Contact: Michael Mehalik
(740) 264-7176
Release At Will
Church Grant Aids Spectrum Center
STEUBENVILLE-Funding from a West Virginia church is helping the Jefferson County Regional Spectrum
Center set its sights upon climbing equipment to help special needs children.
The Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Weirton recently donated $2,000 to the Steubenville site, which is
looking to procure a playset that will allow overstimulated children to expend their energy and calm their senses. The
climbing area would include padding and other features that would enable the children to move about safely. The
contribution made possible through the church’s Pension Holiday fund, a new program implemented by the West
Virginia Conference United Methodist Church to help churches help others.
Pastor Carol McKay of Pleasant Valley UMC said her congregation has long supported the School of Bright
Promise by providing rewards for behavioral incentives and other items to fulfill the school’s needs. The idea was
formed through church member Tammy Cain, a behavioral support specialist for the Jefferson County Board of
Developmental Disabilities, amid discussion on how the church could help the community at Christmastime. It began
with toys for the holidays and grew to include Easter and beyond. Most recently, the church provided bubble lights to
soothe students in the sensory room and gave covers for more than 20 iPads that were acquired through a separate
donation from the Cadiz Fraternal Order of Eagles Post 2162.
McKay said the church’s Mission in Ministry Group agreed to make the allocation and the members were happy to
give back to the community.
“This is the first year they’ve ever done [the grant fund]. The money the church would pay into the pension plan
stays in the church and pays for missions. Pleasant Valley decided to help with extra special things,” McKay added.
“We got the bubble lights and Tammy mentioned the climbing equipment. We can’t do the whole thing, but maybe
we could do a portion of it. I think [the church members] are tickled to do something to help the children.”
She noted that the congregation is composed primarily of older members, and while no youngsters take part in
services the church still helps youth in the area.
“Even though we don’t have children in our pews, we can help children outside our walls,” McKay added. “With
the Pension Holiday, we can do something even bigger that can help. We’re just very happy to share the blessings
we’ve received with other folks. It seems like such a great relationship that we’ve built [with the school] and we love
to help any way we can.”
Cain said the climbing area was necessary for the Spectrum Center and the church discussed the allocation for
several months. Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley has been an ongoing supporter of the Jefferson County site.
“We’ve been supporting the School of Bright Promise for the past two or three years,” she said. “We discussed
[how the school enjoyed the support] and their stories got the church excited. They asked me what more they could
do. The church collects money each week and it’s been set aside for the School of Bright Promise to purchase iPad
covers, basketballs and toys for behavior reinforcements and rewards. For me, I’m excited, but it’s my church and
I’m proud of what it can do.”
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Principal Rachel Bodo said children with autism like to climb and the equipment would offer a safe way for them
to do so. Officials have not selected any models at this time but were looking to possibly place it in either the
sensory room or another area. Costs vary depending on size, but the hope is to find something financially and
structurally feasible to help the children.
“All we’re trying to do is meet the needs of the kids,” Bodo added. “It’s actually overwhelming how much the
church has helped us. It’s the little things such as toys to reinforce behaviors, and it adds up. It’s like a blessing in
disguise that they are able to help us and that they’ve chosen our school to help give back to the kids.”
She continued that Anita Keenan, a certified occupational therapy assistant (CODA) at the Spectrum Center,
introduced the climbing apparatus as a way to relieve overstimulated students.
“Because of her ideas, I looked up smaller equipment we could use,” Bodo commented.
Keenan said children with spectrum disorder have sensory needs that regularly require attention.
“They are either overdriven or overstimulated by their environment or physical being. The kids who are
overdriven or overstimulated need activity, and if they do work-producing activity they will hopefully have a
calming reaction and can return to their classroom,” Keenan said. “Having a contained room makes it safe for them
to have a heavy work activity, and you have to make it fun instead of exercise.”
No timeline has been given to secure the climbing area and officials hope to raise more funding for the acquisition.
Anyone interested in making a contribution may contact the Jefferson County Regional Spectrum Center at (740)
264-7176.
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