Anne Frank once stressed that “no one has ever become poor by giving back”.

It’s with that same spirit of giving that clients from a local special needs centre came together to donate non-perishable items to a school feeding programme on the island.

Orange Valley Centre/Opportunity Workshop serve Bermuda’s developmentally challenged population, ages 18 and up.

Staff members Janet Raynor, a paraprofessional, and Joanne Musson, an employment caseworker, recently launched a new initiative called ‘Giving Back to the Community’ with the aim of raising client awareness about the needs of others on the island.

Over the past few weeks, clients have donated enough food items to provide Feed the Children Ministries with 46 breakfasts and 53 lunches. The items will be going to help nine schools in Bermuda.

But the helping didn’t stop there. Clients were also able to make cookies for seniors on Valentine’s Day and will be volunteering their time to other charities in need throughout the year.

A spokeswoman for the centre said its clients got “great satisfaction from helping others”.

Karen McCottry, the centre’s administrator, said: “We are extremely excited about this response to give back.

“Over, the years, our organisation has been the recipient of residents’ kindness. [Recently] we have had an opportunity to affirm that kindness is still alive and well here on island.”

Orange Valley and Opportunity Workshop used to work independently to serve Bermuda’s developmentally challenged adult population.

But the two entities recently joined together on one campus to provide a wider, more encompassing programme, to better serve its clients with different disorders and provide optimal care.

Located on Roberts Avenue, the facility offers a functional living programme including therapeutic recreation, sensory integration, augmentative and alternative communication and community outreach initiatives.

The service is tailored to the unique strengths and needs of each client, the spokeswoman said.

In addition there is also an adult day programme, a health and wellness programme and job skills programme. The later of which helps clients to learn how to produce scented candles, cookies and Christmas wreaths for a variety of community businesses.

“The Employment Programme encourages clients with mild disabilities to unlock unrealised potential,” said the spokeswoman, “and assist them in becoming less dependent, more self-directed and socially active participants in their community by acquiring work and/volunteer skills to retain full time or semi employment. We assist individuals in reaching their fullest potential on a daily basis.”

“At the Roberts Avenue site we have a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to provide and facilitate quality comprehensive service.”