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Community pitches in to give a week at the beach to three friends with intellectual disabilities Date published: 9/6/2010
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
The smell of salt water and suntan lotion. Gritty sand on bare feet. Cold waves tickling toes. The sounds of laughter and splashing. For three area women, these standard beach highlights were completely new. The women--Brenda Lee, Mandy Gave and Michaela Anderson--have been friends for decades and have long dreamed of a girls' week at the beach. But vacations play only a little part in their lives. The three friends all participate in the Rappahannock Community Services Board's supported-living program, which helps adults with intellectual disabilities live independently. They live on a small amount of wages and disability checks. If they're careful with their income, the three can save up for a dinner out once or twice a month. But this year, the community stepped up and gave these women the opportunity of a lifetime: a week at Virginia Beach, in a spacious vacation home. In December, the women became part of The Free Lance-Star's Holiday Wishes feature. The series highlighted area residents with unique requests for the holidays. Wishes included jobs for single moms, college money for a homeless teen and the friends' hope for a vacation. After the women's story ran, about 10 people called to offer time shares or beach rentals for them and some RACSB case managers. One of the agency's board members had a home at Virginia Beach that seemed perfect for the women. The friends and RACSB staff spent the last week of July at the house. Others offered money for the trip, and some donated beach towels, sunscreen and battery-operated fans. One RACSB employee filled donated beach bags with games, nail polish, personalized mugs, bubbles, sun visors and more. "It was just such a nice effort on everybody's part," said case manager Regina Bostian. "The community just did the nicest things." Supported-living supervisor Tracy Mahone searched for coupons and discounts, and the donated money allowed the women to do a different activity every day of the week. They went to an aquarium, a petting zoo, a dinner movie theater and many stores. The three friends said shopping was definitely the highlight of the trip. Ordinarily, they pinch their pennies. But shortly after the December story ran, the three women started saving as much as they could. Anderson took on an extra job, watering gardens and plants.
Date published: 9/6/2010
for an uplifting story
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