MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed)- The Spot, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with special needs children in Lauderdale County, received a generous donation today from the Leadership Lauderdale class of 2025.
The group gifted the organization an $800 check along with a variety of supplies essential for their programs and day-to-day operations.
The Spot, which stands for Special Place for Others to Thrive, was founded by a group of parents of special needs children who came together after meeting through their children’s therapists. Over the past three years, the organization has grown, offering resources and support not only for the founding families but also for others in the surrounding areas.
Their services include hosting adaptive and inclusive sports events such as baseball, basketball, and soccer, as well as sensory-friendly events, most notably their annual sensory Christmas event.
“We do this because it helps our families and it helps families like us,” said Candice Coker, president of The Spot. “We never want families to have to choose between gas, medicine, a treatment, or a fun life experience. We want to remove every barrier we can.”
As part of the Leadership Lauderdale initiative, members selected The Spot as their community project for the year. Their donation includes a variety of office supplies such as paper, tape, zip ties, markers, pens, and binders, as well as materials needed to build a portable adult changing station.
The organization was also given essential cleaning supplies, baby wipes, and hand sanitizer to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for families.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen by Leadership Lauderdale for this generous donation,” Coker added. “This will go a long way in helping us meet the growing needs of the families we serve.”
Additionally, The Spot has recently partnered with Ochsner Rush to provide training to local schools, civic organizations, and churches.
This partnership aims to raise awareness about different diagnoses in the community and offer sensory-friendly support, including understanding the sensory system.
To further support its mission, The Spot was gifted office and storage space at 15th Avenue Church in Meridian, providing a home base for the organization’s activities and outreach.
For more information about The Spot and its programs, visit their website at thespotfamily.com.
Donations to The Spot, including gift-in-kind contributions, are tax-deductible.
