During the month of August AFIRE of Pasco will be the featured charitable giving organization at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office. AFIRE of Pasco is a day-training program for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It is geared specifically for people 22 years of age and older who have completed all school district programs for individuals with disabilities. AFIRE of Pasco provides service five days per week to enrolled adults. Services include basic academics, one-on-one computer instruction, training in daily living skills and recreation and social outings/ activities. The overall purpose of the program is to help promote independence for individuals with disabilities with a focus on improving their ability to fully function in the community.
“We spend our days teaching our students how to be good neighbors, good citizens and good friends,” states Denise Haystrand, executive director of AFIRE of Pasco. “We also teach them it’s “OK” to ask for help. We are asking for help on their behalf. We are being their voices. Just as people age, so do houses. Our roofs are in desperate need of replacement. The estimated $25,000 cost might as well be $1,000,000 to a small non-profit like us. Our budget simply cannot stretch that far at this time. By donating through license plate renewal, the sky really is the limit with a roof over our head!”
“Dating back to my earliest days in the Florida Legislature I and my staff have worked with AFIRE of Pasco to help them serve as many individuals as possible,” states Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “The work the dedicated staff and volunteers of AFIRE of Pasco do to provide unique services and opportunities to their students is the perfect example of what a community organization is all about. I am amazed to see how the program has grown over the years. I am hopeful that the funds we raise will help offset a portion of the cost of the roof repair so that operating funds are not diminished. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping adults with disabilities reach their fullest potential to stop by our office and make a donation.”
For more information about the charitable giving programs and other services at the Pasco Tax Collector’s Office please visit www.pascotaxes.com or call Greg Giordano, Assistant Tax Collector at 727-847-8179. For more information regarding AFIRE of Pasco please visit the website www.afirepasco.com or contact Denise Haystrand at 727 -849-8982.