Emily Lampa, Building Community
A summer camp in Apopka that needs serious renovations is getting $1 million and free labor, all thanks to one company.
Quest's Camp Thunderbird in Apopka is the one going through a serious makeover.
The camp provides summer camp experiences for people with developmental disabilities --- such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.
"It's an opportunity that they get for one or two weeks a year. It helps increase their independence. They build friendships here. You know that's something that just can't happen everywhere else outside in our community," said Rosa Figueroa, the camp's coordinator.
So, when the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain heard the 39-year-old facility needed some work, they sent over nearly $1 million and over 800 volunteers.
"We're so pleased, and we feel so great about helping out these folks," said Scott Colosi, the chief financial officer of Texas Roadhouse.
Volunteers spent one whole day painting and renovating buildings around the campgrounds and cleaning up 19 acres of nature trails.
One of their big projects was to construct handicap-accessible sidewalks and connect all the buildings around the camp.
"Many times we have a child with a wheelchair or a walker, rather, and it's very difficult for that walker to get from building to building," Figueroa said.
Texas Roadhouse worked with the Coca-Cola Company to provide the $1 million necessary to buy materials for Camp Thunderbird as well as other humanitarian projects -- another non-profit in Kissimmee called Give Kids the World.
Volunteers built the frames of 12 homes. Six of which will go to a homeless project in Osceola County. Six will be going to the military.
"It's a wonderful feeling to see people stepping up -- a corporation and their individuals," said Robert Brown, the chief executive officer for United Way.
Texas Roadhouse told News 13 that they went even a step further to aid Camp Thunderbird by taking up a collection from the volunteers.
They raised $45,000 within their organization to buy camp necessities for the kids.
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