“Surely all God’s people...like to play,” as naturalist John Muir once said. Providence Child Center’s Recreational Activities Program integrates recreation therapy into the goal of improving the quality of life for children at the Center for Medically Fragile Children.

The program seeks to ensure that, through recreation, each child gets to enjoy a real childhood and has help with achieving developmental milestones. Program staff design, implement and chart all recreation for the 58 children living at the Center for Medically Fragile Children. Under the leadership of Elizabeth Sullivan, staff assess each child’s level of development and find the best recreational fit for each youngster. More than 100 active volunteers help the children in recreational activities and assist the speech and occupational therapists.

One such volunteer was George Abel, a kind, generous man who had a hug and a smile for everyone he met. George had just begun volunteering in the Recreational Activities Program when he died suddenly last November. His wife, Marci, has now taken up the cause as a Providence Child Center volunteer – and on June 1, she made a gift commitment to the center in memory of her husband and his love of the place. The George A. Abel, Jr., Activities Fund will support the children participating in the activities program at the Center for Medically Fragile Children.

With this endowment, and other gifts to Providence Child Center, the children can develop to their highest potential through group activities, aquatic exercise and the use of specialized equipment. For example, a child who sees only shadows can benefit from light boxes, cue cards and visual stimulation equipment that enhance interaction with the child’s environment. A youngster who can activate switches to communicate is now able to turn on and play with an adaptable toy. And for a girl such as Meghan who can bear weight on her feet, a Johnny Jump Up seat harness not only builds muscle but allows for free movement and hours of fun.

This summer, with the help of volunteers, Providence Child Center is running the first-ever Providence summer camp, called Camp P.L.A.Y (Providing Laughter and Adventure for Youth).

For more information, please contact Dick Clark.