Valentine's extravaganza
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 14, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Addison Cunningham, 8, picks out a prize with the help of her mother Suzanne and grandfather Michael Lancaster during the second annual Valentine's Day Extravaganza for youth with special needs at the Herman Park Center Saturday.
Addison Cunningham smiled as she looked at the bright red balloon bracelet shaped like a lady bug on her wrist.
Her smiles grew even larger just minutes later as she and her mom, Suzanne, joined in for line dancing -- the 8-year-old alternating from dancing on her own to swaying in her mother's arms.
And for 16-year old Morgan Yelverton the smiles and seeing the children having fun are the most rewarding part of the Valentine's Day Extravaganza she started two years ago.
Addison was among the special needs children who attended the Saturday afternoon event at Herman Park Center.
'This is the first time that we have ever been," Mrs. Cunningham said. "She has loved it. She did the doughnut walk. She did coloring of the cards. She got a fake little tattoo that she enjoyed. She got a balloon bracelet. She was able to have pizza and drink.
"We did several things today so we are headed out. She needs a nap. It is an awesome thing to do for special needs kids. I couldn't ask for a better day for her."
The event is Morgan's tribute to her best friend in elementary school who was a special needs child who died at the age of 10.
"I have a very underlying passion for special needs kids," she said. "Because of the friendship I was able to gain an appreciation for the needs of special needs kids that other students in my class didn't have.
"I still don't think that a lot of kids have that appreciation now for special needs kids in the public schools system. I created this event so that they would have a place to be themselves."
It is unbelievable that a 16-year-old is responsible for the event, Mrs. Cunningham said.
"Most 16-year-olds do not have special needs kids on their mind," Mrs. Cunningham said. "We are very thankful because events like this don't come around very often."
The event featured numerous games in which participants could earn tickets and exchange them for prizes -- an idea similar to Chuck E. Cheese. There also was free pizza and drinks or water. Ubi, the Ubiquitous Clown, made bouquets of balloon flowers and air-filled dogs on leashes and Addison's lady bug.
Helping out were volunteers from the Mayor's Youth Council, the Wayne Early/Middle College High School Innovation Project, Key Clubs from Wayne Early/Middle, Wayne School of Engineering and Goldsboro High School.
"It is really rewarding to see the children come in and have a great time," Morgan said. "I just had a parent come up to me and she was like, 'I never really have anything to bring my daughter to.' Her daughter is a special needs child at Edgewood (Community Developmental School), and I was able to make her day, which is amazing.
"I think that was definitely the most rewarding moment so far."
Morgan, who wants to become an optometrist working with special needs children, started the extravaganza last year as part of her 10th-grade project at Wayne School of Engineering.
"I just carried it on to this year because this year it was a global problem," she said. "So I just took it up a notch. For my research paper I talked about how different countries, how there are education issues, health care issues and things like that in which special needs children are not getting the attention they need.
"So I decided to do the event again, and I will do it again next year. It was an easier process this year because I knew what I was doing."