Comforting Hearts

We are a non-profit and our goal is to support families and children of special needs.

Through the developement of an all-inclusive playground, and so much more.

Comforting Hearts mission is established to enable children and adults with different abilities to be as independent as possible and to have access to and be included in all life enhancing experiences.

address-1155 Troy Rd, Washington, In 47501

email- comfortinghearts1@gmail.com

Comforting Hearts All-Inclusive Playground

comfortinghearts1

Help us raise money for music at the playground!

These are just a few samples of music we would love to add.

So all kids can play together

and no one has to sit

on the sidelines.

Comforting Hearts 5K

Thank you to EVERYONE who participated and to our sponsors!

Donor Board

Platinum:

DSI

City of Washington, Indiana

United Way of Daviess County

Pancake Veterinary Services

Daviess County Community Foundation

Franklin P. & Arthur W Perdue Foundation Inc.

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Daviess County Community Foundation

Gold

Thompson Insurance

Bonnie & Bob Graham

Berea Mennonite Church

Silver

Washington Intermediate 2nd,3rd,& 4th grade classes of 2022 &2023

Washington Primary Pre K, 1st grade Classes of 2022 & 2023

MacAllister

Williams Brothers Pharmacy

NASCO Industries

Daviees County Pickleball

Joe& Elaine Wellman and family

Rotary Club of Washington, Indiana

Damien Myers & Daniel Fidler in memory of their mom Aubrey Myers.

Daviees Community Hospital

KofC #630

Belt Tech

Micheal R. Owens Family Fund

John & Kelly Clauss

BRONZE

Daviess Community Hospital

K of C #630

Belt Tech

Alpha Psi Chapter

Indiana Theater

Shake Broadcasting

Perkins & Sons Trucking

Daviess/Martin County REMC

Meet the Board

April Hunt, President

Hello, my name is April Hunt I am a wife and mother of 2. My little inspiration is what has gotten this whole thing started. My daughter Kaity has voiced her concerns about not getting to play like everyone else and only watching her older sister play. I formed with the help of my church Comforting Hearts Support Group, we are there to help all children and special needs children, also their parents, caretakers and siblings. With forming this group we had conversations about playgrounds and we decided we needed to try and make one of our beautiful parks all-inclusive.

We have a long way to go to raise the money for the all-inclusive playground. It will take all the community to help us achieve our goal but I know we can do it. An all inclusive playground will be so good for our community and surrounding areas. My hope is that along the way we can educate, open minds and hearts and that ALL children can play together no matter what their ability.

Angie Kribs, Vice President

Hi! My name is Angie Kribs and I am the Vice President of Comforting Hearts

I am a wife and mother of three active kids ages 14, 11, and 8. I am a Physical Therapist at the CORE center and love treating children with unique conditions and diverse abilities both in the outpatient setting and in our school systems. I see the need in our community for more options for safe play for all children, no matter their physical abilities.

I love this community and have seen the amazing things we can accomplish when we put our minds and efforts together for the greater good! We would appreciate your help and support!

Christine Davis, Secratery

My name is Christine “Teeny” Davis and I am a wife and a mama to these two beauties, KaiLayna and Tala! I am an outspoken advocate for needed change, education, and logistically the amazing and not so amazing things about caring and loving a child with complex diagnoses. My daughter Kai is empathetic, nurturing, and loving with her younger sister, Tala, but we have all found it difficult finding things they can actually “do” together.

Tala has complete dependence on her wheelchair for full body support and requires the assist of others for movement. Before having Tala, we loved going to our local park with Kai, she could easily run and play and it accommodated her. Now having Tala and understanding the needs she has for space, movement and different needs, I have realized my perspective was limited. For example, I had never tried to push a wheelchair through mulch and it is not only difficult but bumpy and slick. But I didn’t know that until I experienced that.

Tala has very light vision and touch, sound, feel is important to her everyday functioning. To her PLAY. And play is essential to all children’s lives. Having sensory equipment would be vital to Tala’s play. But I didn’t know that until I experienced that.

I’m excited and passionate about creating opportunity for play among all children, no matter their differences, no matter any limitations or accommodations. This world is full of beautiful different people and to everyone’s core we all need this play. Let’s broaden our own experiences and create a space for and with one another!

