Project Sunshine Park Days take place on the first Monday and third Thursday of every month, come rain or shine. The events are held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Kate Barr Ross Park, which is located on the east side of I-45, on Airport Drive.
Thousands of volunteers every year give their time and love to children with disabilities and special needs. Project Sunshine Inc. welcomes volunteers to join in this fun and life-changing experience. The program trains volunteers to offer the best care for disabled and special needs children and to ensure the utmost safety of all involved.
To become a volunteer, visit the Project Sunshine website at http://www.hsu.edu/~org_pso/ and click “Join.” Acceptance requires a volunteer application, background check, interview, and mandatory retreat including annual dues of $10, date already passed. Prospective volunteers should also send a photo of themselves for Project Sunshine to keep on record. Volunteers will receive a Project Sunshine T-shirt to wear during volunteer hours. Project Sunshine accepts applications via postal mail or e-mail.
If you are unable to attend Project Sunshine Park Days but would still like to participate in changing children’s’ lives for the better, Project Sunshine has other service options available.
According to the website, their “programs aim to improve the quality of life for the children we serve as well as the lives of their siblings, parents and caregivers.”
As a whole, the website describes Project Sunshine as “a nonprofit organization that provides free educational, recreational and social programs to children and families living with medical challenges.”
The program reaches over 150 locations, including locations in Canada, China, Kenya, and Isreal. Because recreational and social activities are limited for children with disabilities, Project Sunshine’s service fills an important role in communities all over the world, but the organization needs the help of caring.
The Sunny Buddy program offers SHSU students the opportunity to build close relationships with disabled and special needs children within the Huntsville and Walker county areas. Challenger Sports is another program offered by Project Sunshine, offering sporting events for children and volunteers, as well as a Super Saturday event each year.
The First Annual Sunshine Showdown at SHSU begins March 5, at 5 p.m., but registration started Feb 23.
The event is to “raise as much money as you can for the kids of Project Sunshine and be crowned this year’s winner of the Sunshine Showdown,” according to their website.
The Sunshine Showdown is a competitive fundraiser in which all sororities, fraternities, and organizations are invited to participate.
To register an organization and change the lives of disabled children around the world, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~org_pso “form” link at the bottom of the page.