The Hamilton Church of God and Greater Miami Valley East Butler YMCA are the third and fourth locations to sign on as hosts for the event.
The program launched in October 2014 at Charleston Club in West Chester Twp., and grew to add Center Pointe Christian Church in Liberty Twp. in January of this year. Those two sites have provided volunteer-based respite to over 34 families with special needs.
Lisa McCoon, Family Connections Coordinator over the PAUSE program, said her long-term vision for the program is to continue to add more locations for families to unwind and relax.
“These families and caretakers need and want our help and I feel so privileged to have a front seat to the amazing ways our community is surrounding them with support,” McCoon said in a release.
The program currently provides respite at the following locations:
- 5 to 8 p.m. second Thursday of each month at The Charleston Club, 7786 Service Center Drive, West Chester Twp. Ages 9-15.
- 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. third Friday of each month at Center Pointe Christian Church, 5962 Hamilton Mason Road, Liberty Twp. Ages 3-12.
- 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. fourth Friday of each month at Hamilton Church of God, 1760 Millville Ave., Hamilton. Ages 5-15.
6 to 8 p.m. quarterly starting soon at East Butler YMCA, 6645 Morris Road, Hamilton. Ages 13-22.
“I have had parents in tears, grab my hand and genuinely thank me for giving their special needs kiddo three hours of fun because it’s not often they get invited to do fun things with other kids,” McCoon said. “I have had caregivers tell me the date on the calendar is the one thing that got them through the month. I have had families tell me that until PAUSE, they had gone 10 years without a date night. As a parent of a special needs child I get it. We don’t like to ask for help. We don’t want to burden others.”
For more information, visit www.bcesc.org/pause.aspx.
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