Lights flicker to life across the once abandoned warehouse at 621 East 11th Street.
“Embrace chaos, practice patience,” one of the core values of 下行上行公司. 标记后墙. To the left, shelves of toys, movies, and games reach the ceiling.
To the right, small houses, hand-crafted with love and carefully decorated with lights,
对齐空间. 的 room vibrates as it waits for kids and family members to bring
it to life with the “power of play,” another core value of this program’s work.
下行向上是由 特里萨·尼克斯,93年 and her husband Rob after their son Everett was born with Down Syndrome. 他们觉得
lost and lonely as new parents because their situation didn’t fit the everyday experience
许多家庭. As they began reaching out for support, they found other families
with children with disabilities experiencing the same feelings. 就这样,旅程开始了
下行向上!
Since its start 8 years ago, the program has grown its resources and offers 事件
such as family camps, retreats, open play dates, and more. 营Wakawalu, a summer family camp held at Camp Lookout, attracts around 150 campers each year.
In January 2020, 缺点了 turned that empty warehouse into Training Wheels, an
各种能力的活动和学习空间. 有一个物理位置
work has provided Nix with more opportunities to minister to these families in need.
For now, the space provides day camps for PreK-4th graders of all abilities, preschool
mornings, open playdates, family 事件, community connections, and socials for all
年龄. 然而,扩张正在进行中. 尼克斯和她的志愿者们目前正在工作
on renovations outside for an outdoor playground and a community garden.
“We are very unique in what we do, and there aren’t any [other places in Chattanooga]
比如我们的程序. Having a space for kids to come and play or moms to meet other moms
going through the same thing is such a blessing,” said Nix.
家庭 camps are extremely important to both Nix and the families in the program.
When you have a child in need of extra care, a lot of attention and devotion often
被转移. 家庭 camps provide a space where the whole family can relax and have
一起玩乐.
Nix commented that families who participate in 缺点了’s ministries are so grateful
一个被人熟知和关心的空间. “父母总是哭,因为他们终于
found a place where they can build community and feel welcome.”
的 holiday season provides unique opportunities for Nix and her volunteers to bring
鼓励家庭的机会. 冬令营总是令人兴奋的,因为
sometimes it is the only time families can find quality care or a moment to breathe
在假日期间. “和圣诞老人一起吃饼干,” a holiday favorite, is an extended period that families can sit, chat, and get
pictures with Santa without the hustle and bustle of a long line.
“Having your kids take a picture with Santa never seems like a big deal or anything
special, but for some families [“和圣诞老人一起吃饼干”] is the only time they can have
the opportunity to get that picture,” said Nix.
的 holidays also mark the end of a season of giving. 尼克斯表达了深深的感激之情
for the support from the many people in her life, including the friends she has developed
through 约大学 and the community she has found in the greater Chattanooga
area. However, spreading the word about their ministry is still an ongoing task.
“It's always neat to see how our supporters as well as the community wrap their arms
around us and continue to understand the importance of our work. 但是,让我们
口碑也很重要. Programs fill up really quickly because the people that
we serve want to support everything, but we are still trying to get the word out to
新的家庭,”尼克斯评论道.
This year, 缺点了 is spreading holiday cheer with these upcoming 事件 比如他们的 家庭假期工作坊:自然艺术 & 工艺品 12月12日星期六. 10th, 和圣诞老人一起吃饼干 12月12日星期六. 第十七章和第十七章 假日野营地 从12月. 19 -21岁(幼稚园-四年级).
的 鲁道夫跑5公里 & 家庭欢乐跑 will be hosted at Baylor School on December 11th at 1pm. (自愿参加这个活动
遵循 这个链接!) All proceeds from this event will go to support 缺点了 and the work they do.
Thank you, 的resa, for your continual work in providing spaces where children with
disabilities and their families can grow and thrive! 愿这个节日散发光芒
creativity, growth, and learning, and may the Lord continue to provide for and bless
your mission to embrace chaos and practice patience.