Pockets Full of Sunshine hosts annual event
A happy group of 2022 Fun in the Sun for Everyone participants
Since 2014, Pockets Full of Sunshine (PFS), 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, has been working to make the Lowcountry a “sunnier place” by providing social and vocational opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities, known as “Rays.” The name was inspired by recycled material from an automotive label company that looks like a small yellow sunshine. The sunshines are recycled and re-purposed by adults with disabilities who turn them into greeting cards, gift tags, magnets, stationery and so much more. Funds raised support community-based activities and vocational opportunities, such as screen printing, for adults with special needs.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide programs to enhance the lives of Rays by increasing exposure and interactions within the community, promoting independence, growth, a sense of belonging, and personal pride,” said Laurin Rivers, co-founder with Dayna Dehlinger and partnering with Carol and RJ Bartholomew. “Our annual Fun in the Sun for EVERYONE event embodies these ideals.”
Representatives from the Miss Hilton Head Island and Miss Bluffton organizations joined in on the fun.
Fun in the Sun for EVERYONE is scheduled for Friday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and includes beach activities for people with special needs, their families, and friends. All ages and abilities are invited to join in the community fun. The event will be held beachfront at the Marriot Surf Watch Resort.
This annual event not only kicks off the summer for the Rays, but it gives all community members, no matter their age or ability, the opportunity to enjoy the beach in a safe and inclusive setting. Activities at the event will include paddle boarding, boogie boarding, surfing, sandcastle building contest, kites, face-painting, DJ Crush spinning tunes, food, drinks, and more.
In the State of South Carolina, special needs students can attend high school until they are 21 years of age. After 21, they experience a steep decline in services programs and opportunities, which is why Rivers and Dehlinger started PFS.
Brian Ciccantelli proudly riding a wave with the assistance of volunteer Andrew Jeffrey.
“Our desire is to try to bridge the gap into adulthood and offer opportunities and meaningful things to do, so that they can be active participants in our community,” Rivers said. “Everyone deserves that.”
Fun in the Sun for EVERYONE was built off a 2015 Special Needs Surf Day, started by local high school surfer James Bartholomew, who wanted to provide a fun day of surfing for his sister Sally and her classmates with special needs.
“James felt very inspired to invite Sally and her classmates to the beach to surf and play because he recognized that many of them had probably never experienced anything similar,” Rivers said. He recruited some of his surfer friends to come with him to teach Sally and her friends how to surf on donated boards. They spent the entire afternoon just playing around in the waves and helping them all get up on the boards. It was so wonderful and inclusive that we decided there and then to make this an annual event.”
This event that began with about 50 people celebrating beach life with the Rays has now grown into a bigger celebration that includes between 250 and 300 people from all over—even as far away as Charleston—with many special needs families planning their vacations around Fun in the Sun.
Samantha Silver poses with the ever popular Fun in the Sun mermaid.
“We realize that the beach can be intimidating for people with special needs, especially if mobility issues make it difficult to access,” Rivers said. “We try to make it as accessible as possible for everyone. Each year, we have families come that say, ‘Oh, we’ve never taken our child to the beach, or they’ve never actually gotten into the ocean before.’ It’s always really cool to witness those experiences.”
Pre-registration for Fun in the Sun for EVERYONE is encouraged so participants can request a T-shirt size and sign the event waiver. Volunteers should also register in advance on the website. Lifeguards and volunteers will be included in the event to ensure a safe environment for all. Adult/caregiver supervision is required for all attendees. Shuttles from the parking lot to the beach will be provided, and the beach is wheelchair accessible.
Visit pocketsfullofsun.org for more information and to register online.
