Vacations! Everyone loves a vacation – and needs them! We can relax or be adventurous. We can expand our brains and our waistlines…oops! We can learn things about ourselves and the people we go with and enjoy experiences that contribute to who we become.
But not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy them.
Trips Ahoy Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit agency registered with the State of Ohio. They have been in existence for over seven years and have funded numerous trips, both local and out of state, for individuals with developmental disabilities, most of whom are served by Leeda Northeast. Leeda is an agency that provides services and supports, including a day program, for adults with developmental disabilities. They provide residential supports so that people with disabilities do not have to live in nursing homes or institutions. Since 2007, Leeda has also been training residents for community employment opportunities including work in their two It’s All Fine shops in Ravenna and Warren.
Trips Ahoy has enriched the lives of these individuals by funding activities and travel experiences which they otherwise would not be able to enjoy. These experiences have significantly contributed to their growth and quality of life. Each year, Trips Ahoy hosts an annual fundraiser, this year’s being a Chili Cook-Off which takes place on Saturday, March 15 at the Warren It’s All Fine store from 11 am to 2 pm. Find the details in the article, Chili Makers and Chili Eaters Unite!
Denise is one such individual who participated in a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She shares her experience here. Read her account, and you’ll feel her excitement and be grateful for organizations like Trips Ahoy that provide these opportunities!
Denise Goes to the Outer Banks
“I got ready for the trip…made some plans to go on vacation. Made sure my bathing suit was packed in my suitcase. Made sure clothes were packed. I got a purple camera. Bought all new summer clothes for the trip! I was excited, because I just love the beach. It took us a long time to get there. I knew it was by the ocean and sea shells.
“We all stayed in a big house!” she continues, where there was also a hot tub and pool. “I got in the hot tub and it felt warm! Never been in a hot tub before…”
The days sound like they were pretty relaxed, yet with plenty of fun activities added in. Denise describes a typical day.
“We drank coffee… ate breakfast. After that, when we got done eating breakfast, we went shopping for souvenirs. We went out to eat. We went to the beach! I stood up on the beach and sat in the waves! They almost knocked me down! I played cards and ate at a fancy restaurant, The Blue Pelican. We saw the [Currituck Lighthouse].”
Though she didn’t know everyone who went on the trip, she says, “I introduced myself to them, told them I was Denise. I knew Adam, Greg, and Tammy. I met Nicole and Paul, and his dog, Cooper.” And afterward, she says, “Nicole, Sherry, Adam, and Tammy are my friends.”
What did Denise like most about the trip?
“I just loved the trip because it was a lot of fun. My favorite part was having a picnic at the park. I like to go, go, go! Loved the shopping and collecting seashells! I loved the house. It was big! We flew kites on the beach. It was windy and they went really high!”
There really wasn’t much she didn’t like!
“It was warm down there. Sometimes, it would get a bit chilly, but then it would start to warm up. I didn’t like when it was cold.”
I asked Denise if she felt she had changed as a result of the trip or if she had learned anything she wanted to share.
“Yeah, I loved it. It changed me.” How? “It just did. I’m happier now that I went on the trip. I have a lot of good memories. It showed me that I could leave home and have fun, and come back and everything is fine.”
Denise would love to go on another Trips Ahoy vacation. Where? “St. Louis Missouri, to see Dolly Parton’s horse.”
Trips Ahoy has given Denise an experience of a lifetime. It has enriched her life with new friends, new self awareness, and new memories she will cherish.
The individuals served by Leeda Northeast are not the only ones who have benefited. The caregivers who attend these trips have also been changed as a result. With an average ratio of about one staff person per three individuals, the caregiver develops an even closer bond with many of the vacationers.
Needs of individuals with developmental disabilities can vary greatly from almost entirely self sufficient to requiring quite a bit of attention. “We attempt to include everyone regardless of their level of need,” says staff member Cathy Brooks who has been to Virginia Beach, Tennessee, Los Angeles, and Boston. “They look forward to their vacation just like the rest of us. Why shouldn’t these people get the same opportunity? If they are medically safe to travel, we have probably taken them or will soon!”
Winnie Hosking, owner of Leeda Northeast, has attended the Disney trip. She shared her goals for these individuals and why these trips are important.
“The primary goal is to expose individuals to parts of the United States that they have never seen – the ocean, sand dunes, whale watching, deep sea fishing, large urban centers, national parks and so on. The trips are extremely important, not only because the vacationers have incredible fun, but because they are exposed to a variety of opportunities and challenges that they realize they can conquer. Swimming in the ocean can be difficult if one does not have a disability – it is incredibly hard when one does. However, one gentleman turned to his staff and said, ‘I will remember this moment for the rest of my life,’ as he was jumping up and down in the waves off the Florida coast. I will remember that moment, too.”
Megan Sweeney, Program Coordinator, has been on five trips with Trips Ahoy vacationers. “When you are able to get out of your community, it is easier to see diversity. We learn that everyone everywhere is different in some way, and that is something to be proud of. And having 15 or more people in one house – no matter how large the house – teaches us patience! We learn to compromise, be respectful and understanding of others’ needs and wants, and really work as a team.”
“The individuals learn they can do things for themselves,” says caregiver Belinda Sweeney, “They help with meal preparation, even if it is only setting the table. They also look out for each other and form relationships with not only the caregivers, but other individuals they meet while on the trip.”
Caregivers are deeply affected as well as a result of these trips. To see the people they work with every day express gratitude, discover something entirely new, realize they can overcome a long time fear…brings immeasurable joy. Cathy and Belinda share a couple of these moments.
“Probably for me the one that stands out the most is a gentleman we took to Virginia Beach,” says Cathy. “He happened to have his birthday while we were on the trip, so we got him a small cake to celebrate. While he was eating his cake, with a tear in his eye, he said, “This is the best birthday I have ever had in my life.”
“For me it was the Disney trip,” says Belinda. “Some of the individuals that came were always so serious and afraid to try anything. We were constantly on the go on this trip, and everyone just went with the flow and was not afraid to try anything new. Walking on the beach was very difficult for several of them, but they did it!! They sat at the edge of the water and just let the waves splash over them laughing and giggling the whole time. On the way back to the campground, they were all talking about how wonderful the trip was, singing, telling jokes all the way back. I have never laughed so much in my life. It was a great experience for the individuals and for me!!”
If not for the Trips Ahoy Foundation, none of these lives would have been touched. None of these people, whether one with a disability or a caregiver, would be changed and have become better people. These trips are so important and add to the quality of care that Leeda Northeast offers to all those who reside and work there.
Attend the Chili Cook-Off this Saturday, March 15 at 11 am. Bring friends. You’ll all have fun and you’ll become a part of the life changing benefits received by those who can shout the praises of Trips Ahoy!
Chili Cook-Off & Silent Auction
3581 Youngstown Road
Warren, OH
There’s still time donate prizes for auction, too!
Call Cathy about donations or any questions at 330-392-6006