Sunshine Community Center Network

05/27/2026

The Sunshine Center is growing, and we are grateful.

Right now, we are running programs out of Heartland Church, and their generosity has helped us serve our community in meaningful ways.

But the need is growing too.

To reach more people, offer more programs, and create a stronger long-term home for this work, we need a bigger space for a bigger impact.

That is why we are working toward expanding and building a facility of our own.

This is about more than a building. It is about creating room for hope, care, connection, and life-changing support for individuals and families in our community.

Learn more and make a gift at sunshinecenter.org

The Sunshine Community Center is a place for all abilities to feel they belong. Parent respite, ability-inclusive programs, a community fitness center, and more.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Freedom is not something we earned. It is something we were given at a cost.
We remember. And we give thanks.

05/20/2026

We’re building something this community has needed for a long time.
A place where families with special needs feel seen. Supported. Welcome.

If you’re able to give, your gift helps make that space a reality.

If giving isn’t possible right now, that’s okay too. Sharing this message, telling someone about The Sunshine Center, inviting others into the vision… that’s powerful.

This doesn’t happen without a community.
sunshinecenter.org/capital-campaign/

Help us build a place for all abilities in Northwest Indiana. Offering parent respite, athletic leagues, a community fitness center, and programs for all abilities.

05/14/2026

There’s a moment every parent knows.

When your child is finally included, truly included, and you realize how rare that feeling has been.

We’re building more of those moments. And maybe a few places where meltdowns are met with grace…and someone who gets it.

Let’s build it together. Make a gift at sunshinecenter.org/donate

05/06/2026

Quick trip to the store: 15 minutes.

Quick trip with a child who has special needs: 15 minutes, plus a snack break, a reset, a deep breath in the car, and maybe a change of plans.

And that’s okay.

That’s one reason respite matters. The Sunshine Center is being built with real support for families, including space for parents to catch their breath or run the 15-minute errand when they really only have 15 minutes.

No judgment. Just understanding.

05/01/2026

Some days, leaving the house with a child who has special needs feels like preparing for a space mission. Snacks packed. Backup snacks packed. Emergency backup snacks are packed.

If you know, you know.

At The Sunshine Center, we’re building a place where families don’t have to over-prepare just to feel welcome. A place where showing up is enough. And yes, we will probably have snacks too.

04/30/2026

We've officially broken ground on the Sunshine Center’s new 28,000-square-foot facility.

Surrounded by community leaders, partners, and families, the moment marked more than the start of construction. It signaled real momentum toward a place designed for inclusion, connection, and support for children and families of all abilities.

Once complete, the Sunshine Center will be open to the broader community with athletic leagues, gym memberships, programming, and more. But at the heart of it all is a clear focus: creating a space where people of all needs and abilities can feel welcomed, supported, and included.

04/22/2026

Earth Day reminder: nature can be one of the most accessible forms of regulation.

A short walk, hands in the dirt, sunshine on your face, or five minutes listening to birds.

We are excited about outdoor spaces that welcome all abilities.

04/16/2026

Vibe check.

If your kid is in a great mood, we are celebrating with you.
If your kid is in full wiggle mode, we respect the energy.
If your kid is locked in on their favorite thing and nothing else exists, honestly, same.

Whatever the vibe today, you are welcome here. We are cheering for your family at The Sunshine Center.

04/10/2026

Join us for the Sunshine Center groundbreaking on Friday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. We would love to have you there as we celebrate what is coming and the families this space will serve.

Bring a friend, take a photo, and help us mark this moment.