Imago Dei

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Imago Dei A Ministry for the Modern Special Needs Family which fosters inclusion, respite and resources. We are a part of First Assembly Gastonia.

Our Outreach ministries include Buddy Break-Gastonia and MAKE 'm SMILE NC.

💙 5 DAYS AWAY! 💙The Greater Charlotte Buddy Walk is almost here!!Imago Dei is so excited to see all our amazing VIPs thi...
10/19/2026

💙 5 DAYS AWAY! 💙

The Greater Charlotte Buddy Walk is almost here!!
Imago Dei is so excited to see all our amazing VIPs this Saturday at Truist Field! We’ll be there with smiles, hugs, and info about Buddy Break Gastonia and MAKE ’m SMILE NC — so please stop by our booth and say hello!

Who’s coming?! Drop a 👋 or tag your friends & family in the comments so we can get hyped together!

📅 Saturday, October 24
🕐 1:30 – 5:00 PM
📍 Truist Field (Uptown Charlotte)

Registration is still open and FREE:
👉 https://charity.pledgeit.org/greatercharlottebuddywalk

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! See you soon! 💙👟

10/15/2026

Angels for Autism applications are OPEN!

The holidays can bring extra financial pressure for families, and no family should have to navigate those challenges alone.

Through our Angels for Autism program, Autism Strong Foundation is working to support eligible families across the Greater Charlotte region who need a little extra help this holiday season.

We believe every family deserves to feel supported, and sometimes a little help can make a meaningful difference.

Know a family who may benefit? Please share this post with them. You never know who might need this resource.

🎄 Applications are open now. Visit autismstrong.org/apply to learn more and apply.

-ASF

💙 Join us at the 29th Annual Greater Charlotte Buddy Walk! 💙Imago Dei is excited to be part of this special day with the...
10/11/2026

💙 Join us at the 29th Annual Greater Charlotte Buddy Walk! 💙

Imago Dei is excited to be part of this special day with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
🕐 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Truist Field (Uptown Charlotte)

We’ll be there promoting our programs — Buddy Break Gastonia and MAKE ’m SMILE NC — so please stop by our booth and say hello! We’d love to connect with you and share more about the support and community we offer.

Registration is LIVE and FREE for:
Individuals with Down syndrome and their families
Individual participants who want to come raise awareness and show support

Come walk with us, celebrate inclusion, and be part of an amazing community of families and friends!

👉 Register today: https://charity.pledgeit.org/greatercharlottebuddywalk

Imago Dei looks forward to seeing all the amazing families and individuals who attend. Let’s make this Buddy Walk one to remember! 💙👟

10/03/2026

“Inclusion begins with recognizing that every person, regardless of ability, is created in the image of God and has gifts to offer the church community,” wrote Sunita Theiss in 2024.

“Rather than viewing individuals with disabilities as needing charity, we are called to recognize their full humanity and the ways they contribute to our collective worship. Galatians 3:28 reminds us that in Christ, ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ This unity includes people of all abilities.

The church has the opportunity to radically transform our communities toward belonging—to make every aspect of the way we engage universally accessible and uniquely beautiful for every member of the body of Christ so that no person is limited from fully participating in the life of the church.

Inclusion is not just a moral imperative; it is a lifelong spiritual practice. By intentionally creating spaces where individuals with disabilities are welcomed and celebrated, the church can become a true reflection of the kingdom of God, where all are valued and all belong.”
https://chrst.today/4vk7BMC

Looking for something to do this Saturday? Come out and check out some pretty cool cars!
09/14/2026

Looking for something to do this Saturday? Come out and check out some pretty cool cars!

08/31/2026

✨ What a day! ✨

Make m Smile happened this past Saturday… and it was pure magic! 💛

Seeing the smiles light up every face made the whole day truly unforgettable. From the laughter to the connections, it was everything we hoped for and more.
A huge, heartfelt thank you to every volunteer and vendor who showed up and shared their love, acceptance, expertise, and resources with our VIP families. You made this day special — we couldn’t have done it without you! 🙌

📸 VIPs & Vendors who were there:
If you snapped any photos, we’d love to see them! Please upload your pictures to our PhotoCircle so we can relive the joy together:

https://join.photocircleapp.com/CPSS7AVY5V

Thank you for being part of something so beautiful. The smiles say it all. 😊

🎉 ATTENTION ALL VIPs & Families of Individuals with Special Needs! 🎉MAKE ‘m SMILE NC is TOMORROW!📍 CaroMont Health Park⏰...
08/28/2026

