Volunteers spruce up the Arc of Marion campus during day of caring
Volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got dirty Saturday, April 12, during The Arc of Marion’s Day of Caring at the nonprofit’s campus in Ocala.
The Arc of Marion serves about 110 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and holds daily skills and activities classes, according to Executive Director Lenni Clyatt, who was busy painting a door during the workday.
The cleanup effort focused on two group homes that house up to 30 residents on the campus at 2800 S.E. Maricamp Road.
According to county property records, The Arc of Marion campus covers more than 16 acres and includes 14 buildings, including the two freestanding group homes.
About two dozen volunteers, working in two shifts, cleaned up debris, removed large tangled shrubs and planted new ground cover.
“This has been needed for years,” said The Arc of Marion maintenance director and groundskeeper Tom Rodriquez, who also volunteered for the workday.
Leah Almeida of Farm Girl Professional Services Trimming and Landscaping in Belleview donated her time and the use of her company’s truck and trailer to pull out large shrubs and haul debris.
“Happy to help,” Almeida said.
She said she was inspired to volunteer by The Arc of Marion board member Robert Howie.
Howie, who was on hand for the workday, raised about $23,000 for The Arc of Marion by making a 1,000-mile bicycle journey across Florida in February 2025, sharing his progress on social media.
Rhonda Kincade, The Arc of Marion’s community engagement coordinator, who also volunteered, said Farm Girl Professional Services, Oxford Groundcovers Inc. of Oxford and Dirt Cheap of Summerfield all donated to the project.
Rachel Sams, a friend of an administrator at the nonprofit, and her daughter Avery Sams, 13, were among the volunteers. Rachel Sams helped hook one end of a chain to large shrubs in front of a group home and the other to the Farm Girl truck, then directed the driver to pull the shrubs out.
John Yates, 21, a regular volunteer at the facility, also donated his time and effort on Saturday.
According to The Arc of Marion website, the local outreach began in 1959 with a school formed by concerned parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2019, the organization’s board voted to “reaffiliate” with The Arc of Florida and the national chapter, focusing its services on adults 18 and older. The organization’s name and logo were changed.
The website notes The Arc of Marion provides adult day training, supported employment, supported independent living and transportation.
The adult day training offerings include “social interactions, daily living, cooking, hygiene, janitorial, lawn service, computer lab/internet resources, recreation, arts and crafts, performing arts, health and safety,” according to the site.
The Arc of Florida’s mission, according to arcofflorida.org, is to “advocate for local chapters, public policies, and high-quality supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be fully included in all aspects of their community.”
Todd Clyatt, Lenni Clyatt’s husband, and their son, Conner Clyatt, 16, were among the volunteers. Compliance coordinator Janet Kirouac greeted and directed volunteers as they arrived on campus.
Donna Capone, a direct support professional with The Arc of Marion, also pitched in with cleanup and shovel work.
“I like to help,” Capone said.
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