According to Rays of Light’s Assistant Director Debbie Solomon,
“It’s 5:55 p.m. on the 1stFriday of the month; the volunteers patiently await the arrival of their assigned child for the evening. Some waiting for their special friend to burst through the doors of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church so that they can find out what their child has been doing since they last came together a month ago. Our two nurses are ready to meet and greet the children and the parents, and so is our off-duty police officer! Now it’s 6:00 p.m. and the children start arriving with their parents. Eyes wide, looking for their special friend that will play with them for the next four hours. The air is filled with excitement! This is what it’s like to be part of Rays of Light’s Night Lights program. We, together with our dedicated volunteers, provide free respite care to families with children with special needs and their siblings on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Fridays of each month from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Night Lights provides the parents the opportunity to have four free hours to themselves each month, knowing that their children are in safe, loving hands. The children are provided the opportunity to socialize and interact with other children. To just be kids! Numerous activities are offered over the course of four hours (a large gym to run and basketball to play; computer lab with educational software; a special craft in the arts and crafts room; areas for blowing bubbles, reading books and enjoying music; movie viewing; a recreation room with an Xbox; a different live entertainment each month (petting zoo, face painter, juggler, etc.); two playgrounds and visits from the Heart of Texas therapy dogs). Each Night Lights event gives 50 children and their parents this opportunity. Plans are underway to add a fourth night in September 2014, giving 50 additional children and their parents this opportunity. No child is turned away. The only criterion is age. The child with special needs must be between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old; their siblings must be between the ages of 6 weeks and 13 years old. We feel very fortunate to be able to provide this program to families with children with special needs and their siblings in our community. We welcome you to visit our website, www.raysoflightdallas.org.”
-Debbie Solomon