Gainesville Opportunity Center

05/29/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Gainesville Opportunity Center is now an official charity partner of The Good Pour

Join us on Wednesday, June 3rd, as the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville hosts a blind wine tasting right here at the Gainesville location. Enjoy some great company, and select the GOC as your charity of choice! Register for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/4yc6atu4

The Good Pour is a community-minded business that donates a portion of every purchase to a charity of your choice. This means you can support your favorite cause just by shopping!

How it works:
1️⃣ Head over to GoodPourApp.com or download their app.
2️⃣ Select the Gainesville Opportunity Center as your charity of choice.
3️⃣ Shop online or in person, and a portion of your purchase will go directly toward helping our Members build professional confidence and independent lives through our Clubhouse International - ICCD work day.

05/27/2026

Leading into Memorial Day, Members of the Gainesville Opportunity Center (GOC) joined forces with the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville at the historic Evergreen Cemetery. Together, they worked side-by-side to place American flags on the graves of veterans and care for the resting places of Gainesville's founding families.

This picture captures GOC member Joel carefully cleaning one of the headstones. But there is a much bigger story of impact behind this image.

➡️ From Isolation to a Thriving Career
Thanks to the support and community he found at the GOC, Joel has successfully rejoined the workforce and is currently working more than 40 hours a week!

➡️ The Power of Weekend Programming
Because Joel is working full-time during the week, weekends are the most convenient time for him to stay connected with clubhouse programs. Having activities on weekends is a vital part of the GOC mission—it ensures our members stay engaged, active, and supported, rather than facing the weekends in isolation.

🤝 A Heartfelt Thank You to Rotary
We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville. They have welcomed our members with open arms, allowing them to work as true peers on meaningful service projects that give back to the city we all love.

When you support the Gainesville Opportunity Center, you aren't just supporting a program—you are supporting members like Joel as they rebuild their lives, secure full-time employment, and become active, proud contributors to our community.

05/26/2026

While we didn’t host a traditionally themed holiday event, the impact of spending Memorial Day together at the Gainesville Opportunity Center was incredibly powerful.

For many people, long holiday weekends can actually feel isolating. Structures change, routines are disrupted, and the world can feel a little quieter. That is exactly why keeping our doors open and our community connected matters so much. Today wasn't about formal presentations—it was about the everyday magic of friendship and community. Clubhouse International - ICCD Florida Department of Children and Families Lutheran Services Florida

05/21/2026

Great Garden News!
What a wonderful plant donation from our amazing friends at UF IFAS Extension Alachua County Master Gardeners!

A massive thank you to everyone who pitched in, including our Executive Director Alana Grier, our dedicated Members, and Master Gardener Greg McGann from IFAS for his incredible support and expertise!

We received a fantastic variety of plants to add color, texture, and pollinator-friendly life to our space, including:
Cranberry, Sunflower, Verbena, Thryallis, Lavender, and Beardtongue. I see butterflies in our future.

Swipe through to see the gorgeous green additions!
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Clubhouse International - ICCD GROW HUB Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families

05/19/2026

Our Members spent a wonderful Social Saturday expanding their horizons at the Harn Museum of Art. We had the privilege of being guided by GOC Board Chair Mercy Quiroga, who brought the galleries to life by sharing the histories, backgrounds, and intricate techniques of the artists behind the pieces.

Under the Clubhouse International model, recovery extends beyond our weekday work hours. Social Saturdays combat isolation and actively build bridges to the wider community.

Introducing our Members to local art and cultural spaces is about active participation. It fosters a sense of belonging, inspires creative thinking, and reminds us that everyone deserves access to the vibrant cultural life of our community.

A huge thank you to Mercy Quiroga for sharing her time, expertise, and leadership with our clubhouse!

Clubhouse International - ICCD Harn Museum of Art

05/14/2026

What do the Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville and the Gainesville Opportunity Center have in common? On the surface, they might seem different, but at their core, both are "Clubs" driven by the same spirit of voluntary participation and community service.

In the photo below, our new Executive Director, Alana Grier, and our Director of Business Development, Brett Buell, celebrate a $1,500 President’s Fund donation from Rotary. As a Rotarian himself, Brett knows that whether you are at a Rotary meeting or in our Clubhouse, nothing happens without people choosing to show up and contribute.

Just as Rotary relies on its members to lead projects and serve the community, the GOC relies on our members to run our "work day." In our Clubhouse, we aren't patients or clients—we are colleagues and volunteers. We prep the meals, manage the office, and tend the garden.

This donation is a beautiful example of one club supporting another. By investing in the GOC, Rotary is investing in a community where adults living with mental illness find the same things Rotarians do: purpose, connection, and the opportunity to serve a mission greater than themselves.

