A Sunshine Stop employee with a volunteer.

If you’re able to visit us at one of our Sunshine Stop locations as a customer, please always feel free to talk with our Sunshine Squad (what we call our staff). Ask them how their day is going, what their favorite food is, what they are doing for the weekend, who their favorite singer is, when is their birthday, etc. Whatever feels like a good ice breaker works!

Shine Bright! is the mantra of The Sunshine Stop and our Sunshine Squad employees. Everyone is encouraged to let their spirit and skills shine brightly while working. We often hear things like, “I love to stop by and see the kids working—it just makes my day.” We love to hear that! But, in truth, these kids are not always kids.

At The Sunshine Stop, we want to see more people with intellectual disabilities work in employment situations that not only provide them with a competitive wage, but also one that provides them with the same sense of pride and accomplishment that others without intellectual disabilities get from their employment. We hope to provide the foundational skills that can allow our employees to consider a wider range of future, customized employment opportunities in areas that truly interest and inspire them. Ask our Sunshine Squad members what other jobs they might like to do now that they’ve worked at The Sunshine Stop and you may hear some really great answers—a testament to our desire to help them find future customizable employment in our community!

At The Sunshine Stop, we believe in helping our Sunshine Squad and providing a  safe environment and a purposeful experience. We want our crew to understand that they can learn new things and that they will find what works best for them in employment situations. And that failure and trying different approaches may be part of the process. We won’t wrap our Squad in bubble wrap and protect them from all risk—we’ll be there supporting them as appropriately as they need while giving them their dignity to try and learn and be empowered. If you visit The Sunshine Stop and see a Squad member learning something new, appreciate the risk they are taking by working on their job skills publicly as they serve you. Every shift, every role, every sale—the Squad brings their best work and shares their skills with dignity and pride!

It’s here! The Sunshine Stop website launches today! If you’re seeing this blog, you’re witness to the launch of our first-ever actual website and we’re so glad you found us, welcome! Take a look around and notice all the great information and big ideas planned for the future. You’ll also see ways you can help our small-but-mighty nonprofit prepare for the 2025 Summer Season and beyond, as a donor, volunteer or employee.

Our new website is intended to be an evolving space where our team shares resources, highlights, events and photos. As well as, news and updates as we refine our strategic plan and vision. We have so much to do and so much to share—this is just the start of a lot of fabulous content to come! Please check back regularly for updates. We also have a new online store with lots of fun products and a newsletter coming soon—be sure to sign up at the bottom of this page to be one of the first to receive our regular email newsletter and updates from us.

Our hope is that the launch of this site might also create interest in other communities near and far. Please take a peek around our site and share with others to help us spread the word!

One last thing. We would like to give a big thank you to those who made this website possible. Thank you to Hello Design Shop and art director/designer Dena Collard for designing our new logo and website, to copywriter Karen Ryan who contributed to our website copy and to website photographer, Barbara Richman.