Gainesville Opportunity Center

06/05/2026

Harry works in our media unit several days a week. If you have liked our recent Facebook posts, he probably had something to do with them.

Harry is a key part of the team running our digital communications. He is busy learning new software programs and discovering how to use AI.

Harry will tell you: "I see the difference GOC is making in people's lives, including mine. I have a sense of community in this place. We are colleagues working together toward a common goal. "

At GOC, our Members take direct responsibility for running the program. They gain confidence and professional skills along the way. Thank you for your hard work, Harry!

Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families UF Department of Psychiatry Clubhouse International - ICCD

06/04/2026

Connor Hogan is an Eagle Scout!

For his final project to reach this milestone, Connor completed his Fundraising Merit Badge and chose the GOC as the recipient. He raised enough money to purchase an iPhone!

Preserving important moments in photos and videos is essential to educating people regarding the impact we have on our Members' lives. Once a moment is gone, it’s gone forever. This iPhone upgrade will significantly help us show the community our impact.

Thank you, Connor, for your outstanding achievement, your dedication, and your generosity. You are certainly making a difference!
Clubhouse International - ICCD Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families UF Department of Psychiatry

06/01/2026

Membership has its privileges.

Because our Members choose to be here, what we accomplish is driven by a shared desire to work together. Our culinary unit stepped up to prep, cook, and serve a delicious lunch of homemade patty melts and crispy roasted potatoes.

At the GOC, we share a fresh meal every day. We believe a meal tastes better when it is prepared by a community that works together.

Clubhouse International - ICCD Florida Department of Children and Families Lutheran Services Florida Meridian Healthcare UF Department of Psychiatry HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Grace Healthcare

05/29/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Gainesville Opportunity Center is now an official charity partner of The Good Pour

Join us on Wednesday, June 3rd, as the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville hosts a blind wine tasting right here at the Gainesville location. Enjoy some great company, and select the GOC as your charity of choice! Register for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/4yc6atu4

The Good Pour is a community-minded business that donates a portion of every purchase to a charity of your choice. This means you can support your favorite cause just by shopping!

How it works:
1️⃣ Head over to GoodPourApp.com or download their app.
2️⃣ Select the Gainesville Opportunity Center as your charity of choice.
3️⃣ Shop online or in person, and a portion of your purchase will go directly toward helping our Members build professional confidence and independent lives through our Clubhouse International - ICCD work day.

05/27/2026

Leading into Memorial Day, GOC Member Joel of the GOC joined the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville at the historic City of Gainesville, FL - Government) Evergreen Cemetery. We worked side-by-side to place American flags on the graves of veterans and took care of their resting places.

Joel carefully cleaned many Veterans headstones.

Joel has is currently working more than 40 hours a week. Weekends are the most convenient time for him to stay connected with clubhouse programs. Having weekend activities is a vital part of the GOC mission—it ensures our Members stay engaged, active, and supported, rather than facing the weekends in isolation.

We are thrilled to partner with the Rotary Clubs. They have welcomed our Members with open arms, allowing them to work as peers on meaningful service projects that give back.

When you support the GOC, you are supporting Members like Joel as they rebuild their lives, secure employment, and become active, proud contributors to our community.

Clubhouse International - ICCD Florida Department of Children and Families Lutheran Services Florida City of Gainesville - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) City of Gainesville, FL - Government

05/26/2026

While we didn’t host a traditionally themed holiday event, the impact of spending Memorial Day together at the Gainesville Opportunity Center was incredibly powerful.

For many people, long holiday weekends can actually feel isolating. Structures change, routines are disrupted, and the world can feel a little quieter. That is exactly why keeping our doors open and our community connected matters so much. Today wasn't about formal presentations—it was about the everyday magic of friendship and community. Clubhouse International - ICCD Florida Department of Children and Families Lutheran Services Florida

05/21/2026

Great Garden News!
What a wonderful plant donation from our amazing friends at UF IFAS Extension Alachua County Master Gardeners!

