Special Kids Therapy & Nursing Center held its Cornelius Christmas program last week to provide gifts for 356 individuals in need.
“The joy on the families’ faces is unexplainable,” said Sheri Weber, Special Kids director of family resources. “They stand there and cry. They are so humbled, and for one moment, they don’t have to worry.”
Families caring for children with special needs often face financial burdens and have difficulty affording gifts for the Christmas tree. At Special Kids, the Cornelius Christmas program allows individuals and groups from the community to give back to families who need financial support the most. This year, 92 families were served through the generosity of the local community.
“It is so rewarding for us to see the excitement from the community,” said Weber. “It has become a tradition for our sponsors who come back year after year. It’s not just giving presents. They are giving love.”
The Special Kids Family Resources Department is responsible for identifying the families in need and matching them with a community sponsor while keeping everything confidential. Sponsors range from individuals, families, employee groups, and Sunday school classes who come together to provide for an individual family.
“We help the parents, too,” said Weber. “It’s about helping the whole family.”
This year sponsors provided toys, bikes, and clothes for the children. Families were also given food, towels, shampoo, household items, coats, and shoes to help fill their ongoing needs.
“Including us in the Cornelius Christmas program has provided what my husband and I could not,” said one anonymous recipient. “Special Kids is a tangible expression of God’s love for my family.”
Special Kids is a Christian therapy and nursing center for children with special needs. The Murfreesboro-based ministry started with one child in 1998 and has grown to serve over 3,000 children from 18 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information on Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com or call 615.893.4892.