Turtle Wing Foundation has been “helping individuals with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential” since 2011, providing services to families in Fayette, Lavaca, Colorado and surrounding counties. One of the more popular programs is the Social Skills Outing Groups. Second Chance Emporium adopted this program from the beginning, and because of their support Turtle Wing has been able to expand the groups to include the Turtle Sliders (PreK-2nd grade), Turtle Tweens (3rd-8th grade), Turtle Teens (high school) and the Aged-Out Program for young adults until they are 30 years of age. This is an opportunity for Social Skills Training, which incorporates a monthly outing that provides a chance for individuals with social skills needs to spend a Saturday participating in fun activities, working on social skills, and establishing and maintaining friendships. The facilitator provides a lesson and is available for coaching during the outings. The social skills coaching portion of the program is fully underwritten by Turtle Wing Foundation thanks to a continued grant from Second Chance Emporium, which recently donated $9500 for the 2022 schedule to assist in the continual growth of these programs in the Fayette County area. Participants with social skills, communication, sensory, and behavioural needs who can function in a group of up to 12 children are encouraged to attend. At times participants will be encouraged to invite a friend to help provide balance to the interactions. Interested families should contact Destiny Psencik, Executive Director at destiny@turtlewingfoundation.org, or call at 979-505-5090. For information on Turtle Wing’s early intervention, supplemental services and community education & outreach activities visit www.turtlewingfoundation.org or follow them on Facebook @turtlewingfoundation.
Second Chance Emporium (Fayette Resale Inc.) is a non-profit resale shop in LaGrange, Texas serving all of Fayette County. They are run by a coalition of seven local churches representing different denominations. The majority of the work is performed by unpaid volunteers from the member churches, as well as the community at large. These churches receive no monies or in-kind donations from Second Chance for the service hours their parishioners donate. Second Chance accepts donations of clothing, shoes, household goods, furniture, etc., in good, working, usable condition from the public, and resells items at very low prices in order to benefit the underprivileged members of our community. Profits from the sale of these items are distributed to local charities, which have applied for funding and been selected by the Second Chance Emporium's Board of Directors. For more information on Second Chance Emporium, contact 979-968-6070.
Pictured left to right: Destiny Psencik, Turtle Wing Foundation Executive Director; Nancy Hajek, Second Chance Emporium Church Coordinator; Gayle Schielack, Second Chance Emporium Store Director; and Julia Thomas, Second Chance Emporium Asst. Store Director