Mahalo to Alisa Mitchener and the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department from The Arc of Hilo.

Mahalo to Alisa Mitchener and the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department from The Arc of Hilo.

Mahalo to Alisa Mitchener and the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department from The Arc of Hilo.

Building partnerships in the community is an important part of our work at The Arc of Hilo. We have worked closely with Alisa Mitchener over the years and she has been a great help in our efforts to help our clientele develop relationships and friendships in the community, through recreation activities.

She has created ongoing Recreation Center Activities in Pahoa and Hilo, with our participants specifically in mind. This year Alisa was able to make Richardson’s Beach Park more accessible by obtaining permission to have the restricted gate open on Mobi Mat days. This reduced the amount of unpaved terrain (gravel, grass, mud, sand) that people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges had to cross in previous years.

One of the highlights of the season coordinated by Alisa was a day with the folks from Deep & Beyond; a Kona non-profit organization that provided a Snorkel Day for our participants wanting a 1 on 1 snorkeling experience. These safe, accessible activities help people participate in recreation activities and build friendships in the community.

Sincerely, Vicki Linter, manager, Community Support Services The Arc of Hilo