One Year of happy day hangs

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This July, we celebrated one year of Happy Day Hangs—and what a year it has been! Happy Day Hangs is a monthly community program that creates opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to make friends, try new activities, explore the community, and build meaningful connections in a fun, welcoming environment. Over the past year, our group has gotten out into the community for all kinds of adventures. We’ve gone bowling, rock climbing, enjoyed a picnic at Roosevelt park, watched movies, grabbed treats together at Mary's Mountain Cookies and Sweet Cow, and celebrated our first annual Friendsgiving. Each outing has given participants the opportunity to try something new, spend time with friends, and create memories together.

As the program grew, we saw a need to create another opportunity for younger participants. That led to the launch of Happy Day Hangs Jr., designed for middle and high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hangs Jr. brings the same spirit of belonging to a younger group and has quickly become an important part of our community.

What started as a small monthly gathering has grown into a thriving community of more than 40 participants across Happy Day Hangs and Happy Day Hangs Jr., with the group continuing to grow.

For families, these gatherings have become something truly special. As Jennifer Pond, a Happy Day Hangs parent, shared:

“My daughter starts asking me hours before if it’s time to go to Happy Day Hangs. She loves feeling like part of a group. I’m grateful for her to have a social activity that’s uniquely her own.”

Stories like Jennifer’s remind us why these programs matter. Happy Day Hangs gives participants something to look forward to, a chance to spend time with others, explore new experiences, and have a place that feels like their own.

Our dedicated volunteers are a big part of what makes Happy Day Hangs and Hangs Jr. possible. They join us at events, help participants feel welcomed and included, provide extra support when needed, and bring energy and encouragement to every gathering. Their time and commitment allow us to create more opportunities and we’re so grateful for the many volunteers who show up and help make each Hang special.