TURN at the Renaissance Faire
Southern Utah TURN staff and clients participated in the 28th Annual Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire, July 7th-10th, 2010. TURN has sponsored the children’s game booth area of the Faire for almost 10 years as a fundraiser and also to raise public awareness about TURN and our mission as an agency.
TURN clients and staff members put on Renaissance- and fairytale-based costumes and manned the game booths at TURN’s “Enchanted Forest” to assist Faire-goers with games such as “Putting the Stone” (putting green), “Dart to the Heart” (balloon darts) the “Wishing Well” (a variation on the old fishing pond) and “O ‘Clinko” (the classic Price is Right Plinko game).
Game players received “lucky” green coins for their winning efforts which are exchanged at the TURN Prize Booth. Prizes ranged in “price” from one coin (everyone received at minimum of one coin for playing) for small candies, rings and tattoos to 450 coins for a spectacular Lego Pirate Ship. This year’s prizes also included many items that were made by TURN clients as part of the Southern Utah Supported Employment Programs. Participants were paid hourly wages for their time spent in creating flowered head bands, painting gossamer butterflies and treasure boxes, and suncatchers and knitting hats and scarves. The head bands were so popular they were gone in two days!
This year TURN operated 12 games, 11 of which were developed by and owned by TURN. The games can be used throughout the year by TURN programs for parties and activities. TURN receives 70% of the ticket sales spent at our booths, which amounted to over $1600 this year. The funds will be used to purchase prizes for next year’s faire, sponsor prizes made through the Southern Utah Supported Employment Programs and to maintain the games themselves.
TURN’s goal in sponsoring the booth each year has been to increase disability awareness in the community and provide information about TURN’s role in providing disability services. Any success in this area must be attributed to the wonderful TURN clients and their staff who willingly spend their time working with the public, helping others to become more aware of the disability issues that affect their neighbors and community members.
Mitch Vosburg has been attending TURN day programs since 1986. When he had to go into a care center in 2009, he missed his friends at the day program that he had treasured for so many years. So, later that year, he was able to come back to the Woods Cross day program part-time.
Mitch loves holding onto hair scrunches and a deck of cards that he plays with. He enjoys Special Olympic bowling and track and field, but he cannot participate in the actual track and field games because of the heat. However, he enjoys practicing when there is cooler weather. Mitch loves being with his friends at the day program, participating in the activities, and going out in the community. He does not speak but he communicates his joy through a big smile on his face!
