April 2025 Newsletter!

It’s Amazing Where One Small Step Can Lead…

In March we marked three years since our first humble steps of faith toward establishing our special community in the Sarasota / Bradenton area!  Thanks to the generous support of local churches, businesses and individuals, we have:

• more than doubled the number of STARS we serve

• recruited passionate, highly qualified staff

• almost tripled the number of talented and dedicated volunteers

• expanded our program from four hours per week to three full days per week

• expanded our class offerings to include Culture & Cooking, American Sign Language, Life Skills, and more

• and made significant progress in developing our first special enterprise - our greeting card studio.

Our intention has been to give adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a place where their limitations are understood and accepted and where we invest the time and resources to develop their potential, but God always has bigger plans and…

Unexpected Blessings…

We have an incredible group of dedicated, passionate volunteers. In February Chuck Janson, a retired dentist, joined the team to help in our greeting card studio.  Not only is this his first experience with our organization; this is his first experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The following is an excerpt from an email he sent just a few weeks into his experience…

“I am really enjoying my time with Suncoast STARS - more than I could have imagined. God is good. It has to be His wonderful grace.

Emily F is so much fun and energy. Emily P. will not stop smiling. Matthew asks me each week if I am coming the following Tuesday. I can’t let him down. It’s wonderful to be wanted.  Mary is a pleasure and Rikki is too. Jenny is sweet…”

As I continued reading, I was impressed by his attention to and concern for each one of our STARS and his observations of our culture and the structure of our program.  But what impressed me most was the ideas his experience had generated in such a short period of time - the idea to lead a men’s discipleship group. In just a matter of weeks Chuck’s heart has been so touched by our STARS that he, too, has caught the vision and joy of empowering the lives of adults with special needs.  

And That’s Not All…

Back in November, during our Stride to Thrive event at Grace Community Church, as more than 125 STARS and supporters walked to support our community, Carol Long was riding her bike on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and stopped to ask someone what was going on. When she learned about our innovative program for adults with special needs she sent an email inquiring about volunteer opportunities. Before we knew it, she was showing up every Thursday morning to help out. Thursday mornings turned into all day Thursdays. The next thing we knew, Carol offered to lead a class to share about her experiences as a former teacher and missionary in the Philippines. Our STARS have been learning about the 7641 islands that make up the Southeast Asian country and that 50% of the population is under the age of 25! Carol has had so much fun using her creative talents to teach our STARS about life in Southeast Asia she’s offering to teach more classes!

“A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes other will himself be refreshed.” ~ Proverbs 11:25

We’d Love to Have You Join Us on the Journey!

To support us financially go to Donate | Suncoast STARS

To volunteer go to Get Involved | Suncoast STARS

For more information, email info@suncoaststars.org or call 720.480.0950

www.suncoaststars.org

“He counts the STARS and calls them all by name.” ~ Psalm 147:4