What We Do For Fun

Cooke Drive May Breakfast

Every May, the folks and staff at Cooke Drive Residence, in North Scituate, open their home to the entire agency for a bountiful May Breakfast. All the folks, staff and family members are invited to enjoy a delectable and delightful breakfast.

This was the 18th year for the Annual May Breakfast at Cooke Drive Residence in Scituate. When the tradition began we had invited Parkside Avenue Residence so that the two programs could spend some time getting to know each other. Over the next few years we began inviting more and more people until we decided to open it up to the entire agency. This year we served about 120 people. Even with the small confines of our residence, we manage to serve everyone and have seats for most. The management and staff work very hard to prepare for the breakfast. We start cooking early in the week, and each year it runs smoother than the previous one.

We serve everything from eggs to pastry. It always seems that everyone has a favorite item that requires coming back for seconds, and even thirds. We also try to serve a different dish each year. This year it was green beans with mushrooms, and it appeared to be a big success. We have even recruited family and friends to help with the cooking and serving. Jeff Gursky does a great job making the eggs and Heidi Anderson greets and serves her guests. It is a great get together and everyone has a great time. We enjoy spending time with our Re-Focus family and hope to continue this tradition for many years to come.

Holiday Party

One fun way to get the whole agency together is at our Holiday Gala Celebration held annually in December at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. All the folks and employees are invited and each is able to bring a guest.

At this holiday party the Dream Grants are awarded, the chorus sings, the 50/50 raffle is drawn, and ten-year plaques are given out. We also award a trophy to all the Direct Support Professionals who were nominated by each of our 17 programs for the CPNRI (Community Provider Network of RI) Direct Support Professional Award. The party is always great success.

Family Picnic

Re-Focus, Inc. extends its family by inviting all employees, folks and their family members and friends to a picnic in the summer. The last few years this enjoyable event has been held at Slater Park in Pawtucket. With many helping hands everyone enjoys plenty of good food, games, face painting, carousel rides and a wonderful raffle.

Exeter Picnic

      For over 10 years the Re-Focus family has been invited every summer to Exeter for a picnic. Fr. Sabourin and Sr. Antoinette moved to Kateri Tekak with a Mission, Exeter in 1981. They had opened and directed the first group home in Rhode Island, St. Charles Residence, from 1972.

International Day

Each summer, the staff and folks at Olney Arnold Residence in Cranston invite the entire agency to a feast of international fare. Re-Focus prides itself on its diversity, and among the many blessings diversity brings is its culinary variety for the palate. Staff from countries around the world share traditional tasty treats from their culture with other staff and with the folks we support.

Music and dancing add to the the festivities of the day. Even rain has not been able to dampen the spirits of this celebration. It is a great treat to celebrate who we are in such diverse ways. It is also an extraordinary learning experience for all who come and share in the day.

"Swing Into Spring" Dinner Dance

One of our favorite fund-raising events is the Spring Fling. In addition to dinner and a night of dancing we hold a penny social and raffle to increase the coffers for the evening. The night is inexpensive, offers much fun, and is a great time for all.

This year participants danced the night away to the tunes of John Catalano. The dance was held at the West Valley Inn on April 20th. Thank you to everyone who donated baskets, items, money or time to the dance. We raised over $2,000.00. The money raised will go towards 2007 Dream Grants.

Halloween Party

Each year, Re-Focus holds their Annual Halloween Costume Party. The event is open to all staff members of Re-Focus, our folks, and their families and typically runs from 6:30pm - 9:30pm. It's great fun and prizes are usually awarded for the Best Dressed, Most Scary, Most Creative, Most Original, and Most Beautiful.