Friends Giving Brings My Autism Connection Members, Families, and Volunteers Together at Lakes Park

Some events are built around entertainment. Others are built around connection.

Friends Giving, hosted by My Autism Connection, was the kind of gathering that showed the strength of a community already being built. Held on November 15, 2025, at Lakes Park in Fort Myers, the event brought MAC members, their families, friends, organizers, FGCU interns, and student volunteers together for a relaxed day centered on inclusion, friendship, and shared experiences.

He said the MAC community was someplace where he finally felt he could be himself.

Jackie, parent of a MAC member

What Happened

A Natural, Unstaged Day of Community at Lakes Park

We were there to capture the moments that made the day meaningful. Throughout the gathering, members and families spent time together in small groups, shared food, joined activities, and enjoyed the open outdoor setting at Lakes Park.

What stood out most in the footage was the overall sense of community MAC has created with its members. Friends Giving gave family members and friends a chance to be part of that environment, see those connections firsthand, and participate in the kind of social setting MAC works to create year-round.

Just to be with friends.

Matt, MAC member

MAC founder Sandra Worth, MAC Program Director Lindsay Issa, Dustin Worth, and FGCU interns were in attendance, helping support the event and connect with members and families. The FGCU Student Service Learning director and several students were also on scene, lending a hand with field games and activities that encouraged participation and interaction.

From a filming perspective, the event felt natural. There were no staged moments or formal performances. The story came through in the conversations, laughter, games, shared meals, and small moments between members, families, organizers, interns, and volunteers.

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About My Autism Connection

A Mission Focused on Confidence, Independence, and Friendship

My Autism Connection, also known as MAC, supports autistic adults through community engagement, skill-building, advocacy, and meaningful social experiences. The organization focuses on creating opportunities that help members build confidence, develop independence, form friendships, and stay connected to their community.

Friends Giving reflected that mission in a personal way. Rather than focusing on a formal program, the gathering created a comfortable space where members could spend time with people who support them, while also giving friends, family, interns, and student volunteers a way to be involved.

I wanted to be both a teacher and a friend to people who might not have that support in life.

Eddie, FGCU MAC intern

Community Impact

Inclusion Means Creating Spaces Where People Belong

Events like Friends Giving matter because inclusion is not only about opening the door. It is about creating spaces where people feel welcomed, respected, and able to participate as themselves.

For MAC members and their families, a gathering like this offers more than a seasonal celebration. It helps strengthen relationships, reduce isolation, and create shared memories in a setting that feels approachable and supportive.

That’s all a parent wants, right? For their child to be happy and have friends.

Bonnie, mother of a MAC member

The parent perspective came through clearly in the interviews. Families spoke about MAC as more than an activity calendar. For many, it has become a source of friendship, support, and connection for both members and their loved ones.

It’s given us all a network of people to talk to and be connected with.

MAC member’s father

Another parent shared how important that sense of connection can become after school-age services and familiar social structures begin to fade.

When they leave high school, they lose a lot of that sense of community.

MAC member’s mother

The involvement of FGCU interns, student volunteers, and the Student Service Learning director also added another layer of community connection. Their presence showed how local partnerships can support nonprofit work while giving students hands-on experience serving and learning alongside community members.

Smaller gatherings like this can have a real impact. Without the pressure of a large crowd or heavily structured schedule, participants had room to interact naturally, enjoy the park, and connect in ways that felt genuine.

Event Highlights

What Stood Out at Friends Giving

• A relaxed Friends Giving gathering at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.
• MAC members, families, friends, organizers, interns, and FGCU students connecting in one shared space.
• Field games and activities supported by FGCU students.
• MAC leadership and organizers present throughout the event.
• Candid moments of conversation, laughter, food, and community.