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Jan 30, 2025

Purposeful Inclusion Yields Powerful Benefits for Entire Community

Heather Quinn

Photography By

Arno Dimmling
What I was witnessing, but didn’t realize at the time, was the power of inclusion and the importance of community for all people, regardless of their exceptionalities. Inclusion is a mutually beneficial relationship. 

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I am convinced that allowing yourself to connect with people and experiences that challenge and inspire your soul will continually introduce you to others who do the same. You begin to seek out those qualities in people you meet. 

When I was invited to write about my dear friend Carol Bartholomew and her amazing nonprofit, Pockets Full of Sunshine, I knew I needed to reflect on the journey that led me to truly understand and value the power of community and Carol’s mission of inclusion for those with disabilities.

What sets the PFS Clay Shoot apart is the involvement of the Rays, who play a crucial role in making the day memorable. Their presence adds a unique flare and sweetness to the event, as they assist throughout the day. 

That journey started with a little boy. His name was Billy. 

It was the summer of 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia, and I was 17 years old. Meeting Billy marked a pivotal moment in my life. At the time, I was dating a high-school boy – a snobbish type who drove around in a flashy car. 

Billy was a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome, a person completely opposite of the “cool” high school life I was attempting to lead.

Billy was on my summer swim team and I had the honor of being his coach. Initially, I felt uncomfortable around Billy. I had never spent time with anyone with Down syndrome – or any developmental disability for that matter. 

Billy was boisterous and full of life, yet he had exceptionalities that were different from other children I knew. He was one of five children whose busy mother had no choice but to include him in every activity his siblings participated in, regardless of his challenges. Billy was treated just like all the other kids – he was included in swim meets and summer pool shenanigans like intense games of Sharks and Minnows. Billy was right there, in the fray with everyone else. 

What I was witnessing, but didn’t realize at the time, was the power of inclusion and the importance of community for all people, regardless of their exceptionalities. Inclusion is a mutually beneficial relationship. 

For example, while I coached Billy on backstroke, he taught me to get over my concerns about what others thought about me. I was obsessed with outside appearances (as most teenage girls are), and Billy taught me the art of not caring what others think. He didn’t care what car my boyfriend drove or how cool I was or wasn’t – he just wanted my time.

Billy was authentically himself. During swim meets, he would stop mid-race and chant to the crowd, “I’m No. 1” while emphatically pumping his fist in the air, completely unaware that he was going to come in dead last. 

I didn’t fully absorb these lessons at the time but I did register the feelings of fulfillment and being more comfortable in my skin after being with Billy and his family. There was a completely opposite response when I was riding around with the high school boy in a fast car, pretending to be something I was not. 

Summer eventually ended and I went on to my senior year, the high school boy left the picture (a welcomed departure, according to my parents), and Billy moved on, too. But I took with me the important lessons learned from that summer: Don’t date boys just because they have a fancy car and, more importantly, stepping outside my comfort zone and working with people like Billy left me feeling fulfilled. 

I would go on to continue volunteering with children and adults with disabilities throughout college and in my early career in marketing. I earned my master’s degree in special education upon relocating to Hilton Head Island. All these steps would eventually lead me to Pockets Full of Sunshine. 

More than a decade later, in 2013, Carol Bartholomew gracefully stepped into my life – quite literally, as she walked into the store I owned at the time. I was captivated by her deep love for her family. Like any devoted mother, she exuded great pride as she spoke of her three children, but her tone shifted as she shared concerns about her daughter, Sally, who had sustained traumatic brain injury as an infant.

Carol expressed her worries about the challenges ahead, as Sally was nearing the age when she would no longer receive special education services that had been crucial for their family. “At 21, individuals with disabilities lose access to school-based services, and the available programs are limited,” Carol said. “It’s like they fall off a cliff, along with their families.”

As Carol wandered around the shop, she was inspired by a line of candles I carried, handmade by a group of adults with developmental disabilities in another state. I don’t recall the specifics of our early conversations, but I will always remember the way she looked at that candle! 