A massive thank you to everyone who pitched in, including our Executive Director Alana Grier, our dedicated Members, and Master Gardener Greg McGann from IFAS for his incredible support and expertise!

We received a fantastic variety of plants to add color, texture, and pollinator-friendly life to our space, including:
Cranberry, Sunflower, Verbena, Thryallis, Lavender, and Beardtongue. I see butterflies in our future.

Swipe through to see the gorgeous green additions!
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Clubhouse International - ICCD GROW HUB Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families

05/19/2026

Our Members spent a wonderful Social Saturday expanding their horizons at the Harn Museum of Art. We had the privilege of being guided by GOC Board Chair Mercy Quiroga, who brought the galleries to life by sharing the histories, backgrounds, and intricate techniques of the artists behind the pieces.

Under the Clubhouse International model, recovery extends beyond our weekday work hours. Social Saturdays combat isolation and actively build bridges to the wider community.

Introducing our Members to local art and cultural spaces is about active participation. It fosters a sense of belonging, inspires creative thinking, and reminds us that everyone deserves access to the vibrant cultural life of our community.

A huge thank you to Mercy Quiroga for sharing her time, expertise, and leadership with our clubhouse!

Clubhouse International - ICCD Harn Museum of Art

05/14/2026

What do the Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville and the Gainesville Opportunity Center have in common? On the surface, they might seem different, but at their core, both are "Clubs" driven by the same spirit of voluntary participation and community service.

In the photo below, our new Executive Director, Alana Grier, and our Director of Business Development, Brett Buell, celebrate a $1,500 President’s Fund donation from Rotary. As a Rotarian himself, Brett knows that whether you are at a Rotary meeting or in our Clubhouse, nothing happens without people choosing to show up and contribute.

Just as Rotary relies on its members to lead projects and serve the community, the GOC relies on our members to run our "work day." In our Clubhouse, we aren't patients or clients—we are colleagues and volunteers. We prep the meals, manage the office, and tend the garden.

This donation is a beautiful example of one club supporting another. By investing in the GOC, Rotary is investing in a community where adults living with mental illness find the same things Rotarians do: purpose, connection, and the opportunity to serve a mission greater than themselves.

Thank you, Greater Gainesville Rotary, for recognizing that we are cut from the same cloth. Together, we are proving that "Service Above Self" is a powerful path to recovery and community strength. Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville Rotary Club of Gainesville Foundation, Inc. Rotary District 6970 Gainesville Rotary Club Sunrise Rotary Club of Gainesville

The Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville was honored to present a President’s Fund donation of $1500 to the Gainesville Opportunity Center in recognition of the incredible impact they make in the lives of their members every single day.

GOC continues to provide encouragement, purpose, connection, and opportunity to so many in our community, and we are grateful for the work they do to uplift and empower others.

Rotary believes in service above self, and partnerships like this remind us how much can be accomplished when organizations come together for good. 💙💛

05/12/2026

Jason is officially back in the workforce, putting in over 40 hours a week at Alachua County Animal Services! This is a massive milestone, as Jason is returning to full-time employment after being out of work for two years.

In the photo below, Jason is joined by Gina Peebles and our new Executive Director, Alana Grier. We are thrilled to have Alana leading our clubhouse community as we continue to support members like Jason in reclaiming their futures.

Jason is currently working hard to pay off fines and get his driver's license back. The path to stability isn't easy when the system creates barriers; because he currently lacks a license, Jason pays for an Uber to and from work every single day. That is the level of commitment it takes to succeed, and at the GOC, we are proud to provide the community support that stands behind that determination.

A huge thank you to Alachua County and Gina Peebles for seeing Jason’s potential and offering this second chance. Your partnership is changing lives and proving that when we invest in people, our whole community grows stronger.

Keep going, Jason! We are all in your corner.
Clubhouse International - ICCD Alachua County Alachua County Animal Resources Lutheran Services Florida Florida Department of Children and Families Spherion Gainesville Florida