~ When You Can And Where You Can ~
Make A Difference!
The charities we support are selected by the percentage of Donations or Monies that actually reach those in need.
Corvettes Anonymous supports these two excellent Charities ~ The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Alzheimer's Association / Respite Care Services and RCS Food Bank, Larry V. Adams
Why These Two? Because when we donate $1.00 to Respite Care Services, 100% of the donation goes to assist a Caregiver who needs relief. When we donate a can of beans, box of pasta, or jar of babyfood to RCS, someone gets to eat. .
100% of all donations made to either of these Charities through Corvettes Anonymous goes directly to the charity you specify.
If you would like to make a donation, there is a button at the end of each Charity's section. Thank You For Your Kindness!
Florida Gulf Coast Chapter / Respite Care Services
1923 - 2005
The Alzheimer’s Association - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter is part of a national voluntary health agency dedicated to providing education programs and support services to people affected by Alzheimer's disease.
The Association supports the nationwide research effort, offers a variety of free patient and family services, provides education and training and also serves as an advocate for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
This Chapter provides services to patients and patient families in the Florida Counties of Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardy, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota and Sumter.
Alzheimer's disease or AD (pronounced Altz-hi-merz) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. 
AD knows no social or economic boundaries and affects men and women almost equally.
It affects nearly 5 million Americans and is the most common form of dementing illness.
By the year 2050, an estimated 14 million will have the disease, if no prevention or cure is found.
More than 100,000 die of Alzheimer's disease annually
Most victims are over 65; however, "early onset" Alzheimer's disease can strike even in one's 40s and 50s.
About 70% of Alzheimer's disease victims are cared for at home. Alzheimer's disease is devastating for both victims and their families and has been called "the disease of the century."
In many instances, Caregivers succumb to exhaustion or other illnesses and oft-times pass before the patient. 
in order to help at-home caregivers when they need it most Respite Care Services provides assistance in finding and paying for a limited number of hours of respite care for an AD patient, either in a licensed facility or with an in-home health agency. 
The difference between Alzheimer’s disease and normal memory loss:
People with normal memory loss forget parts of an experience; AD patients forget all of it.
When they forget something, those with normal memory loss usually recall it later; AD patients rarely do.
Those with normal memory loss are usually able to care for themselves and can follow directions; AD patients are gradually unable to do either.
One of every three people in the Us is either a family member or friend of an Alzheimer’s patient.
"The Experience of Dementia as a Journey"
I am going on a long journey by train. As I begin, the city skyscrapers and country landscape look familiar. As I continue my journey, the view reminds me of times gone by and I feel relaxed and comfortable. The other passengers on the train appear to be feeling the same way and I engage in pleasant conversation with them.
As the journey progresses, things begin to look different. The buildings have odd shapes and the trees don't look quite the way I remember them. I know that they are buildings and trees, but something about them is not quite right. Maybe I'm in a different country with different architecture and plant life. It feels a bit strange, even unnerving.
I decide to ask the other passengers about the strangeness I feel, but I notice that they seem unperturbed. They are barely taking notice of the passing scenery. Maybe they have been here before. I ask some questions but nothing seems different to them. I wonder if my mind is playing tricks on me. I decide to act as if everything looks all right, but because it does not, I have to be on my guard. This places some tension on me, but I believe I can tolerate it for the remainder of the trip. I do, however, find myself becoming so preoccupied with appearing all right that my attention is diverted from the passing scenery.
After some time I look out the window again, and this time I know that something is wrong. Everything looks strange and unfamiliar! There is no similarity to anything I can recall from my past. I must do something. I talk to the other passengers about the strangeness I feel. They look dumbfounded and when they answer, they talk in new language. Why won't they talk in English I wonder? They look at me knowingly and with sympathy. I've got to get to the bottom of this, so I keep after them to tell me where the train is and where it is going. The only answers I get are in this strange language, and even when I talk, my words sound strange to me. Now I am truly frightened.
