On November 6, our members and staff opened the Clubhouse doors, and Gainesville showed up. Here’s what our community made possible.
Guests, community partners, board members and GOC members at the 2026 Fall Festival.
On Friday, November 6, 2026, the members and staff of the Gainesville Opportunity Center opened our Clubhouse doors for our 6th Annual Fall Festival and Open House, and Gainesville showed up. Guests took member-led tours, enjoyed a backyard cookout and member-made baked goods, picked up plants from our garden, and visited more than 20 community partner tables.
What You Made Possible
Our silent auction raised $2,050, and together, sponsors, donors and guests raised more than $9,400 for GOC. Every gift supports the Work-Ordered Day at GOC, where members and staff work side by side to build skills, confidence and community, and where members prepare for jobs, school and a life of their choosing.
In the News
Three local TV stations covered the Festival. Watch the TV20 story here.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
UF Health Department of Psychiatry · Associates Realty · UF Health Psychiatric Hospital · CINTAS · IQ Fiber · First Federal Bank · Elite DNA · Zachary West Law · Mike Conlon · Greet Health · Hartley Press · Millhopper Family Dentistry · Stephen Kattell & Co.
Thank You to Our In-Kind and Gift Card Donors
Pepsi · Texas Roadhouse · Flying Biscuit · Mi Apa · Chef Ami · NW Seafood · OsteoStrong · Bragging Rights · The Fresh Market · Cade Museum · Belk · Yoga Pod · Hand & Stone · Ilene’s Gator Store · Jane & Mercer · The Clock · Logokick · Bikes & More · Pavlov Media · Starbucks · Meldon Law · Coco’s Crafts by Kim Cruz
Thank You to Our Community Partners
Center for Independent Living · Meridian Behavioral Healthcare · Santa Fe College · Food4Kids · Grace Healthcare · HCA Florida North Florida Hospital · Released Re-entry · Annasemble Community Orchestra · Oxford House · Elite DNA · CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services · Division of Blind Services · Alachua County Library District · Grace Marketplace & Grace Grows · Keys to Home · PACE Center for Girls · Gainesville Fire Rescue · UF Health Street · Al-Anon · Habitat for Humanity · Goodwill · UF Health Department of Psychiatry · UF Health Psychiatric Hospital
Thank you for sharing your resources with our members and neighbors. You showed what a connected community looks like.
Thank You to Our Guests
To everyone who stopped by, took a tour, bid on an item or shared a plate with us: thank you for spending the afternoon with GOC. A special thank-you to Senator Stan McClain and Alachua County Commissioner Ed Book for visiting the Clubhouse and meeting our members, and to our Ambassadors and volunteers.
A Great Big Thanks to Our Members and Staff
Thanks to your planning and teamwork, every guest and vendor was welcomed, tours were given, delicious food was served, and the silent auction was a major success. This is what the Work-Ordered Day looks like.
Thank You to Our Board and Founders
GOC began in 2006 as a conversation around a kitchen table. Thank you to our founders, Mike and Pam Demers, who opened their home as our first “clubhouse without walls” and went on to serve as GOC’s first executive directors. Thank you also to the Stevens family, David Stevens and his parents, Joan and Bruce Stevens. Bruce served as our first board president from 2007 to 2015, and their family helped bring GOC to life.
Thank you to our Board of Directors: Dr. Mercy Quiroga, President; Jacob Rush, Vice President; Joanne Edde, Treasurer; Dr. Jennifer Elder, Secretary; Bree Guiterman; Manny Quiroga; Dr. Bill Stephenson; and our Member Directors, Karina Bowman, Kayla Barrera and Joevan Jenkins. And to our Emeritus Board Members, Gail Schneider Childs, Jodi Irving and Trish Sokol: thank you for your years of service and for staying by our side.
Thank You, Brett
Brett cutting his cake. Alt text: “Brett Buell with his farewell cake at the 2026 Fall Festival.
Special recognition goes to Brett Buell, who has been instrumental in making each Fall Festival bigger and better. This was Brett’s last Festival with us. For 12 years, Brett poured his heart into GOC, working side by side with our members every day. Thank you, Brett. We’ll miss you, and we wish you all the best in your next chapter.
It’s Not Too Late to Give
If you missed the Festival, you can still support GOC’s members. Give to GOC here. We’d love to show you around too. Stop by any weekday from 8:30 to 4:30 for a tour, at 1210 NW 14th Ave, Gainesville.
Address:
1210 NW 14th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Open: 8:30-4:30 M-F
Email: info@goclubhouse.org
Phone: (352) 224-5523
Fax (800) 554-4057
The house is close to NW 13th Street, about a block east, on the north side of NW 14th Avenue. The address can be reached by RTS Bus Routes 8 & 10.
Interested in becoming a Member or making a referral for membership?
Click Here
The Gainesville Opportunity Center (“GOC”) is an insured not-for-profit 501(c)(3) agency that relies on community donations and empowers adults with mental illness to build stamina and confidence through membership, shared tasks, socialization, and employment opportunities.
Florida Registration #CH23242. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY