Record Number of OHEL Bais Ezra Day Trips Provides the Warmest December on Record!
The frigid winter weather has been no match to the warmth and entertainment brought to hundreds of children and young adults with developmental disabilities thanks to a record number of day trip programs provided by OHEL Bais Ezra.
Thanks to additionally secured funding, OHEL has been able to provide a wide variety of day trips on legal holidays to children with disabilities.
In addition, OHEL’s holiday camps—as well as other school-break and end-of-summer programs have provided activity-enriched days for children with special needs when schools and regularly scheduled programs are not in session.
It can be extremely difficult when school is closed for families – whether because of vacation or legal holidays, and parents typically face tremendous hardship in finding safe and suitable recreational programs for their children with special needs.
OHEL’s programs provide, free of charge, a recreational “break” for children and a respite and “break” for parents. Rain or shine, from wind chills to heat indexes, OHEL helps families cope with the seasons by providing state-of-the-art programs and services for children with developmental disabilities. OHEL’s innovative programs continue to respond to some of the Jewish community’s most urgent needs.
On Chol Hamoed Succos, a large group of children spent a wonderful full day day at Hershey Park. Buses left early and together with OHEL’s spirited volunteers, children enjoyed a full day of new friendships, exciting rides, and of course warm food!
On Thanksgiving, many children enjoyed the OHEL outing to Prospect Park Zoo.
OHEL’s annual winter camp which takes place late December also provided fun and warmth to over 50 children and much needed respite to parents. Kids from the winter camp also enjoyed day trips to the New York Hall of Science, the Bronx Zoo and Funtime USA and the week of winter camp closed with a wonderful Shabbaton at the Raleigh Hotel.
As Shoshana, a parent of a child with autism expressed, “I don’t know how we would balance our work and home responsibilities when school is not in session without such help. Best of all, the children really enjoy these opportunities to interact with their peers in a safe and fun environment. We are so grateful to OHEL.”
With all these day trips, OHEL arranged everything from personal transportation pick-ups and drop-offs at children’s homes to door-to-door safe return after a full days fun activity.
Dozens of college age students spent their holiday vacations volunteering and helping OHEL with these many programs. As Dani, a volunteer from Long Island commented, “the smiles generated from these trips will give me great memories forever. I was so glad to be part of someone elses happiness.”
For more information about OHEL’s programs and services, or to volunteer please contact OHEL at 1800-603-OHEL or volunteers@ohelfamily.org.
