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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Arc of Shelby County hosted a festive Mardi Gras ball to celebrate the holiday and the members of the Recreational, Educational and Community Training program.

Dozens of members of the Shelby County community came together dressed in purple, green and gold to celebrate one of the South’s most famous holidays. The event featured music, dancing and a Cajun-themed dinner that included King Cake and Mardi Gras cupcakes.

Carole Lyons, the director of development and community relations for The Arc of Shelby County, made sure to acknowledge the hosts of the event in a statement.

“A huge thank you to Heardmont Senior Center for allowing us to host our event in their beautiful building, and we thank our many donors, volunteers and staff for helping us to make the event a beautiful evening with a small fee to attend,” Lyons said.

The REACT program is designed for individuals who participated in the Pre-Employment Services, Project SEARCH and Employment Services programs within The Arc of Shelby County. Lyons further elaborated on the program’s aims.

“REACT offers the participants an opportunity to socialize outside of school and work, to have fun, celebrate, learn new things and be involved in the community,” Lyons said. “We look forward to hosting more activities for this group, and are planning our August Summer Bash, and our annual Halloween party, which over 65 people attended last year.”

The program is open to people with developmental delays and disabilities who live in Shelby County, as well as individuals who are currently receiving services or have received services from The Arc of Shelby County.

Lyons concluded by giving a summary of The Arc of Shelby County and the programs it offers.

“The Arc of Shelby County provides programs and services to individuals with development disabilities and delays and their families to achieve their goals and live in the community of their choice,” Lyons said. “Our services are provided from birth through adulthood, and we serve over 1,700 individuals and families in Shelby County each year.”

To learn more about The Arc of Shelby County, visit Thearcofshelby.org.