HILTON HEAD — Pockets Full of Sunshine, a Beaufort County nonprofit serving adults with special needs, moved into its new headquarters called The Sunshine House.
On Sept. 14, families, volunteers and civic leaders gathered at 64 Arrow Road on Hilton Head Island to watch PFS member Sally Bartholomew cut the ceremonial ribbon at the house, a project completed by Joe Sanders and Jeff Fotia of Construction, Management and Consulting Services, LLC.
“The Sunshine House is a shining example of what we can achieve when we come together as a community with compassion and resolve; it’s a beautiful thing,” said RJ Bartholomew, PFS cofounder and parent.
The new headquarters was designed to encompass PFS’s core mission of providing “a safe, joyful and nurturing environment where adults with special needs can discover their strengths, connect with others and lead fulfilling lives.”
It will serve as the organization’s hub for programming, which includes recreation, arts and crafts, music therapy, vocational support and technology classes.
Outside the house, gardens grow, while materials, equipment and artwork donated by local artisans and businesses are incorporated inside. Within are multipurpose, craft staging, music and sensory-friendly activity rooms.
Additionally, The Sunshine Shop has opened at the house, featuring screen-printed items and crafts by the Rays, or the members PFS serves.
Founded in 2015, PFS now serves over 100 families in the Lowcountry, powered by a staff of professionals and trained volunteers.
“Our mission at Pockets Full of Sunshine is to create a community where every adult with special needs is seen, heard and valued,” said Laurin Rivers, cofounder of the nonprofit. “It takes a village to build what we see here today, and we are grateful for the outpouring of support that made this dream possible.”