S andcastle Kids is a South Walton non-profit
that helps make a vacation to the Emerald Coast a reality for families with children battling childhood cancer . Between 30 miles of pristine beach , plentiful state parks , the opportunity to bike ride almost anywhere and some of the finest vacation homes on the coast , the Joiners realized the answer was right in their backyard . “ We wanted to share the beautiful place that we get to call home with those going through the unimaginable and create a week for them to be together and create beautiful memories ,” explained Shelley . To successfully work , Sandcastle Kids started by first working closely with local property management companies , a key stakeholder in connecting Sandcastle Kids with homeowners . By offering weeklong stays outside of peak season , the Joiners discovered many owners had few qualms about donating . Some owners even opted into donating multiple weeks , allowing Sandcastle Kids to exceed their first-year quota . Sarah Honaker of Louisville , Kentucky reiterates this by explaining , “ We have had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the Sandcastle Kids program by donating our vacation rental in Watercolor , Florida for families whose children are battling cancer . The families that have been battling cancer face many challenges to care for their child and their families and what better way to help them by allowing them to spend some quality vacation time with their families and develop cherishing memories . We will continue to donate our home for years to come .”
After receiving property commitments , Sandcastle Kids approached local restaurants , bike and beach vendors , grocery stores and other businesses to see if there was an interest to help . With outpouring support , donations from establishments and the generosity from homeowners , Sandcastle Kids then begins to work with social workers to find candidates for these fully-funded vacations . The process from vetting families to finalizing their stay usually takes around three months with families visiting anywhere from two to nine months later . All groups are greeted and provided with restaurant and activity options , but it is completely up to each family what they would like to do . As part of the application process , a whole section is dedicated to what the child ’ s interests and likes are , allowing Sandcastle Kids to tailor activity options for each kid . Arguably one of the coolest experiences organized through Sandcastle Kids is when Chef
Blake of Signature Catering of 30A surprised a Sandcastle Kid with sushi cooking class lessons that enabled the two of them to prepare a multi-course dinner for his family . It is special vacation additions as such that creates a unique and memorable stay for each family .
As of Spring , 2018 , over twentyfive families have spent a week vacationing on the Emerald Coast because of Sandcastle Kids . This number is expected to double by the end of 2018 and discussions are in the works to expand into other markets . It is because of organizations like Sandcastle Kids that the opportunity to relax , rejuvenate and even find peace are possible for these families . If residing and vacationing in South Walton teaches us anything , it is that there is a generosity imbedded in this community and a willingness to ensure families burdened with cancer get a chance to be together and create beautiful memories .
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