At this point I figure that I have to get off this train and find my way home. I had not bargained for this when I started. I get up to leave and bid a pleasure good-bye. I don't get very far, though, as the other passengers stop me and take me back to my seat. It seems they want me to stay on the train whether I want to or not. I try to explain, but they just talk in that strange language.
Outside the window the scenery is getting even more frightening. Strange, inhuman-looking beings peer into the window at me. I decide to make a run for it. The other passengers are not paying much attention to me, so I slip out of my seat and quietly walk toward the back of the car. There's the door! It is difficult to push, but I must. It begins to open and I push harder. Maybe now I will get away. Even though it looks pretty strange out there, I know I will never find my way home if I do not get off the train. I am just ready to jump when hands suddenly appear from nowhere and grab me from behind. I try to get away. I try to fight them off, but I can feel them pulling me back to my seat. I realize now that I will never get off this train; I will never get home.
How sad I feel. I did not say good-bye to my friends, spouse, and children. As far as I know they do not know where I am. The passengers look sympathetic, but they do not know how sad I feel. Maybe if they knew they would let me off the train. I stop smiling, stop eating, stop trying to talk and avoid looking out the window. The passengers look worried. They force me to eat. It is difficult because I am too sad to be hungry.
I have no choice now. I have to go along with the passengers because they seem to know where the journey will end. Maybe they will get me there safely. I fervently wish that I had never started out on this journey, but I know I cannot go back.
Dawson, P., Wells, D.L & Kline, K. (1993) Enhancing the Abilities of Persons with Alzheimer's and related Dementias. New York: Springer Publishing Co: pp xiv-xv
Please remember: Determination of whether or not memory loss is associated with Alzheimer's disease can only be made by health care professionals.
For more information and resources, visit http://www.alz-tbc.org/ and http://www.alzfdn.org/
If you would to make a donation for Respite Care Services, please feel free to use the button below.
"Building a Better Community"
"The mission of RCS is to feed the hungry, help homeless families return
to self-sufficiency, and to empower survivors of domestic violence"
RCS is a not-for-profit Social Service Agency serving northern Pinellas County Florida; including the communities of Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and Safety Harbor.
The Agency serves more than 34,000 people in the community; many are single working mothers, children, and senior citizens
Services are provided at the RCS Food Bank, RCS Grace House / Stepping Stone, and The Haven of RCS.
RCS accomplishes its mission through partnerships with Inter-denominational Christian and Jewish congregations, various foundations, grantors, individual donors, and volunteers. Corvettes Anonymous works RCS Food Bank.
The Food Bank is Volunteer Driven: Seventy-five volunteers make up the backbone of the RCS Food Pantry.
Doing everything from sorting food to interviewing clients.
More than 90 percent of the work is through volunteer effort. 
Today, staff volunteers serve more than 4000 families who come through the doors each month for necessities including baby food, formula, bread, canned meats and vegetables.
Most are single working mothers and their children or senior citizen living on a fixed income.
Each person receives enough supplies for three to four meals, based on the size of their family.
There are no eligibility requirements for emergency food, anyone who asks, can receive help up to twice a month. 
The entire operation is much like the ebb and flow of the tide. Goods are taken in and sorted in the mornings, stacked and readied for handing out in the afternoons.
Depending on the Client’s situation and size of family, they can receive a package of 1 to 4 or more Units. A Unit is an individual allocation.
RCS has now been able to provide food on a twice / week basis. They also have the capability to provide assistance with Rent, Utilities, and / or Mortgage.
Cans and boxes lining the shelves move quickly out the door as the number of
people utilizing The Food Bank’s service grows.
Emergency Food Available twice a month
Government Food Available once a month
Wish List: Baby food, cereal, formula, juices, after school snacks for kids, boxed and canned food items, powdered milk, plastic and paper grocery bags.
Donations to RCS are pooled and the monies converted to food items or other goods that may be needed.
Depending upon the size of pool, we try to make our donations to RCS on at least a quarterly basis.
If you would like to make a Donation to the RCS Food Bank, click the button below.
Through our CAP ~ Club Assistance Program, we also assist Corvette Clubs or other organizations with their own charitable activities.
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