Imagine the Impact We Can Make Together in 2023

This year we don't want to have to tell desperate parents "no, we're sorry, we are full." You can help significantly reduce how often that is the case.

Imagine the Impact We Can Make Together in 2023 image

$5,379

raised towards $47,750 goal

5

Supporters

Share:

This year we don't want to have to tell desperate parents "no, we're sorry, we are full." You can help significantly reduce how often that is the case.

Imagine What We Can Do Together in 2023

Friends,

This year we don't want to have to tell desperate parents "no, we're sorry, we are full." You can help significantly reduce how often that is the case. We are applying for several grants to help us provide these critical services to the children and families we serve, typically we need to raise about 50% of the need from generous individuals like you.
Respite Services + $14,500
We have ambitious plans to expand our Respite Services by 25% because the need is so great. These last few months, we have been full to capacity with both our Respite Fun Days and our Parent's Night Out. We plan on adding a 4th Respite Day per month starting in April and families like this one are counting on your support.

"By bringing my child to the wonderful people at Respite, he is able to socialize, use his imagination, show compassion, and make friends. All while doing it safely. I know he is in good hands at all times. While he is doing these things, mommy and daddy are able to get things done alone or have a date by ourselves, go grocery shopping alone, etc. I'm so thankful for this service."

Summer Camp +$50,000
Parents pleaded with us to expand our Summer Camp by another week. School is closed for 10 week's and last year's Summer Camp was only 8 weeks. This year we are adding another week to our Summer Camp; that alone will be an extra $12,000 because of the high student to staff ratio we need to maintain.. We also are planning to increase the number of Summer Camp participants by 72% from an average of 7 participants per day to 12, from a total of 11 Summer Camp participants to 19. Again, we had more people on the waiting list than we were able to handle last year.
Here's just some of the 82% of the achieved goals from last year (imagine the impact we can make together for even more children this year)
  • He developed positive relationships with peers by taking turns and making non aggressive contact by using words to express dislike or upset.
  • He was able to engage with an adult and identify concepts and answer simple questions regarding what he read.
  • She reduced tantrum behaviors.
  • He reduced the number of violent interactions with peers and siblings.
  • He identified the emotions he was feeling by drawing or pointing to a picture or poster.
Day Camps +$35,000
Right now, this week is Spring Break. We have 12 wonderful children (our current capacity) here Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 6:00 pm. This is a new program started in the fall and made a significant impact for families during the Winter Break over the holidays. Enabling parents to continue working and providing a committed safe, fun place for those children, many of whom were turned away or turned out by other programs not equipped to handle their special needs.

We were so thankful for the Joyful Friends Winter Camp! Holiday breaks are a challenge because our son Xaiden struggles too much to be in a typical day camp setting. Joyful Friends gave us the opportunity to work undisrupted and time for much-needed respite as well. Our son Xaiden had an amazing time. We saw social growth and improvement in his self-regulation skills after being at camp for two weeks.