Learning Lunches from Long Cove!

Back when PFS was first created, one of the early things we did was to apply for a grant from a local foundation, the Long Cove Club Charitable Advisory Committee, for a tent so that we could take our Rays into the community to share their crafts.

We were delighted when the LCCCAC not only funded our grant but encouraged us in our mission and to come to them in the future with other needs! Over the years we have continued to enjoy a wonderful relationship with the members of this foundation and updating them on Pockets progress each year is always so uplifting for us and an affirmation that we are making a difference in the right way!

This year we approached the LCCCAC with an idea to enhance our vocational training with a lunch program! Our hope was that the Rays could learn a variety of important daily living and social skills through sharing meals. This included opportunities to practice skills related to dining out at restaurants as well as preparing lunches within our workspace.

As always, the LCCCAC was so encouraging and graciously offered to meet our grant request! We were thrilled! But circumstances had changed a bit due to the pandemic (what hadn’t changed due to the pandemic at this point, right?). Suddenly dining out had become a lot more difficult. So we shifted gears and got creative!

Our Rays have been working on ordering in instead of ordering out, skills that are just as relevant to daily living and even more appropriate in todays climate. Additionally we were able to procure a refrigerator and microwave for our workspace, allowing the adults to practice packing, planning and preparing simple meals within our workspace! We have dined safely outdoors a few times, and once we are able we will head back into restaurants to practice more important skills and celebrate!

Thank you Long Cove for your continued support and constant encouragement! You are so appreciated!