"We are always adding programs and creating opportunities," said Risa Paskoff, executive director of Aaron's Acres. During the winter, the organization added the Aaron's Acres Adult Sports League to its offerings for adults with disabilities. The league joined existing sports programs such as the Chuckie Magee Flag Football League, which began in the fall of 2022. Paskoff pointed out that Challenger Little League of Lancaster County is available in the spring. Challenger has given individuals with special needs a chance to play baseball each year for nearly three decades.

After the flag football program attracted 20 members who participated in regular games at the Manheim Brethren in Christ Church on Saturdays from August through early November, Aaron's Acres organizers wanted to offer a winter program, dubbed Aaron's Acres Adult Sports League. "We started it at the beginning of February," said Paskoff, who noted the program has been held each Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lancaster Brethren in Christ Church on Fruitville Pike, with the last installment set for March 18. "We opened it to adults ages 21 to 40 as with the flag football," explained Paskoff. "We didn't know if they would like kickball or soccer or floor hockey, so we did two weeks of each." The rotation began with kickball, which some of the participants had never played before. Next, the program featured soccer and is finishing with floor hockey. Halfway through each session, the group took a break for a snack. More than 20 participants and four volunteers took part. "They loved kickball. It was so much fun," said Paskoff, who noted that in the future, she hopes to have more volunteers at the sessions.

Because of the short duration and number of volunteers, parents of participants are required to remain at the venue. "It gives the parents time to mingle and (network)," said Paskoff, who noted one participant's mother had moved to the state only recently and was able to learn about resources from other parents. The participant was happy to take part in the activity. "He's very social, and he was so excited to be with other people," said Paskoff.

Because of the success of the flag football league and the winter sports programming, Paskoff said, Aaron's Acres plans to hold the programs again. "It's just continuing the mission of providing meaningful programs to people with disabilities and expanding the ages," she said.

"It's another opportunity for individuals with disabilities to be together for social time and also be physically active, and it gives families times to connect."

Aaron's Acres holds a six-week summer program to serve about 200 children with disabilities. In the summer of 2022, the camp moved to New Holland, and Paskoff said the organization plans to hold camp in the New Holland Community Memorial Park again in 2023. Paskoff noted the organization continues to look for an existing building to renovate to meet its needs.

More information about Aaron's Acres may be found at http://www.aaronsacres.org.