Naples Walk to End Alzheimer’s also collecting items for the community

In light of the devastation that Hurricane Ian left behind in Southwest Florida, the Naples Walk to End Alzheimer’s is transitioning into a community event.

The goal is to support the community by collecting items for seniors while also providing information and programs that can help families during such a difficult time.

Among the items being collected are adult diapers, hygiene products, vitamins, body wash, blankets, and more. Donations will go to Cameo of Lee County, a group dedicated to the betterment of the lives of seniors in Southwest Florida.

Families will still be able to walk for loved ones impacted by Alzheimer’s and participate in the promise garden ceremony.

Stephen Scrobe is the program coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association. He talked about the importance of having this event.

“Generally, a third of people over 80 years old will suffer from some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s. So it’s important that, you know, we realize that there are these educational resources that we can provide the community there are caregiver support groups out there for people that currently deal with or who might just be going through the initial stages of a family member who has been recently diagnosed, or maybe showing some warning signs of the disease as it starts to begin its progression,” said Scrobe.

He said the main goal is to educate the public. The event will have resources available for free.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but organizers want local families impacted by Alzheimer’s to come out and feel support from the community.

“It’s always amazing to see that we can help in any, any little form, whether it’s getting somebody more education or resources or support in a time of crisis. For when things are more serious, or as they are progressing, get worse, because it’s stressful. Nobody ever asks for this to be thrown into their life with Alzheimer’s and a lot of people come very unprepared. And that’s the goal that we’re fighting against. Everybody in the Alzheimer’s association has that goal, or we hope to see one day there will be a cure,” Scrobe said.

The event is taking place at Baker Park and begins at 8 a.m. The ceremony and walk will begin at 9 a.m.

You can find a complete list of the items being collected for seniors in the photo below: