KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Friends of Tennessee's Babies with Special Needs serves families in 16 East Tennessee counties. Robin Hamrick, the director of programs, said the nonprofit is funded by grants, sponsorships and donations, so programs are free for families.
"We try to have lots of events that are available to families so that they can network with other families, and they don't feel so isolated and alone," Hamrick said. "But not only that, so that they can make memories together and bond together as a family."
On Saturday, the nonprofit hosted a Zoo Day and families were able to get in for free. This is one of several events they have planned for the year.
"It's kind of hard sometimes for families who have children with special needs to be able to go out to places and do things," Hamrick said. "There's lots of unexpected expenses that come along with having a child with special needs. And so this, this is because we get a grant to pay for things like this, the families can come in for free."
And the parents agree. They said these events serve as a great way to socialize.
"It's great to be able to meet other people that have kids that are involved in these programs as well so we can get together outside of the events and let our kids just be kids," Antonia Zimmer, a mother at the event, said.
She said it's a good way for her kids to let out their energy.
"We love to come to these events, be able to get our kids outside and just explore and see the animals and have a safe space for them to explore and to run out their energy," Zimmer said.
Another parent said she's thankful for these events because it helps her get all of her kids out doing something fun.
"I think it's really something that a lot of families take for granted and being able to get out of the house, especially with high-cost events like this," Sarah Glenn said. "Especially when you have kids with special needs, where you might have something unpredictable happen, and you need to be flexible, and the other kids have to miss out a lot on fun things like that."
She said these events are also helpful for her daughter to make friends.
"You can see anyone with a sticker, like Laurel, it gives her an opportunity to see other kids with glasses are there. For a while she had to wear hearing aids," Glenn said. "And so we can you know... I lifted my hearing aids like you and you see the same parents at a lot of the same events. And so you build relationships. It does. She's so social, she loves it. So it's been really, really helpful."
The organization has many more events lined up this spring including its Butterfly Run. The race will be held on Saturday, May 4 at Springbrook Park in Alcoa. It's a family-friendly event with kids' activities, a timed 3K race and a 1-mile walk/run/wheelchair.