Post Properties employees take the day off to surprise kids in need.
Kids are supposed to be energetic and active, but for medically fragile children, even sitting or climbing a staircase can be insurmountable. “Often they are prisoners in their own homes because families can’t afford adaptive equipment,” says Carolyn Polakowski, executive director of the Fragile Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps fill the gaps left by Medicare for Georgia’s least fortunate.
On Oct. 15, Post Properties, known for its upscale apartment homes in Buckhead, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, will close its corporate doors for an annual day of volunteering. “At Fragile Kids’ headquarters, a group will donate supplies, pack Birthday Bash Boxes and provide funds for Upsees—innovative mobility devices that help children with motor impairment stand and walk with an adult wearing a special harness,” says Virginia Means, executive director of the Post HOPE Foundation.
The Birthday Bash Boxes were inspired by 15-year-old Fragile Kids volunteer Chandler Sherry, who wanted children to feel special on “their” day, and contain everything needed for an epic celebration, including cake mix and party supplies. “The program has ignited an explosion of volunteerism,” Polakowski says.
Fragile Kids Foundation’s survival is dependent on donations. “Essential items like wheelchair lifts for homes and vans, ramps, specialty seating, therapy bikes and pediatric strollers cost from a few hundred dollars to $60,000 for a modified van, far beyond the reach of most,” Polakowski says. “It’s a real thrill for us to see how adaptive equipment impacts an entire family.”
BY: Mickey Goodman
For more information, visit fragilekids.org, postproperties.com/post-hope
