Okra Strut 2011

Here is a report from the Okra Strut that was held in Irmo, SC on September 24, 2011. The pictures say it all. Trey was surrounded the entire day by individuals that enjoy football, having a good time with others in the community and demonstrating that when we do our best, we are winners no matter what the circumstance.

We realized that we all share a love for one another, rain or shine. The rain held off during most of the event , which allowed us to collect a total of $80 from the Gas card fundraiser. Congratulations to the winner of the Gas Card, T. Goss of Irmo. She has been informed about her success and plans are being made for her to receive her Gas Card.

Several participants at the Okra Strut came by our space. We shared stories about experiences we've had working, living, or just having an understanding about persons with special needs, regardless of our differences. People like, Joyce Flannery who works with students with special needs in Lexingon #5 school district shared plans to inform others in her community about our effort. We thank you for your efforts.

There were several food, health provider, and speciality item vendors at the event. The music was good also, a little to loud for some adults, but the teens and other young adults thought it was just fine!

Trey's Transition handed out brouchers and other free items that relate to young adults that could benefit from transition services i.e. Vocational Rehabilitation, Growing Homes Southeastern, Leaphart Place Residential services, SC Mentor of South Carolina services, Americorp Services sponsored by The United Way, S.A.F.Y. (Specialized Services for Adults, Family and Youth), and New Life Worship Center of Irmo. Even though our doors are not open yet, we still are committed to our mission to provide transition services that may benefit others in the community.

Some visitors shared an interest to be involved with our organization. We would like to meet you at our Fish Fry fundraiser on October 1, 2011 at New Life Worship Center in Irmo, SC (just behind the Shell Gas Station) . We will be there from Noon until around 6pm. If you would like a fish dinner, contact me before the end of the day on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 so that I can be sure to have enough product on hand to serve everyone that participates in this event. We need as many volunteers possible to help us raise the funds to modify the space in the church and to obtain the license to serve medicaid waiver participants. You can also contact me by email at james_irby2000@yahoo.com .

James Irby

Executive Director

The Spring Golf Event was held at the Charwood Golf Country Club on June 15, 2011. Four teams and several volunteers from the following organizations and businesses were in attendance:

CAPITAL PROSTHETICS, SC MENTOR, MCDONALD’S OF IRMO AND BALLENTINE, PERFECT PRINTING, NEW LIFE WORSHIP CENTER, DARRYL PORTER-PIGGLY WIGGLY, WAL-MART, BALLENTINE, SAM’S CLUB HARBISON, FIREHOUSE SUB- HWY 378 NEAR THE LEXINGTON HOSPITAL, CHARWOOD COUNTRY CLUB-KELLY LUCAS, AND TROY - GOLF PRO, STEPHANIE LEDBETTER OF NIKKIA’S CRAFT SHACK, SPORTS TROPHIES, LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER,-JANIS BOYD REPRESENTATIVE,


VOLUNTEERS-GROWING HOMES SOUTHEAST, ANGELA HARTWELL, SATRINA MCDANIELS, AND A HOST OF RESIDENTS FROM LEAPHART PLACE APRATMENTS .

BOBBY CHARLES DAVIS- IRMO, SC
LORETTA JOHNSON- CHARLOTTE NC

STEPHANIE MCCUMINGS, DALE ROBINSON , COLUMBIA, SC AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.

THANKS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED AT THE EVENT AND GAVE THEIR TIME TO HELP MAKE OUR FIRST GOLF EVENT A SUCCESS.INEZ L-IRBY, JOHN HANCOCK, JERRETT SLACUM, TOM ANDERSON, LYN WHITEHEAD AND CHARLEY SPENCER.

GOLFERS-ROSS BROADWELL, BERT SLICE, ALEX AMES, BOB FARMER, SEAN FARMER, SAUNDRA ANDERSON, OCTAVIA, DOUG KRATZ, JAMES IRBY

Ross' team came in first place, followed by Team Anderson, the Farmer Team and then the Kratz team.

The Farmer team won the putting contest and Ross won the longest drive contest.

We had a great time and raised alittle over $200 after expenses. These funds will go toward the preparation and supplies needed to assist in the developing of Trey's Transition inside some space at the New Life Worship Center in Irmo, SC. We are still aways off from our goal but will continue to develop ways to raise the funds to make the program to become a reality.

The board has agreed to two (2) fundraising events for the Fall: raffle tickets for a gas card and a fish fry. The raffle ticket will only cost for $1 for the opportunity to win a $50 gas card. The winning tickets will be announced at 3pm at our location #313 at the Okra Strut in Irmo, SC on September 24, 2011. We will have information about Trey's Transition as well as other community resources that assist or provide transition services to young adults.

We are planning the fish fry the following weekend on October 1, 2011 at The New Life Worship Center in Irmo, 90 N. Royal Tower. The fish dinner will consist of whiting fish, hush puppies, coleslaw, and dessert. We hope to have cupcakes (donated by Kenneth Nix) a local businessman who is an independent contractor and bakes on the side. As he puts it, he's a jack of all trades. Yummy, construct the cupcakes man already!!!

The fish dinners will be $8 per dinner plate. Please contact James Irby at 803-318-2210 no later than Tuesday September 27th if you would like to purchase a dinner. We'd like to have enough food prepared for everyone to enjoy themselves or if you'd just like to make a donation. The funds raised will go toward the accomodations needed to the space in the church for the program as well as for the licensure needed to provide services to the medicaid waiver participants.

We hope the events will go well and look forward to any assistance you maybe able to provide as a volunteer or financially.

We were blessed to have SC MENTOR to donate two (2) office desks, chairs and a bookcase to our program to assist our participants. SC MENTOR provides fostercare and residential services across the state and relocating to a smaller space here in the Columbia area. There new offfice address is 3600 Forest Drive, Suite 100, Columbia SC 29204.

Growing Homes Southeast of Columbia and Leaphart Place Residential services have provided items to be handed out during the Okra Strut.

Let us know if you have a need to get the word out about services you provide to young adults that are transitioning from high school into the community. We can help. It's our mission to share resources from our community in anyway positive and possible to assist the community.

Please call 803-318-2210 or email james_irby2000@yahoo.com if you have questions.