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An employee at arc Thrift stores, Sara has six years under her belt as an Arc Ambassador, a program designed to help individuals with disabilities gain self-respect, self-determination and independence in their communities and professional workplaces.

The Arc Ambassador program is an excellent picture of the relationship between arc Thrift stores and chapters of The Arc, including The Arc Pikes Peak Region (The Arc PPR).

Though both organizations serve unique functions in the community, they share a common goal: developing a thriving community in which those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are embraced and respected. Advocacy provided by The Arc PPR is largely funded by arc Thrift stores.

The I/DD population lives with a variety of disabilities including, but not limited to, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism. As part of its work in the Colorado Springs community, The Arc PPR provides educational and judicial advocacy and guardianship, as well as a wide variety of social opportunities. Every time you donate to arc Thrift stores, you contribute to a worthy cause.

“The Arc PPR is an amazing resource for my family. We have a son with autism, and The Arc PPR provides an advocate at no charge, but not just any advocate, a highly-qualified, smart, kind, and tenacious advocate that helps us to get our son the services that he needs for school,” said Rebecca, a local parent of a child with I/DD.

“In addition to a wide variety of items and excellent customer service, arc Thrift stores are also one of the largest employers of individuals with disabilities and other significantly challenged populations like refugees, people from substance abuse and homeless programs and women from safe houses,” said Johanna Fehrs The Arc PPR development fellow.

Like other participants in the Arc Ambassador program, arc Thrift and The Arc PPR celebrate Sara’s unique talents. In addition to working at arc Thrift stores, Sara recently modeled in The Arc PPR’s 2016 calendar, “Masterpieces and Portraits,” in the recreation of artist Johannes Vermeer’s famous oil painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

The Arc PPR looks forward to expanding its advocacy efforts in 2016. “We plan to renovate our office building and the adjacent office building to create a community center and administrative offices,” said The Arc PPR’s Executive Director Wil Romero. “This community center will offer opportunities for us to collaborate with community organizations while providing ample room for educational opportunities.”

To learn more about the advocacy provided by The Arc PPR, visit thearcppr.org or call at 471-4800.