Polk State OTA students “pour with purpose” to continue support of The Mission

The latest initiative in the Polk State College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program’s partnership with The Mission of Winter Haven, a nonprofit that caters to the hungry and homeless, brought people to Downtown Central Park for a hot cup of coffee and a chance to make a difference.

During an event called Pouring with a Purpose on June 25, the OTA Program and The Mission provided coffee to members of the community. The event was sponsored by Fuego27, which supplied the coffee, Balance Staffing Partners, Prendiville Family Dental and Dunkin’.

“It was very important to me,” said Kimberly Arce, owner of Fuego27. “I believe in the goals of The Mission. This was an opportunity to get involved and show what we can do (as a community).”

Over the three hours in the park, OTA and The Mission patrons provided not just coffee, but also gave information and collected donations. OTA students Star Arce and Emily Creamer spearheaded the event.

“I felt there was a need within the homeless population to change the perception of what the community feels or how they see them,” Star Arce said. “Allowing them to work together and serve the community shows that they deserve dignity, respect, that they’re human overall and they’re capable of doing whatever they put their minds to.”

The event also allowed patrons from The Mission to practice customer service skills that will later help with employment. This included welcoming people, taking coffee orders and filling those orders.

“While our roots are in mental health, we also work in physical health, rehabilitation, hospitals and we also work in community settings,” OTA Program Director Annette Bullard added. “In every setting, our emphasis is to help people get back to the things they want and need to do. The folks here today want to regain employment readiness skills and enter the workforce.”

The hands-on collaboration between the entities started in 2023 and is the first of its kind in the nation. It allows Polk State’s OTA students to assess clients at The Mission, design interventions and deliver group programs under the supervision of their clinical coordinator.

“This started as an idea and a basic concept and has grown,” exclaimed Lucerito Gonzalez, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and professor for the OTA Program. “It serves as a framework for what others can do in their communities to help this vulnerable population.”

Last summer, OTA students and staff provided certificates to participants from The Mission for successful completion of the program’s training sessions. The trainings led to The Mission’s clients securing housing and employment. Two veterans garnered full-service support with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“It’s really rewarding seeing the people who you work with, the people who you help benefit from your treatment and your help,” student and veteran Henry Lloyd explained. “As long as we have that togetherness between Polk State College and The Mission, this community and the homeless population will benefit.”

During the Fall 2025 Semester, the Polk State OTA Program was awarded a 10-year accreditation – the highest possible – through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Polk State’s students exceed state and national averages for passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam. Its 2025 class boasted a perfect 100% pass rate.

“What has stood out to me as an Occupational Therapy student at Polk State is the effort and the time that the professors take to get us ready for environments like the one I’m in now,” Star Arce concluded. “If I had not gone through the training…I would have never been able to put into practice and into work these things today. Seeing my growth during this process has been quite rewarding because I have all the tools I feel like I need.”