Sunshine Projects has been providing exceptional enrichment and leadership development opportunities for young adults in the greater DC area. We offer an opportunity to create and mold their own unique experience through our wide arrange of educational and creative activities. We see the true power that individuals with intellectual with disabilities hold and we have made it our mission to inspire them and become more creative and confident.
Our Programs
Sunshine Projects offers both online and in person programming options for our participants. We work with individuals of all abilities with a focus but not limited to young adults 18 and older. Our programming is offered in 2 distinct areas: Online and In- person.
Online Enrichment Classes:
Sunshine Projects offers a range of online enrichment classes covering topics including:
•Art
•Exercise
•Music
•Social gatherings
•Cooking
•Drama*
We currently offer well over 20 online classes per week. Each class is approximately 1 hour. These classes are taught by paid professional instructors or by our in-house team. Sunshine Projects offers these classes as both ala carte (per class) or through a monthly membership subscription for access to all online content, except for drama/theater camps. Our classes are interactive, engaging and fun. Our instructors do their best to draw participation from each attendee. Parents and families also actively participate online especially during our cooking and art classes.
In-person Day Programs
We offer a range of in-person programming that focuses on opportunities to socialize, learn, and to develop life and vocational skills to promote independence and inclusion within our community. Sessions are held weekly between Monday through Friday between 10 AM to 4 PM (6 Hours per Day). This is a day program and we do not offer residential services. Transportation is provided depending on the needs of the individual.
SP Skill Builders Program
Sunshine Projects operates both a biscuit bakery and an online flower shop as part of our skill builders program. Participants are actively engaged throughout the day with a mix of both social and vocational enrichment activities. These would include volunteer and work hours as well. Community inclusion is a major part of the program, and our participants engage not only producing the products to offer to the public but also operate kiosks at local markets and fairs. Please see the program schedule for more details.
Sunshine Barkery (www.sunshinebarkery.com)
Program participants learn invaluable kitchen skills by making, baking and producing biscuits for our favorite canine friends. They are also responsible for labeling, packaging and filling customer orders. Products are sold both online and at our pop-up kiosks. Operating kiosks in public allows a lot of interaction with our local community. Participants are trained to operate credit card orders, effective marketing, and customer service skills. The “Barkery” is guided by a trained pastry chef that also works with the group to develop new product ideas and suggestions.
Joy of Petals- Online Flower Shop (www.joyofpetals.com)
Our online flower shop offers beautifully arranged, fresh flowers to our local customers at a reasonable price. Participants assist our florist in producing and delivering customer orders. We currently operate online only but will be expanding to offer flower arrangements at local markets and fairs. We encourage all participants to actively engage to all aspects of running a business from website management, customer correspondence, and in person deliveries.
Current volunteer programs include:
•Comfort Cases (Gaithersburg): Organizing and filling backpacks for children in foster care.
•EDJCC (DC): Operating food drink kiosk at events.
•Michaels Arts and Crafts (Rockville): Weekly 3-hour work experience session: stocking, organizing,Customer greeters.
•Dreamcatchers Farm (Potomac): Agro-education programs, animal rehabilitation and care.
•The Children’s Playhouse (Rockville): Assisting in support duties at children’s day care facility. Readingbooks, assisting care providers with arts & sports classes. Clean up duties.
Our in-house team are all CPR trained and certified. All have passed background checks and we also work with each family to ensure that the needs of each participant in the program are met including personal behavior supports, preferences, and when needed disability specific information.
Program Fees: Monday to Friday, $45 per session hour based on a full day. Custom schedules also available.