Sun, Moon & Stars Inspires Children on the Autism Spectrum Through Events

We spoke with Christine Faressa, President and Founder of Sun, Moon & Stars about her mission to provide families with children on the Autism Spectrum with opportunities to participate in activities, events and programs while building a strong community within Greater Watertown and surrounding areas.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you for listening to Community Access. My interview now
is with Christine for us UP, President and founder of
Sun Moon and Stars. Welcome, Thank you Allison.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Thank you for having me this morning.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
For people who don't know about Sun Moon and Stars,
just give us a little bit of background.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Sure. We're a five oh one C three nonprofit organization
and our mission is basically to provide fun events and
activities for families the children on the autism spectrum, along
with building a very supportive community for these kids with
friendships for the kids and relationships for the parents as well.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
And you have some events that are coming up. We do.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
This is the time of the year, the fall into
winter where we really shine. We do quite a bit
for Spooky Season along gliding into the holidays with Santa
events as well. So we do have quite a bit
coming up.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
Let's talk about those events, the dates and the times.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Sure, one of our longest running collaborations is with the
Railroad Museum of New England and Thomaston. We've been working
and partnering with them since twenty seventeen. We have coming
up with them on October twelfth, the Pumpkin Patch Express.
That is October twelfth, at two in the afternoon. We
have one whole time slot geared specifically towards autism, family

(01:16):
special needs and it's just a really great train ride
to the Pumpkin Patch with your community in a judgment
free way. And that's what we really like to say.
Our events and activities are judgment free. Our kids are
free to be themselves and we're there to support them
in any way that's needed. And then moving on after
the Pumpkin Patch Express, we have the Autism Friendly Fanta Express,

(01:38):
which that is coming up on December first. That is
something that we've been doing for quite a few years
and we actually hold two time slots for that one,
two full time slots with over eight hundred tickets available.
It's pretty incredible. It always fells out every single year, Alison.
So that is at noon and I believe at two
fifteen as well on December first. Those are two big,

(01:59):
big events that we hope this coming season. So we
do have a couple other smaller events coming up. We
do a Haunted Halloween indoor trunk or Treat that's on Sunday,
October twenty seventh, and we host about one hundred kids
that come through that We do different time slots for that.
You pick your time slots so it's not too overwhelming
for the kids. And we have about sixteen community partners

(02:20):
working with us to host vendor tables for the kids.
So it's a really nice experience for them just not
worry about it being too overwhelming. They're with their friends
and their community and for us, it's a great event
als and because we've been doing it now we're going
into my Goodness, I want to say, our seventh year
and just to see the kids grow up year after

(02:41):
year and see the different costumes as the pictures come
up as memories as something pretty special. And then we
also do a Letters to Santa in the same vein
we do that that's coming up on December eighth, and
we have Santa Claus at the end of it. All
the kids get to go through Santa's Village once again,
we do half our time plots. That's what's not too overwhelming.
They go through Santa's Village, they end up with Santa

(03:03):
where they get a gift and they take a picture
with Santa. So it's a really nice experience, very low key,
very judgment friendly, and again it's just great to see
the kids over the years.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
So what kind of impact have you seen on the
families and the children through all of these events.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
You know, I think the biggest thing is providing families
that are you know, we say neurodivergent. That's the new
Jurney's Days, neurodi virgin families. Opportunities that neurotypical families take
for granted, whether it be going trick or treating, whether
it be going on a train ride, whether it be
going to see Santa, different things that just give them

(03:39):
the space to try it, even if it may not
work out. It's okay, you can try something, and we
give them grace, we give them space, we give them support,
we don't give them judgment. To let the kids be themselves,
which through all that we've seen so many friendships formed,
so many community connections. Parents feel they have a place

(03:59):
that it's just a safe place for them to be
themselves and do all the things. So that's we just
see smiles enjoy Alison. Honestly, we've been very blessed, very blessed. Well.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
I believe that this is more of a ministry on
your life instead of a job.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
I do feel blessed on a regular basis by the
people in our lives and the people that support us
by our families. When my son Dominic says, oh Am,
I going to see my friends today, you know, at
one of our events. Yes, honey, you're going to see
your friends. And that's a beautiful thing and that's what
we wanted from day one.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
We're definitely going to have you back to talk more
about what's happening in the new year. I want to
thank you Christine for Essa, President and founder of Sun
Moon and Stars. Thank you so much for being on
Community Access today anytime.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Alison, thank you have a wonderful day.