Nonprofit For Adults With Disabilities Gets Office In Vienna

UPDATE: The Sept. 1 grand opening is postponed due to water damage at the church.

VIENNA, VA — A nonprofit focused on providing a day program for adults with disabilities is opening a new administrative office at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna.

The grand opening of the SPARC office will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the church, located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road. There will be a networking and vendor tables from noon to 12:30 p.m. followed by a ribbon cutting with remarks from SPARC Executive Director Debi Alexander, Good Shepherd Pastor Eric Song, and Supervisors John Foust, Walter Alcorn and Dalia Palchik. That will be followed by a talent show at 1 p.m. The grand opening is supported by the Reston Chamber of Commerce and the SPARC Advocates Advisory Council.

The new office opens as SPARC celebrates its 15th anniversary this fall. SPARC provides membership-based day programs for adults with disabilities at several clubhouse locations in Northern Virginia. The programs allow members to get involved in ways adapted to their abilities. Activities can include news quizzes, word games, cooking, painting, building and more. Adults with a disability who are 18 or older or no longer in high school can become members.

"We are thrilled to partner with SPARC to help adults with disabilities have a safe space," said Song. "Allowing SPARC to use our space is a tremendous blessing to help people in our community."

Church of the Good Shepherd got involved with SPARC by providing space in its Fellowship Hall for a SPARC day program during the summer months. SPARC is now offering virtual programs due to the pandemic, but Good Shepherd is one of the locations where in-person clubs resumed. Clubs are held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Good Shepherd location.

SPARC is also close to the hearts of Good Shepherd members Mary and Bob Burger. Their late son had used their services years ago, and Mary is now involved as a SPARC board member.

"SPARC provides an incredible program for these adults who have little or no options for employment, though a few do have some limited work," Mary Burger said. "The program provides these adults with disabilities the opportunity to interact with others, to be stimulated and to feel a part of the community. We know there is a large population out there that needs this program."

For more information about SPARC, visit sparcsolutions.org.