Carol shared her desire to create a similar program for Sally and her peers – an on-going activity for them that would provide life skills and socialization, something they could be a part of. Even with my background in special education, I hadn’t truly considered this reality before. 

Over the years, our paths would cross occasionally and we would become friends. I was extremely lucky to witness Carol’s hopes transform into reality when Pockets of Full of Sunshine (PFS) was established in 2015. Its mission is to offer “inclusive opportunities to connect with one another and the wider community, bringing a little more sunshine to the lives of adults with disabilities.” 

PFS has become a thriving nonprofit that is deeply integrated into the greater Lowcountry community. Its remarkable growth and popularity are no surprise, thanks in large part to the creativity and dedication of co-founders Carol and her husband, RJ Bartholomew, Laurin Rivers, and Dayna Dehlinger, as well as the undeniable charm of the Rays, a term of endearment for the program participants. 

PFS imposes no boundaries for the Rays. “I believe they are capable of anything with the right support. We strive to create high-quality experiences,” Rivers said. “We refuse to settle for the bare minimum! Our community is often offered hand-me-downs, but our participants deserve brand new, exciting opportunities that honor their dignity and respect.” 

Rivers noted that all activities are free for the participating Rays.

Much like my initial swim lessons with Billy, my discussions with Carol about her steadfast commitment to supporting her daughter and her vision for fostering inclusion and community were inspiring. 

For me, their mission is especially meaningful. I want my three daughters to experience the joy of collaborating with others outside their usual circles, just as I did with Billy. Our support for PFS has truly become a family affair; my husband participates in the Annual Clay Shoot, and we cherish every moment spent with the Rays. 

The joy and laughter shared with them are unforgettable. We’ve belted out “Country Roads” alongside Gary during a karaoke night, picked pumpkins with Carter and Sophia at a Halloween event, and the girls still chuckle about a crafting session with Greg, who chatted them up for over an hour. 

And let’s not forget the unforgettable dance party with Sally and the Bartholomew family, where my husband and I learned firsthand that RJ’s homemade margaritas are the best on the island, and Sally is in serious competition with the Quinn girls for best dance moves – though I must admit, Sally takes the crown (but don’t tell my daughters!). 

This year is an exciting and important time for the PFS organization, as they prepare to move into their very own building – a dream that has long been in the making. 

“This year is crucial for us, as we are currently renovating our new space and actively fundraising to complete it,” Rivers said. “Our organization is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for our services.” 

As PFS does not receive government funding, the primary challenge lies in raising enough money to finish the warehouse space and sustain the organization’s outstanding programs.

One of the key events driving their fundraising efforts is the PFS annual Clay Shoot, set for March 7 at the renowned Forest City Gun Club. This all-day event will kick off with a coffee truck, followed by a silent auction, five-stand warm-up, safety clinic, exhibition, and more. 

 “Rain or shine, this event unites many generous individuals with a shared purpose,” Carol said. “On this special day, everyone – from the shooters and volunteers to the sponsors and the team at Forest City Gun Club – comes together to support the mission of PFS.” 

Participants are encouraged to join the PFS Clay Shoot as team members or sponsors, and donations can also be made through the website, pocketsfullofsun.org. “It’s not about what you get; it’s about what you give that truly counts,” RJ said.

What sets the PFS Clay Shoot apart is the involvement of the Rays, who play a crucial role in making the day memorable. Their presence adds a unique flare and sweetness to the event, as they assist throughout the day. 

While the Bartholomews are humble about their work, I can personally vouch for and brag about the significant impact PFS has on the lives of the Rays and the strength it brings to the Hilton Head Island community. Just as Billy encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, the transformative power of the Rays is undeniable and can uplift anyone. 

In a world fixated on images of perfection, wealth, and success, if you find yourself feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed, volunteer with the Rays. I promise you’ll leave feeling lighter and brighter. I wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your family and attend the PFS Annual Clay Shoot, where you can meet the Rays. You won’t regret it! 

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