🤍

Steve Sacksteder

My name is Steve Sacksteder and my educational background includes high school in Clarksville, In., a BA in Psych. and Soc. from IU and graduate work at SIU in Rehab. Administration.

My employment history includes working with five agencies serving and supporting people with differing

abilities and other challenges over the course of my career, including Opportunity Enterprises in

Valparaiso, In. as CEO from 1976 to 1986 and Four Rivers Resource Services as CEO from 1986 to 2017. I

have been involved with various local and statewide groups addressing the needs and desires of

individuals with special needs and the general community over the years. I am blessed that my vocation

has been my avocation in large part.

I am also blessed in marriage to my wonderful wife Deb, and to have two children and six grandchildren,

all of whom delight my life.

Currently, in my retirement, I am a member of the Washington Free Methodist Church family, serving on

its Board and the regional Wabash Conference Board. I serve on the United Way of Daviess County

Board and the Board of Comforting Hearts. The Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry is also a

focus of my energy.

I am committed to enhancing the lives of people with differing abilities and other challenges in our

communities by enabling their access to desirable life experiences and opportunities, and their general

life enrichment. I am honored to be a part of the Comforting Hearts effort to create an All Inclusive

Playground in Daviess County.

Laura Allison

My name is Laura Allison. I am a teacher at Washington Intermediate where I currently am a Reading Specialist, working with small reading groups throughout the day. I started my career at Washington Catholic and moved to Gallup, NM to obtain my master's degree in bilingual and reading education. When returning to Washington in 2015, I joined Washington Community Schools.

Outside of school, I am the secretary and member of Daviess County Pickleball. I am passionate about pickleball and helping grow the sport. I also love spending time with my family and friends.

I was excited to join the Comforting Hearts group and their endeavor to raise funding for an all-inclusive playground. Within the school, I would with children of all abilities and to envision them playing together on this playground makes me excited.

Sherri Treadway

I live in Washington and have been married to Brad for 41 years and have two grown children, Ashleigh and Alex. And I get to be to Nana to my three grandsons, Jax, Cutter and Shooter. I also have two bulldogs, Chloe Mae, a Frenchie, and Whitfield, an English!

I am the Marketing and Development Director for DSI’s west region. I have worked with Four Rivers and DSI for almost 28 years…The first 20 years I ran our Community Living Division. I studied Behavioral Science and had 12 previous years in the field of disabilities at another local agency and a state grant project, as well.

I am a member of the Washington Rotary Club, Daviess County Chamber of Commerce, and INARF, our trade association. And I attend the Washington Free Methodist Church.

Adam Condor

I am Adam Condor I was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and have been the lead Pastor at the Washington Free Methodist Church since July 2016. Adam received his B.S. in Construction Management and A.S. in Architectural Technology from Indiana State University in 2004 and his M.S. in Ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009. While attending school at Indiana State University Adam met his wife, Kim. They have lived, worked, and ministered in Indiana, Illinois, and Washington D.C.. Adam and Kim were married in 2003 and have four children; two daughters, Addison (16) and Korah (8), and two sons, Zion (14) and Bennett (12). They have also cared for several foster children over the years.

My name is Lacy Lunsford, I live in the wonderful town of Washington and am the newest board member of Comforting Hearts All Inclusive Playground. I live with my husband Darin, my 15 year old bonus daughter Shai and our 2 fur babies Jasper and Hudson.

I have been in the special education field for 14 years. I have taught in the Washington school system for over 10 years and I have gotten to know some pretty amazing kiddos and their families! I’ve had the pleasure of teaching kiddos ages 3 through 21 with a variety of diverse abilities.

I can’t wait to see all the fun and enjoyment on all the kids face when they all get to play together no matter their abilities!

Cindy Barber

When I moved to Indiana from Texas 20 years ago, I left a career I loved as a child life specialist at two

Dallas hospitals, helping children & families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic

illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. Being invited to serve on the Comforting Hearts

Board was a blessing that allows me to go back to my child life roots in advocating for the needs of ALL

children. My husband Tony & I live on our family farm in Veale Township with our 12-year-old sons,

Ward & Wyatt. As a family we are thankful when we can serve our community & we look forward to

having lots of opportunities to do just that through Comforting Hearts.