‘Autism Feeling Thankful Fun Day’ a colorful success!

COPE (Community Outreach People Empowerment) powered by CHCSCT hosted a very informative and colorful event for families with children on the Spectrum of Autism on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Courtyard on St. George Street. 

Volunteers gathered from CHCSCT, Gonzales High School, JROTC, Mayor Steve Sucher, Vince Ortiz-Victoria College, Pastor Jesse Elizondo-Two Rivers Bible Church, WIC and event sponsors to kick off the morning setup up with a very generous donation of breakfast tacos by Mr. Taco and donuts by CHCSCT.

Balloon arch designs were created by Priscilla Estrada- Balloons Decor & More, Steele Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Gonzales donated several bouquets of multicolored balloons for the event.

The teams worked to create activity stations such as Bead Making Arts & Crafts, Come & Grow it planting, Coloring Book Central, Create a Colorful Pumpkin, Lego Building, Rock Painting, Puzzles by the Boy Scouts of America and a variety of fun games and other activities. 

Cookies & Capri Sun were a delicious treat donated by Gonzales Healthcare System.

Autism resources and educational information were provided to the families by Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Mental Health Authority for the area-Mara Jabsen, Community Education & Outreach Coordinator and C&C Spectrum to Infinity, a local Luling organization dedicated to Autism-

Adriana Romero, Sabrina Aldis. 

Sponsors of the event included: COPE powered by CHCSCT, Gonzales Inquirer- Lew Cohn, WIC, Gonzales Healthcare System, Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Kathy Crawley-Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital, Dept of State Health Services, C&C Spectrum to Infinity, Come & Crepe It, Gonzales Main Street-Tiffany Hutchinson-Padilla, Kathy Crawley, Holly Danz, Alex Padilla,  Bruce Maulding & Family, Mayor Steve Sucher, Rotary Club of Gonzales, Steele Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Gonzales, Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Taco, Coastal Office Solutions, Victoria College, Pastor Jesse Elizondo-Two Rivers Bible Church, JROTC-Gonzales High School, GISD, Sarah Zamora -Rivera, Sandra & Mike Kabala, Karen & Rob Blakeley, Priscilla Estrada- Balloons Decor & More, Moses Nelson-Crawford, our youngest volunteer, and lastly the family of Chase Dabbs who inspired the event.

The group looks forward to celebrating upcoming Autism Awareness Month in April of 2025 and is already planning another successful event. 

A very grateful thank you to the stores downtown that participated with the Colorful Noodle Scavenger Hunt and distributed prizes to the kids. Thank you Gonzales Inquirer for helping us get the word out and for your support of autism throughout this project. 

A fun time was had by all!