HAMLET — With school winding down, Richmond County students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder will have a few things to keep them busy over the summer.
The Richmond County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina on Monday delivered more than 100 bags filled with sensory items to Dr. Amber Watkins, exceptional children director for Richmond County Schools.
Chapter Leader Meghann Lambeth said the project has been in the works since April, adding that many local businesses and residents contributed items and monetary donations to help make it possible. She also thanked her friend Belinda Newton for packing all 110 bags and helping to deliver them.
“I am so excited to have this project complete!” Lambeth said in a statement. “I was overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our community.
“Throughout this project, we have worked closely with the EC department, specifically Jennifer Brown,” she continued. “Building the relationship between our local ASNC chapter and the EC department will benefit our ASD population and the educators that work with them.”
Lambeth, who also works as the executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, has a son on the spectrum.
Nicole Bowles, who works for the school system and formerly worked with special needs children at Sandhills Children’s Center, is the group’s treasurer.
The bags contain numerous sensory related items, such as bubble timer, pop tubes, stress balls and fidgets, books, a letter explaining the project and thanking the donors, ASNC flyer, and an Autism identification sticker for car or home, Lambeth said.
They were distributed to the students on Tuesday.
“Our goal with this project was to not only provide the sensory items to the students with an ASD, but to also make parents aware of our local ASNC chapter,” Lambeth said. “Although we have a Facebook group and post our monthly meetings, many parents in the county do not realize we have a local chapter and that additional supports are available through our regional coordinators.”
The next meeting is planned for Krystal Dawn Retreat, but a date has not yet been set.