Thank you, Greater Gainesville Rotary, for recognizing that we are cut from the same cloth. Together, we are proving that "Service Above Self" is a powerful path to recovery and community strength. Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville Rotary Club of Gainesville Foundation, Inc. Rotary District 6970 Gainesville Rotary Club Sunrise Rotary Club of Gainesville

The Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville was honored to present a President’s Fund donation of $1500 to the Gainesville Opportunity Center in recognition of the incredible impact they make in the lives of their members every single day.

GOC continues to provide encouragement, purpose, connection, and opportunity to so many in our community, and we are grateful for the work they do to uplift and empower others.

Rotary believes in service above self, and partnerships like this remind us how much can be accomplished when organizations come together for good. 💙💛

05/12/2026

Jason is officially back in the workforce, putting in over 40 hours a week at Alachua County Animal Services! This is a massive milestone, as Jason is returning to full-time employment after being out of work for two years.

In the photo below, Jason is joined by Gina Peebles and our new Executive Director, Alana Grier. We are thrilled to have Alana leading our clubhouse community as we continue to support members like Jason in reclaiming their futures.

Jason is currently working hard to pay off fines and get his driver's license back. The path to stability isn't easy when the system creates barriers; because he currently lacks a license, Jason pays for an Uber to and from work every single day. That is the level of commitment it takes to succeed, and at the GOC, we are proud to provide the community support that stands behind that determination.

A huge thank you to Alachua County and Gina Peebles for seeing Jason’s potential and offering this second chance. Your partnership is changing lives and proving that when we invest in people, our whole community grows stronger.

Keep going, Jason! We are all in your corner.
Clubhouse International - ICCD Alachua County Alachua County Animal Resources Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families Spherion Gainesville Florida

05/08/2026

Scott vs. The Towering Tomatoes 🍅📏

Our garden has taken on a life of its own! The tomato vines are currently towering well over GOC member Scott’s head, and the sheer weight of the fruit is actually causing the branches to snap.

This week’s work days turned into a high-stakes rescue mission. Scott has been on the front lines, expertly bracing the heavy vines with a complex system of stakes, twine, and tomato cages to save the harvest.

In our Clubhouse International program, we don’t just "stay busy"—we solve real problems. By managing this literal weight, Scott is building more than just a garden; he is developing the technical problem-solving skills and professional focus required for any workplace.

Scott’s persistence ensures that our Garden-to-Table program stays on track, providing fresh meals for his fellow members and proving that with the right support, no challenge is too tall to tackle.

Clubhouse International - ICCD GROW HUB University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

05/07/2026

We were so proud to see GOC member Ella carrying the flag during the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida!

Representing the GOC, Ella joined local law enforcement officers to carry the "Flame of Hope" through Gainesville. Many in our community know Ella through her professional work as an Academic Advisor at the UF Warrington College of Business, and seeing her take on such a visible leadership role in this event was a highlight for all of us.

At the GOC, our mission is to support adults as they navigate their recovery and return to active, productive lives. Ella is a wonderful example of how the confidence built within our clubhouse community translates into leadership in the Gainesville workforce.

A huge thank you to our local law enforcement partners for their inclusion and for inviting us to be part of such an inspiring tradition. We are proud to stand alongside you.

Clubhouse International - ICCD

05/06/2026

Valerie’s journey began six years ago in Transitional Employment (TE) with GOC support. Over the years, she has worked a variety of jobs, with the GOC by her side every step of the way.

Today, Valerie is turning a new page at the animal shelter! From keeping the laundry moving to prepping treats for the pups, she is finally in a role that moves at her pace—a crucial factor in managing her anxiety.

This isn't just "another job." With a livable wage and benefits on the horizon, this Supported Employment position has the power to be life-changing. After years of hard work and different roles, we are all rooting for this to be Valerie’s permanent "work home."

We are so incredibly proud of your resilience, Valerie!
Clubhouse International - ICCD Alachua County

05/05/2026

Meet Louis, one of the newest faces in the GOC Media Unit! 💻✨

Louis hit the ground running during our work day, putting his computer skills to immediate use. If you saw the slideshow at our recent fundraising event, you’ve already seen his work—he played a key role in producing it and making sure our mission looked its best on the big screen.

Louis is currently focused on re-entering the workforce, and we are proud to support him in that journey alongside our partners at employU and UF Department of Psychiatry.

At the GOC, we know that recovery is bolstered by the confidence gained through real accomplishment. Watching Louis contribute his talents to our Media Unit is a perfect example of how the work day helps our Members prepare for their next professional chapter.

We’re glad to have you on the team, Louis!