“Oh, Good Grief”, Sensory Saturday is Oct. 6

The first Sensory Saturday workshop for special needs children at the Rusk City Library will be held on Oct. 6.

Through partnerships with the Rusk City Library, Friends of the Library and Cherokee Civic Theatre, the initial workshop will feature activities and interactive stories based on ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’.

“The goal is to utilize the space and the resources we have to provide more options and opportunities for those with special needs in our community,” said library director Amy Rhinehart.

“Credit for this idea goes to the Bowden family, especially Mya (Gunter-Bowden) who has put so much energy and creativity into this project.”

Rhinehart explained that during a conversation with the family, they spoke of similar programs offered at Nacogdoches Library and the idea to begin a program here in Rusk began to take form.

The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and will offer story time, a meet and greet with cast members and a sensory friendly activity.

The event will be free to the public and will be held at the Rusk City Library located at 207 East Street, Rusk.

Future workshops will be held on the first Saturday of each month.

“Rusk didn’t have resources or activities for our special needs residents,” said Rhinehart. “I felt that we needed to do more. We held our first adults special needs dance in August with another one planned this month. Invitations have been sent to the group homes in the area in hopes we will have a good turnout.”

The theme for the October dance will be Monster Mash.

For more information on Sensory Saturday or additional activities the library has planned, contact Rhinehart at (903) 683-5916.