Some of the participants from the Flamingo Fun Run that preceded the Hearts in Motion 5k for Compassionate Heart Ministries, the Zeeland-based ministry that serves teens and young adults with disabilities on April 30.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Some wore pink, others wore green.
But for the nearly 500 people who turned out last Thursday for Compassionate Heart Ministries’ Hearts in Motion 5-kilometer Run/Walk and Flamingo 1-mile Fun Run, it was all about connection and community.
The event raises money but also awareness of Compassionate Heart, a ministry that serves as a drop-in center for teens and young adults that have cognitive and physical disabilities, autism and Down syndrome. The organization is now in its 20th year, founder and executive director Donna Bunce said.
The mother of an adult child with autism, Bunce started Compassionate Heart as a way of helping her son and others with disabilities find not only a place to belong, but to thrive.
Compassionate Heart offers two different programs. Its day program, The Donut Club, provides life skills, social skills, physical activity and other kinds of fun and emotional support. Its afterschool program, Club 404, is heavily-oriented toward fun activities.
“There’s other day programs out there that do job shadowing, coaching, things like that. But we’re pretty unique to this (because of the variety of programs we offer), and that’s why parents like what we do,” Bunce said.
“In all that we’re going to do, we’re going to honor Christ, but at the same time have a ton of fun and make friends. That’s our motto: make friends, have fun, love Jesus,” she added.
Compassionate Heart serves about 300 families, with participants coming from as far away as Grand Rapids. Charlie DeVries, who has Down syndrome, started coming to Compassionate Heart when he was in high school after his family moved from Grand Rapids to Holland.
“It was just so welcoming and fun. He couldn’t wait to go,” said his mother, Karen. “After high school, he loved coming so much that we decided that’s where he comes every day. He learns some life skills, he (builds) friendships, he’s loved. He learns about God and Jesus with worship time. That’s one of his favorite things to do. Compassionate Heart is what brings Charlie joy.”
Peer volunteers from local high schools and colleges, as well as adults with a heart for people with disabilities, join ministry participants to offer friendship and connection, Bunce said.
Compassionate Heart is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is fully funded through donations, fundraising events, and occasional local grants. They do not receive any government funding.
For more information about Compassionate Heart Ministries, contact Bunce at donna@comp heart.org.
Zeeland Record
Some wore pink, others wore green.
But for the nearly 500 people who turned out last Thursday for Compassionate Heart Ministries’ Hearts in Motion 5-kilometer Run/Walk and Flamingo 1-mile Fun Run, it was all about connection and community.
The event raises money but also awareness of Compassionate Heart, a ministry that serves as a drop-in center for teens and young adults that have cognitive and physical disabilities, autism and Down syndrome. The organization is now in its 20th year, founder and executive director Donna Bunce said.
The mother of an adult child with autism, Bunce started Compassionate Heart as a way of helping her son and others with disabilities find not only a place to belong, but to thrive.
Compassionate Heart offers two different programs. Its day program, The Donut Club, provides life skills, social skills, physical activity and other kinds of fun and emotional support. Its afterschool program, Club 404, is heavily-oriented toward fun activities.
“There’s other day programs out there that do job shadowing, coaching, things like that. But we’re pretty unique to this (because of the variety of programs we offer), and that’s why parents like what we do,” Bunce said.
“In all that we’re going to do, we’re going to honor Christ, but at the same time have a ton of fun and make friends. That’s our motto: make friends, have fun, love Jesus,” she added.
Compassionate Heart serves about 300 families, with participants coming from as far away as Grand Rapids. Charlie DeVries, who has Down syndrome, started coming to Compassionate Heart when he was in high school after his family moved from Grand Rapids to Holland.
“It was just so welcoming and fun. He couldn’t wait to go,” said his mother, Karen. “After high school, he loved coming so much that we decided that’s where he comes every day. He learns some life skills, he (builds) friendships, he’s loved. He learns about God and Jesus with worship time. That’s one of his favorite things to do. Compassionate Heart is what brings Charlie joy.”
Peer volunteers from local high schools and colleges, as well as adults with a heart for people with disabilities, join ministry participants to offer friendship and connection, Bunce said.
Compassionate Heart is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is fully funded through donations, fundraising events, and occasional local grants. They do not receive any government funding.
For more information about Compassionate Heart Ministries, contact Bunce at donna@comp heart.org.
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