Mister Rogers once said that when facing difficulty, we should find the helpers. For families raising a child with disabilities or chronic illness, South Sound Parent to Parent (SSP2P) is a hub of helpers providing mentorship, resources, activities and support in both English and Spanish. But even these dedicated helpers need a helping hand.
South Sound Parent to Parent engages in fundraising all year round. They enhance this support by training volunteers, providing an Amazon Wish List of needed items and applying for grants or other funding. In 2025 alone, their efforts allowed them to help nearly 1,500 households across Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties.
South Sound Parent to Parent’s Fundraising Benefits Families Across Three Counties
Development Coordinator Melissa Sampson explains that one aspect of their work, for example, is called the Helping Parent Program. “This is wrap-around support for families navigating a child’s diagnosis of a developmental delay or disability,” she says.
“For children from birth to age three,” Sampson continues, “we are the primary service provider agency for the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program, offering speech, physical and occupational therapies, as well as special education and service coordination. As children grow, our role shifts to that of a safety net. We provide free IEP coaching to help caregivers advocate for their child’s legal rights in public schools and connect families to long-term resources for social connection.”
Parents can self-refer into Early Support or providers can submit an electronic referral form. When children turn 3, there is a transition conference during which parents are walked through the timeline and toolkit of services, people, places and activities geared towards their child’s ongoing development.
Community Partnerships and Fundraisers Support SSP2P and Local Families
To keep these resources, programs and events coming, South Sound Parent to Parent relies on compassionate community partners, tireless volunteers, parent/peer mentors and direct donation. They even facilitate an Amazon Wish List of needed items.
For the new year, Sampson says they’re developing some “creative community partnerships in 2026 focused on connection and shared purpose.”
These include a dinner theater evening in May. SSP2P will team up with Olympia Family Theater for a night of comedy, mystery and rollicking fun with proceeds supporting a joint project between the organizations. They hope to create an educational and sensory-friendly theater experience designed for families with children who have physical or sensory needs, including neurodivergent individuals.
To honor July’s Disability Pride Month, they’re orchestrating a Great Inflatables Kickball event. Teams will compete in oversized costumes as a way “of using traditional play as a unique platform to raise awareness about invisible disabilities,” says Sampson.
When the weather cools, SSP2P will partner with HeartStrides Therapeutic Horsemanship for a magical Candlelight Walk in the Woods. There will be lighted trails and a silent auction benefitting both nonprofits. HeartStrides provides therapeutic horseback rides to children and adults with disabilities as well as building a recovery support community at Healing Hearts Ranch.
Other events include an annual Skateland outing in February, an Easter egg hunt in April, Latino Mother’s Day in May and summer drive-in movie night in June. “These private events ensure that caregivers and their children have a safe, judgement-free environment to connect and celebrate together,” says Sampson.
New Classes and Resources for Families Raising Children with Chronic Illness or Disability
New programming in 2026 is also underway. South Sound Parent to Parent launches Strong Hearts on February 2, a free virtual support group for grandparents providing care or support to their children and grandchildren.
They have also launched Holland Classes, “donor-funded sessions that help caregivers navigate the unique emotional journey of raising a child with a developmental delay or disability,” Sampson explains.
And as always, SSP2P welcomes generosity every step of the way. Becoming a Helping Parent peer mentor can enrich both the mentor themselves as well as their supported family. SSP2P also welcome applicants for their Board of Directors or to volunteer at events which promote inclusivity for children with diverse needs.
You can find out more by subscribing to the South Sound Parent to Parent newsletter or following them on social media. Follow them on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Latino Facebook, Grays Harbor Peer Support Facebook, and TikTok for updates, activities and resources. Then find the helpers in your life and give them a hug of gratitude today.
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