TALLMADGE, Ohio — Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board serves about 5,000 adults and children with developmental disabilities through a variety of services and programs.
Billie Jo David, the board’s communication director, said social distancing and the stay at home order has been especially hard for their clients.
“We're still reaching out to those individuals. We're still video conferencing, and what we're finding is, for those in familial homes, just like your own home, it's hard to find cleaning supplies. It's hard to find toilet paper,” she said. “There are a lot of homes that don't have basic things like card games or board games, or DVDs to help keep people engaged while they're in their home environments.”
David said while their caregivers continue to go into congregate group homes and help their clients, they noticed a big need, and that’s why Thursday at 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. they’ll be hosting a donation drive thru.
“Hopefully we get enough supplies that we can make sure that supplies get into every home. There's almost 200 group homes in Summit County.”
Here’s what they’re looking for:
Cleaning and Disinfecting Supplies/Paper Products
- Hand sanitizer
- Non-medical face masks, include homemade cloth masks
- Disinfecting wipes
- Disinfectant spray
- Thermometers
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
Activities for Adults/Teens/Kids (ages 6 and up)
- Playing cards and card games
- Board games
- Adult and child coloring books
- Colored pencils/crayons/markers
- Puzzles (kids, adults)
- Word search and crossword puzzle books
- Chalk
- Legos
- DVDs (adult and children’s movies)
- Paint and craft kits
- Cake/cookie mixes and frosting and decorations
Items for Families/Babies/Toddlers (up to age 6)
- New blankets
- Board books
- Baby puzzles
- Outside toys (bubbles, balls, hula hoops, chalk)
- Other baby and toddler-friendly toys
- DVDs (children’s movies)
If you are thinking of donating they ask that all donations be placed in a bag and put into the trunk of the car.
It’s from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Summit DD Administration Office on 89 E. Howe Road in Tallmadge. Cars are asked to enter through the east entrance on Howe Road and leave through the west exit.
