Council, Health Department
United Way of Suwanee Valley
Columbia Department of Health

SPEAKERS:
Bryan Russell with Disability Rights Florida
Rachel Rall with Three Rivers Legal Services

VENDORS:
Center for Independent Living
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)
Florida Diagnostic Learning Resource Systems (FDLRS)
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.
Elder Options
Disability Rights Florida
Sugar Dogs Internastional, Inc.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Children and Families (DCF) – HOPE Florida
Living Hope, Inc.
Suwannee Valley Transit Authority
Columbia Department of Heath
Endeavors

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At CIL, we know that true strength comes from community. Together, we lift each other up, create safe spaces, and ensure that everyone has the support they need to thrive.

St. Patrick’s Day is a reminder that luck isn’t just about four-leaf clovers—it’s about the connections we build, the kindness we share, and the sense of belonging we create for one another.

Today, we celebrate the friendships, laughter, and resilience that make our CIL family so special. However you’re spending the day, know that you are valued, appreciated, and always have a place here.

ID: A St. Patrick’s Day-themed graphic with a bright green background. Centered on the image is a bold white quote in a large, sans-serif font that reads: “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” – Irish Proverb. In the lower right corner, there is a hand-drawn, dark green four-leaf clover with a slightly textured and glittery appearance. Below the clover, in smaller white text, are the words “IRISH PROVERB.” The overall design is clean, uplifting, and festive, celebrating community and connection.

We’re just six weeks away from an incredible opportunity to make a difference! The Amazing Give is back on April 24th from 8 AM – 8 PM, and your support can help empower individuals with disabilities in our community. Last year, thanks to your generosity, we raised over $10,035, allowing us to provide vital services that promote independence. This year, your donations will directly support CILNCF operations, helping us continue programs like employment services, sign language interpreting, wheelchair ramps, emergency preparedness, assistive technology, and more.

Your support does more than fund services—it offers hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for individuals with disabilities. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and be part of something amazing! Stay tuned for ways to get involved.

#AmazingGive #SupportCILNCF #EmpowerIndependence

ID: The image is a “Save the Date” announcement for The Amazing Give on April 24, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. The background features a light gray and white wave design, with “SAVE THE DATE” in bold, red, 3D-styled text at the top. Below, “THE AMAZING GIVE” is displayed in large, black, uppercase letters, with a red banner underneath highlighting the event date. The website www.TheAmazingGive.org is listed for more information. At the bottom, the Junior League of Gainesville logo is prominently displayed.

At CIL, we are dedicated to supporting education and opportunity for students with disabilities as they take the next steps toward independence and success. 💙

A huge thank you to Lori Auxier and ECMC Group for hosting an incredible College Night event! 🎓💡 Attendees gained invaluable insights on choosing the right school and program, setting achievable education and training goals, and tapping into key campus resources.

We are especially proud to celebrate Myonna, an Alachua County #FloridaHSHT student, who won the $1,000 scholarship drawing! 🎉👏 We know this will be a meaningful step toward your future success, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!

After the challenges brought on by last year’s hurricane season, we received numerous requests for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), specifically wheelchairs and rolling walkers, to support people with disabilities in our community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Travis Stone and the team at Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC), we were able to meet these urgent needs.

FODAC’s donation made a world of difference for our consumers, providing them with the mobility aids they needed during a tough time. We are so grateful for their support and are beyond thankful to have such a compassionate partner by our side.

Thank you, FODAC, for stepping up when our community needed it the most! 💙

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A couple weeks ago, we had a wonderful time at CILNCF celebrating Valentine’s Day by getting creative with our staff wellness event! Each team member decorated a personal box, and throughout the week, we spread the love by placing Valentine-themed treats and encouraging notes in one another’s boxes.

These small, heartfelt gestures helped us show appreciation for each other and reminded us how important it is to foster well-being in our workplace. When our staff feels supported and valued, we’re better equipped to serve our community of individuals with disabilities. Here’s to continuing to uplift one another—together, we create a stronger, more supportive environment for everyone!

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🗓 Saturday, February 22, 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Columbia County Senior Services, 628 SE Allison Court, Lake City, FL

At this FREE event, we’re all about HELPING OTHERS, AFTER THE DISASTER – focusing on emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities in our community.

What to Expect:
✅ A variety of vendors and expert speakers
✅ Resources and tips for emergency preparedness
✅ ASL interpreters available to ensure accessibility for everyone

📝 REGISTRATION: Visit www.cilncf.org to sign up!

A huge thank you to our generous vendors for their incredible support in making this expo possible.

For more information, contact Kevin Towles at ktowles@cilncf.org or call (352) 368-3788.

We look forward to seeing you there and empowering our community to be better prepared!

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We’re honored to be nominated for Best of the 352 in Non-Profit Organization and Customer Service! 🎉

This recognition highlights our commitment to empowering people with disabilities. Winning would help us expand our impact and continue serving our community.

✅ Vote once per day to help us win!

1️⃣ Cast your vote here: https://bestofthe352.com/vote/
2️⃣ Select “Services”
3️⃣ Select “Nonprofit Organization”
4️⃣ Select “Center for Independent Living”
5️⃣ Click “Submit ballot” on the right
6️⃣ Set a reminder to cast your vote every day

Your support makes a difference—thank you! 💙

ID: A blue graphic with “Best of the 352” text, a green “Vote for Us” banner, and the CIL logo for the Center for Independent Living.

Our CIL team came together for our Annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon to celebrate the holiday season and each other! We shared laughs over our competitive White Elephant game, enjoyed a delicious potluck, and honored team members who achieved milestone awards this year.

Beyond the festivities, CIL is committed to fostering a supportive workplace by prioritizing staff well-being. We incorporated wellness activities to encourage connection, relaxation, and self-care, ensuring our team feels valued not just for their work, but as individuals.

More than just a festive gathering, this luncheon reflects our commitment to creating a space where everyone feels valued and celebrated. We’re grateful for our amazing team and all we’ve accomplished together!

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