Tuesday Group Benefits from New Home
Tuesday Group has been meeting since 2007. But last week, they had a first. They met at our new home in the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports and Inclusion Center.
Although our space is not yet completely renovated and ready, Tuesday Group was able to meet in the Life Skills room, which has a learning kitchen and is right next to what will become our permanent home.
There group members laughed and learned and had a great time as they made pizza and cookies together. It was truly heart-warming to see them back together in person.
Francine Dozier, our advocacy specialist, was there to lead things, and afterward she talked about how great the SOMI building will be for the people we serve.
Group members, she said, were incredibly excited and loved learning some cooking skills.
And she was equally excited.
“I love it,” she said. “There are so many stoves and plenty of things to do over there. The new space is so much easier for Tuesday Group, especially the kitchen.”
Francine added that she is looking forward to more activities in the future, including more cooking classes, art classes, exercise activities, and teaching group members about health, safety, and more.
Erica Chapin, community and partnerships manager, was on hand to take some photos and said it was great to see Tuesday Group having such a great time.
“The group was excited to be in the new space where they could be involved in making their own lunch,” she said. “They were proud to sit down and enjoy what they made. Everyone was grinning ear to ear.”
And the new space already is paying off for the people we serve, Chapin said.
“The space allowed the group to sit together and socialize when they first arrived,” she remarked. “Once everyone had arrived, they could easily transition into making lunch in the same space. The space was large enough that everyone could participate at the same time.”
Executive director Deb Atwood also was on hand to witness this first event at the new space and was thrilled to see how the space will allow D&HHS to create activities that will build the independence, confidence, and positive identity of those we serve.
“It is a safe learning space that the group can look forward to every Tuesday,” she said with a broad smile.