People & Business

Junior League Creates Zen Den for Children with Delays, Disabilities

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February 8, 2023 – Sarasota

The Junior League of Sarasota recently revamped a storage room at The Florida Center for Early Childhood, creating a space where students can unwind and learn independently. 

Starfish Academy, The Florida Center’s early education center in Sarasota, was selected for one of the “Done in a Day” volunteer projects that members of the Junior League complete throughout the year. 

Volunteers cleaned, painted, organized, and revamped the storage room into a space where students can relax, read a book in a comfy bean bag chair, or get cozy in a peaceful tent. The Junior League also purchased new listening devices and books with CDs so that the preschool children can follow along visually while listening.

“These types of projects are invaluable to our organization,” said Dr. Kristie Skoglund, CEO of The Florida Center. “We are so appreciative of The Junior League for helping us utilize the space we have to its fullest capacity.” 

Starfish Academy is a preschool that supports inclusion classrooms where typically developing children learn alongside those with delays, disabilities and mental health challenges. The nationally-recognized model helps build lifelong skills like empathy and encourages children to reach their full potential. 

“We have children on every level of the developmental scale at our school,” said Skoglund. “I think this space is perfect for serving our diverse group of students as it caters to those with sensory issues, but also provides a quiet space for students that may just need a break from the busy classroom environment.” The Florida Center offers campus tours and a variety of opportunities for volunteers and supporter engagement. Visit www.TheFloridaCenter.org for more information.

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