Winter precipitation wouldn’t stall the momentum for one new outlet for the region.
Representatives with Kids Like Us welcomed in a steady flow of traffic Saturday for the open house of their new community learning center, located at 106 Rogosin Drive, down the road from Elizabethton High School.
Kids Like Us is a new nonprofit organization focused on serving the special needs community in the Tri-Cities. With the new center, set to open to the public Tuesday, Jan. 2, founder Lisa Lyons said Saturday’s open house gave the perfect head start for the pending opening day.
“The open house went great,” Lyons told the Elizabethton Star. “We averaged around 80 people during the day and we were able to sign up around 20 volunteers for our opening. We probably talked to 10 different sets of parents with special needs children. It was such a positive experience and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
Visitors had the chance to view the recently renovated building and view the different tools that will be available to the students of the facility. Along with tours, individuals had the chance to listen to guest speaker Dr. Josh Wandell, former East Side Elementary Principal whose story of battling with ALS has impacted the entire state of Tennessee.
Wandell took time to express his gratitude to Lyons and the board of the facility and said the center will be the perfect tool to help bring the community together.
“The center will depend on community support on a continuous basis,” Wandell said. “This center will specialize in teaching the children and young adults life skills. Kids Like Us will also be a great benefit to the parents and families of children with disabilities. The center will also allow children and young adults the opportunity to volunteer and serve with Kids Like Us.”
Lyons said she was appreciative of Wandell stopping by and that his story has made a crucial impact to the children within the community.
Kids Like Us will start offering registration next week for 2018 classes. Children or young adults with a diagnosed disability will be able to attend free of charge. Children without a disability will also be able to attend for a small cost.
Having the ability to have children of all different walks of life participate in different events is important for future development and teaching equality and respect, according to Lyons.
The center has various stations set up to teach various life skills, ranging from cooking, cleaning and utilization of money. The center will also feature rooms geared for music, sensory and art.
Preparing for the open house didn’t come without hard work, according to Lyons. The founder thanked the efforts of Tammy Taylor, with the local UPS Store, and Big John’s Closeouts for their assistance.
Volunteer opportunities are also still available and community members can still contribute monetary donations to help with further improvements at the facility. Kids Like Us will hold a fundraiser at Barnes & Noble of Johnson City on Friday, Dec. 15. The event will last all day and representatives from the center will be on site from 5 to 7 p.m.
To learn more about the facility or how to get involved, visit the Kids Like Us Community Learning Center Facebook page online.