🎉 ATTENTION ALL VIPs & Families of Individuals with Special Needs! 🎉

MAKE ‘m SMILE NC is TOMORROW!
📍 CaroMont Health Park
⏰ 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Come join the fun! We’ve got bounce houses, games, temporary tattoos, characters & mascots, FREE food, tons of community resources, endless smiles… and so much more! 😄🎈

Plus, we’re giving away several toys/games AND gift cards from:
Texas Roadhouse • McDonald’s • Starbucks • Zaxbys • Krispy Kreme • Wendy’s • Domino’s • Sweet Frog • Waffle House • Captain’s Cap
…and a ticket pack from the Gastonia Ghost Peppers! 🎁⚾

Who’s coming?! Drop a comment below if you’ll be there and tag a VIP family that needs to attend — we can’t wait to see those smiles! 💙

08/28/2026

North Carolina Friends... Don't worry about registering, you can JUST COME! Friends, family, VIPs, everyone is invited to this party celebrating kids and adults with special needs (our VIPs). Don't miss it!

🗓 TOMORROW August 29, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
📍CaroMont Health Park, Gastonia, NC

🌟 A huge THANK YOU to our winning smile sponsor, AJ and the Cool Kids! 🌟We’re so grateful to this incredible nonprofit f...
08/25/2026

🌟 A huge THANK YOU to our winning smile sponsor, AJ and the Cool Kids! 🌟

We’re so grateful to this incredible nonprofit for supporting MAKE ‘m SMILE North Carolina and for the powerful work they do for autism families every day!
From their website: AJ and the Cool Kids was founded by Tonya and Antonio Tolson after their son AJ’s early autism diagnosis. Their mission is to support families and celebrate the unique strengths of children on the autism spectrum. Through education, awareness, and meaningful financial assistance, they work to lighten the load for families facing the high costs and emotional challenges of autism. They’re building a community of acceptance and opportunity so every child can thrive — because no family should have to face autism alone!
👉 Learn more & support their mission: ajandthecoolkids.org

🎉 MAKE ‘m SMILE North Carolina is almost here!
The biggest party celebrating kids and adults with special needs… our VIPs (Value + Incredible Purpose)!
📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
🕘 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 CaroMont Health Park
800 W Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC

Expect family-friendly entertainment, games, beloved characters, food, community resources, and endless SMILES — all FREE for VIPs and their immediate family (parents & siblings)!

VIP families: Pre-register NOW so you can skip the lines and jump into the fun faster on event day!
🔗 Register here: https://nathanielshope.org/our-programs/make-m-smile/make-m-smile-north-carolina-vip/

Thank you, AJ and the Cool Kids, for helping us celebrate every unique and amazing VIP! 💙

Let’s fill the park with laughter — see you there!

🌟 A warm and grateful THANK YOU to our shining smile sponsor, Whole Brain Holistic Care! 🌟We’re so thankful to this comp...
08/24/2026

🌟 A warm and grateful THANK YOU to our shining smile sponsor, Whole Brain Holistic Care! 🌟

We’re so thankful to this compassionate practice for supporting MAKE ‘m SMILE North Carolina and for the thoughtful, whole-person care they provide to individuals and families!

From their website: Whole Brain Holistic Care offers holistic neuropsychiatry and functional wellness for mental and neurological health. Led by Noel Treglia, NP (a board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in psychiatry and neurology), they take a root-cause approach — looking beyond symptoms to explore how the brain, immune system, gut health, metabolism, and nervous system all work together. They support concerns like anxiety, depression, ADHD, emotional regulation, PANS/PANDAS, autism, and gut-brain dysfunction through personalized, integrative care. Secure telehealth consultations are available throughout North Carolina and Florida, making expert support accessible from home.
👉 Learn more: wholebrainholistic.com

🎉 MAKE ‘m SMILE North Carolina is almost here!
The biggest party celebrating kids and adults with special needs… our VIPs (Value + Incredible Purpose)!
📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
🕘 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 CaroMont Health Park
800 W Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC

Expect family-friendly entertainment, games, beloved characters, food, community resources, and endless SMILES — all FREE for VIPs and their immediate family (parents & siblings)!

VIP families: Pre-register NOW so you can skip the lines and jump into the fun faster on event day!
🔗 Register here: https://nathanielshope.org/our-programs/make-m-smile/make-m-smile-north-carolina-vip/

Thank you, Whole Brain Holistic Care, for helping our community care for the whole child and the whole family! 💙

Let’s fill the park with laughter — see you there!

Address

777 S Myrtle School Road
Gastonia, NC
28056

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