Sunshine Services Knox

11/27/2025

Today, our hearts are extra full.
This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the incredible individuals we support, our dedicated team, and the community that makes moments like this possible.

From our Sunshine family to yours — Happy Thanksgiving!

11/26/2025

Today stopped by to highlight one of our favorite traditions — the Sunshine Services Giving Tree at West Town Mall!

This Black Friday we invite you to choose a tag from the tree and help make Christmas brighter for the individuals and families we support here at Sunshine Services. Your generosity brings joy, dignity, and connection during a season when it means the most.

📍Shop West Town Mall on Black Friday
🎄 Drop by the Sunshine Giving Tree
🏷️ Pick a tag
🎁 Make a holiday wish

Santa approves — and we do too!

11/25/2025

Last week, Paige drove 199 miles across East Tennessee to support 17 families through Early Intervention services. 🚗☀️

Her favorite moment?
“Meeting this sweet new family for their very first developmental therapy session. Moments like this—watching trust form, relationships grow, and little breakthroughs happen—are what I love most about my work.”

And because our Early Intervention team spends their days on the road, we asked Paige about her go-to drive-time treat: “Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso!” ☕

Your Giving Tuesday gift directly fuels providers like Paige—keeping them on the road, reaching families, and helping children thrive.

👉 Donate today to make more moments like this possible: https://sunshineservicesknox.networkforgood.com/

11/24/2025

What does your donation to Sunshine Services actually do?

Here's how far your gift can go...literally!

$25 → fuels 1 visit to a rural family
$100 → keeps a therapist moving all week
$250 → a full day of travel for the team
$500 → supports 2 therapists on the road for TWO weeks

Our Early Intervention team drives more than 8,000 miles per month. When you contribute to help cover that expense, you're not just providing fuel. You're giving first words. First steps. First chances.

Support the mission today 👉 http://sunshineservicesknox.networkforgood.com

11/23/2025

Our very own Joey McMahan, Ceci Harvanek, and Leah Runyan traveled to Houston, TX this weekend for the first-ever Inspire Soccer League Championship Fixture! ⚽️✨

For the last four months, they’ve been training hard and traveling as part of the inaugural Inspire Soccer League season, proudly representing One Knox.

With only four teams selected to participate in this historic first year, we’re incredibly honored that Joey was chosen to compete and experience something so special. Way to go, Joey — and huge congrats to the whole crew! 🧡💙👏

11/22/2025

What a wonderful night at Clarence Brown Theatre’s performance of “A Christmas Carol”.✨

We were honored to be invited as the featured nonprofit for the show’s run and grateful for the chance to share Sunshine’s mission with a full house of theatre- goers. We are so thankful for this opportunity to connect with new friends in the community.

A special thank you to Hana Sherman, CBT’s Grants, Education, and Outreach Manager, for helping make this collaboration possible. Her kindness and support mean so much to our team.

Feeling grateful for a night filled with generosity, community, and holiday spirit ✨

11/21/2025

📢 Sunshine Services Earns Technology First Accreditation! 📢

We are incredibly proud to share that Sunshine Services has officially earned our Technology First Accreditation from TechFirst SHIFT, recognizing our commitment to innovation, independence, and person-centered supports.

This accreditation reflects months of hard work, learning, and a shared belief that technology—when used thoughtfully—can open new doors for the individuals we serve. From communication tools to adaptive supports, technology helps people live more independently, confidently, and fully.

A huge thank-you to SHIFT for guiding us through the rigorous accreditation process and for championing person-centered solutions across the country.

We’re excited for what this means for Sunshine Services and, most importantly, for the people and families who trust us every day.

11/19/2025

Meet one of our incredible Early Intervention providers, Kayla. She pours her heart, miles, and magic into every family she serves.

🚗 Miles driven last week: 254
👶 Families served: 20
☕️ Favorite drink that keeps her going:
a hot matcha latte… or her trusty
water bottle.

But the real highlight of her week wasn’t the matcha — it was a moment of pure connection:

“My favorite moment from this session was when a little one had an ‘aha’ moment. He attempted to sign ‘more’ in ASL (American Sign Language) to tell me he wanted more of the letter tiles we were playing with. When I gave him more, he smiled so big — and immediately signed ‘more’ again. Watching him light up as he realized he could communicate his needs… that’s why I do this.”

This is Early Intervention. This is impact.
And this is why Giving Tuesday matters.

Your support fuels these miles, these moments, and the lifelong skills that begin right here — in living rooms, playrooms, and everyday routines across East Tennessee.

Give today to support our Early Intervention Program and the providers who help children find their voices, one tiny breakthrough at a time.

👉 https://sunshineservicesknox.networkforgood.com

11/19/2025

Don’t forget! Tickets are available for Clarence Brown Theatre’s Pay What You Can preview performance of A Christmas Carol this Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 PM — and this one is extra special for Sunshine Services.

🌟 Sunshine receives 50% of the box office from this performance, helping us continue providing early intervention, supported employment, recreation, and life-changing support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

🎟️ How to get tickets:
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Box Office:
• Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Noon to 5 PM
• Thursday, Nov. 20 — Noon until curtain

📍 We’ll be set up in the lobby before the show! Stop by and learn more about our programs, say hello, and pick up information about how your support impacts real families across East Tennessee.

We can’t wait to see you at the theatre for this magical kickoff to the holiday season.

DON'T FORGET! Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 pm is our Pay What You Can preview performance for 'A Christmas Carol'! 🎄✨

Tickets for this PWYC performance may be purchased in person from Noon until 5 pm TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 19 and from Noon until curtain on Thursday, November 20 at the Box Office kiosk in the lobby.

For more information about PWYC, please contact the box office at box_office@utk.edu or call (865) 974-5161. See you in the theatre! 🎭

11/17/2025

With Giving Tuesday around the corner on December 2nd, just 15 days away, we’re proud to spotlight one of the most impactful parts of our mission — our Early Intervention Program.

Every week, our Early Intervention therapists travel across East Tennessee to meet children and families right where they are. In the video below, you’ll see check-ins from 10 different areas that we serve — a glimpse into the miles traveled, the dedication behind the work, and the impact your support makes possible.

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be sharing more about the children, families, and stories that make Early Intervention so important — and how you can help us keep showing up.

👉 Help us reach every child who needs us. Give early. Give hope. Give today: https://sunshineservicesknox.networkforgood.com

11/14/2025

At Sunshine Services, we see every day how your kindness becomes independence for someone learning new skills… confidence for someone starting a job… joy for someone finally feeling included… and hope for a family doing their very best.

When you give to Sunshine, you’re not just donating — you’re wrapping someone in care, dignity, and opportunity.

If you’re able, we’d be honored to have your support this holiday season. Together, we can brighten lives in the most meaningful ways.

🔗 https://sunshineservicesknox.networkforgood.com/projects/264225-annual-appeal-2025

Shine hope. Share love. Support independence. This holiday season, we invite you to join us in making a difference that truly matters. At Sunshine Services, our mission is simple yet powerful: to promote independence and bring essential support, hope, and resources to individuals with intelle...

11/13/2025

From Austin’s first job in the community to Greg’s journey toward greater independence through enabling technology, 2025 has been
a year of growth and gratitude here at Sunshine Services!

Thanks to our incredible supporters, partners, and families, more
individuals with developmental disabilities are living, working,
and thriving with confidence and independence every day.

Read some of the highlights from our Annual Report 2025 and see how your support continues to make a difference in our community.

👉 Learn more about who we are and what we do! Visit: www.sunshineservices.org