Fun and excitement came to the Wheatley Farms & Arts Center (WFA) on October 3, as people supported through day services took part in a lively talent show. People from Freeport, Hicksville, Bethpage, Carle Place, and WFA day services attended— many taking to the stage to share their talents with their peers.
The event was set up on the lush lawn behind Wheatley Farms farmhouse. As people arrived, support staff joined Amy Yeung and Susan Limiti, Activity Specialists along with Kimberly Nistal, Farm Education Manager, to arrange chairs facing a raised platform on the back patio that served as the stage.
“It was great to see so many people be brave, get on stage and be vulnerable,” Kim said. “They had a great audience that was enthusiastic, dancing, clapping, and cheering for everyone as they came on.”
Fall-themed decorations set the scene, with pumpkins surrounding the stage, shiny brown and orange tinsel, and a “Happy Fall” lawn sign where people gathered for photos.
The Many Talents of AHRC Nassau
The most popular talent showcased was singing, followed by dancing, with a few performances combining both. Ralph Gilloon, who receives services at Freeport, performed the only comedic act of the day, leaving the crowd in stitches. During his skit he portrayed the manager at his day services location, playfully capturing their mannerisms.
“Everyone laughed,” Amy said. “He imitated the way they walked and talked.”
Amy found real joy in seeing “everyone participating and watching, seeing how they were cheering each other on. It was great to see.” She shared, “some were shy at first, but once their friends started cheering, they sang their heart out.”
TA joint idea of Amy and Susan, the talent show was organized in just over two weeks. After organizing a singing competition to select a person to sing the national anthem at the annual Rights Rally, the activity specialists saw how eager people were for more opportunities to share their talents.
Kim suggested hosting an event at the farm because of the warm fall weather. The ideas converged on October 3. “The weather was beautiful, and there were smiles all around,” Kim said.
To build on this success, Amy and Susan are working with Patrick Sherrard, Day Services Assistant Director, to plan more events. As additional team members get involved, more people will have the opportunity to share their talents in the months ahead.