How has the community influenced my life?
It’s a Wednesday afternoon after a big exam and I walk into Rainbows’ Classroom 7, where a dozen heads turn to watch excitedly as I enter through the crayon covered door. I plaster a smile on my face, despite the physical and mental exhaustion of it being the third consecutive week of exams as a […]
Music helps children learn and grow
Heather Redondo is a Rainbows’ parent, a 6th grade music teacher, and a Rainbows’ volunteer. Once a week, Heather brings her ukelele into Rainbows’ Early Care and Education classrooms. “It’s a joy to see the light come into the faces of these kiddos when they hear it’s music time!” she said. As a teacher, Heather […]
Volunteers Add Magic to Camp
Camp Woodchuck is magical, but it doesn’t just magically happen without the time, talents and dedication of many Rainbows’ staff and volunteers. This is the story of the volunteers. After three years of in-home summer services (due to the pandemic), extra preparation was needed in order to welcome Rainbows’ youth back to Camp at Kids’ […]
Volunteering Lifts Up Community and SCHEELS Team
At Rainbows, we know the value of volunteers and appreciate the impact they have on the lives of our children with special needs. On this second day of Volunteer Appreciation Week, we asked Tasha McKeever, Events Coordinator for Wichita SCHEELS, to share why volunteering is meaningful for this new company in Wichita. The Wichita SCHEELS […]
The True Meaning of Life
As the Volunteer Coordinator for Rainbows United, I have the privilege of working with some of the most amazing, positive, giving people in the community. In this role, my days are filled with questions such as “How can I help?” “What do the children need?” “How can I make a difference?” I have always held […]
A Solid Foundation to Grow
Do you remember this little curly-haired girl with the winning smile? Diagnosed with Chromosome 16P11-2 Micro-deletion Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder in May 2013, her parents were first told that she may not really talk and have a lot of difficulty expressing herself. “Now ten-years-old, she enjoys talking A LOT,” said Kim, Sophia’s mom. “Sophia […]
Thank you Volunteers
We Love Our Volunteers! While many organizations have struggled to engage volunteers during this pandemic, Rainbows’ volunteers stepped up to the challenge and embraced making a difference from their offices, homes and on the grounds of our facilities. Because of the commitment of our volunteers to continue to help in any way needed, in the […]
An education-based garden serves as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom in the Kids’ Point backyard
Purple okra. It’s a real vegetable and we’re growing it in the Rainbows’ Garden for Children. While it’s not a preferred taste for the children, they do like its color. Cucumbers are a favorite snack and a healthy crop of basil has added flavor to several lunches created by Chef Ryan, Rainbows’ cook. “We plant, […]
Thank You Textron Aviation Interns
Thank you to Textron Aviation Interns who volunteered to stain the fence, prune the rose bushes and weed the Fisher Boy garden at Kids’ Cove. These Interns came from all over the United States and chose to help Rainbows! We appreciate you.
We now look to the future.
The National Volunteer Week theme for 2021, The Value of One, The Power of Many, reflects on the awe-inspiring acts of kindness by millions of individuals AND the magic that happens when we work together towards a common purpose. The theme is a nod to our past, a reflection of our present, and a wink […]
