HENDERSON, NC – June 12, 2012 – “When you have a child with special needs it is very easy to isolate yourself and not get out in the community,” said Amy Carden, mother of two-year-old Kirsten who has Triple X Trisomy and developmental delays. “You are always so busy with doctors and therapists that it seems like your life is totally focused on helping your child. Helping others is a great way to get that sense of community back.”
Amy Carden and Shawn Sossamon, of Twin Tracks BBQ Shack Competition Cook Off Team, partnered with Five County First In Families to hold a BBQ Fundraiser and donate all proceeds from the event. Five County First In Families is one of 13 local chapters of First In Families of North Carolina, a state-wide not-for-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities and their families.
“Partnerships are at the heart of First In Families,” said Krysta Gougler, Chapter Director of Five County FIF. “First In Families believes that everyone has the ability to give back, and we ask each family what unique skills they want to share with their community.”
Five County FIF assisted Carden and Sossamon with insulation for their basement ceiling where cold air came in through the floors. “We have six children all together, and we were living on one side of our home to keep heating costs down, said Carden, “FIF allowed us to move into the other side of our home and to set up a bedroom for our special needs child to do her therapies.”
FIF regularly partners with local organizations and civic groups to receive discounted or donated items in order to stretch funding to assist more families. Last fiscal year, Five County FIF partnered with local organizations and businesses to receive an extra $3,751.50 from discount and donations on goods and services.
Five County FIF Resource Consultant, Autumn Stearne, contacted Builders Discount Center in Henderson who provided a 10% discount on the insulation for the family.
“After I spoke to Autumn more in depth about what FIF is all about, the more I wanted to help out,” said Carden. “Shawn and I had never received any kind of help before, and we wanted to keep the ball rolling in helping others like we had been helped.”
Carden and Sossamon serve as volunteers on the Five County FIF Management Team, a group that advises and advocates for the chapter. Five County FIF welcomes volunteers for the Management Team, as well as donations such as developmental toys; baby items; house hold items; and gift cards.
First In Families of North Carolina helps people with disabilities and their families to believe in their dreams, achieve their goals and give back to others. FIFNC is a private not-for-profit NC corporation, supported in part by funding from the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS), Dept. of Health and Human Services. The FIFNC governing board consists of a majority of people with developmental disabilities or their family members. For more information about this and other FIFNC programs, visit www.fifnc.org or contact our office at 919.251.8368.