Celebrating a Happy Holiday Season at SOAR365!

Ho ho ho! SOAR365 wrapped up a festive holiday season with celebrations at each of our Adult Day Support locations, as well as our Youth Services program.

At our Saunders Adult Day Support program, we were joined by a team from Virginia Lottery. Volunteers brought supplies for an enjoyable morning making gingerbread houses. "Through the Lottery Outreach program, Virginia Lottery employees have enjoyed volunteering with SOAR365 and building a rewarding partnership. We have participated in a paint and popsicle party, the Halloween Fall Festival, and more recently, the Gingerbread Holiday Party. It was a joy to create holiday magic with staff and participants by making gingerbread houses, ornaments, and holiday cards. We look forward to all that the new year brings with this partnership!" said Tyra Wilkins, Communications Specialist with the Virginia Lottery.

Several players from the VCU Rams Men's Basketball team also joined us for fun crafts and activities! Our partnership with VCU Athletics is spearheaded by Rohana Meade, SOAR365 Board Member and President & CEO of Synergy Technical.

Thank you to our volunteers, partners, donors and friends who made 2024 such a success. Cheers to 2025!

Intern Spotlight: Mia Jones, Bon Secours Nursing Student

This fall, Mia Jones, a dedicated young student from the Bon Secours Nursing program, brought energy and compassion to SOAR365’s Adult Day Support program. As part of a partnership launched in early 2024, nursing students like Mia commit to contributing 40 hours of volunteer service, enriching our programs while gaining hands-on experience in their field.

Mia quickly became a beloved member of the SOAR365 community. Joining us every week, her enthusiasm brightened activities such as crafts, games, and group lessons.

Reflecting on her experience, Mia said, “Volunteering at SOAR365 was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. From the moment I stepped foot into the building, I was greeted with welcoming smiles from both staff and participants. Throughout my time volunteering, I had the privilege of leading daily lessons and building meaningful friendships with participants. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of disability services but also provided me with invaluable life lessons. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such a meaningful organization.”

Mia’s time with us exemplifies the powerful impact of collaboration, and we appreciate the joy that volunteers such as Mia bring to us each week! We're looking forward to welcoming a new cohort of Bon Secours Nursing students in January 2025.

Get to Know Spencer Munro from Our Next Generation Council

How did you get involved with SOAR365, and why is it important to you? I worked for SOAR365 from 2017-2019 as the Community Engagement Specialist. From day one, I immediately fell in love with the job, as it was clear that everyone was passionate about the organization’s mission. It was a daily highlight of mine to spend every lunch with our participants, working alongside the dedicated SOAR365 staff and spending some time after work playing H-O-R-S-E with the Youth Services group. While it was emotionally hard to leave SOAR365 in 2019, I find joy in staying engaged with the organization through advocacy and volunteering with NGC!  

What’s your favorite thing or memory about NGC? My favorite thing about the NGC is just seeing how it’s grown over the years. I was at the very first NGC meetings back in the day when it was just a handful of members. I have only recently reengaged with the NGC after taking a couple of years off and was extremely impressed with how much the NGC has expanded in just a relatively short amount of time! Recently, we had a Fall Festival event where I was able to see all the new (to me) NGC members helping to make the event a success! Everyone was full heartedly committed to making sure the event was top notch. It’s great to see that the sentiment has not wavered over the years. 

Join the SOAR365 team and support people with disabilities! For all job opportunities, visit our website. Current opportunities include:

Camp Counselor, Summer Camp

• Provide supervision and instruction to campers enrolled in Summer Camp or other seasonal camp programs at SOAR365. You will be responsible for assisting campers with activities of daily living, including but not limited to toileting and other personal care, eating, dressing, bathing, and ambulation/mobility.

Pre-ETS Skills Trainer (part-time)

• Provide support to students with disabilities as a skills trainer. This includes work-based learning activities, work experience training, etc. This position is both in the community and school systems.

Developmental Services Specialist

• Provide Developmental Services, as outlined by Virginia's Part C system, the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia. Provides Agency with developmental services, support and education, using a family centered approach. You must be certified by the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia in order to be considered for this position.