DANVILLE—The 27 young men who reside on Sunrise’s Danville campus returned on Saturday, one day after the fire that destroyed the activity center.
This activity center was “not only a place to play games,” Melissa Bailey, associate director for communications at Sunrise, shared. The activity center was a place for music and art therapy as well as exercise, she said.
Melissa Bailey/Sunrise
Dale Suttles, Sunrise president, walks among the ashes of Sunrise Children’s Services Danville activity center.
“The activity center was the heartbeat of the campus, and served as an integral part of the long-term, comprehensive care these boys receive from Sunrise. What they did in the activity center each day was a necessary part of their overall treatment and healing,” Bailey added.
She shared that the boys on the campus are “really going to miss all the fun things they do in that center.”
Bailey continued, “One young man especially loved to be in the kitchen there and was learning how to cook.” Additionally, groups throughout the community utilized the center that was originally constructed in the 1970s.
Insurance will only cover part of the costs of repair to the only building on campus that would fit all 27 residents together for activities. “We are counting on the community’s help – individuals, churches, businesses – in raising funds to build a new Activity Center and replace these recreational items,” Bailey added.
To that end, Sunrise started a campaign on CrowdRise to raise $100,000 to help with building repairs.
For more information on assisting in rebuilding, contact mbailey@sunrise.org or visit https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/sunriseactivitycenter (WR)