Steven Doherty, 26, of Scituate displayed his mask during a Halloween party for children and adults with special needs last night at the Knights of Columbus Lodge in Pembroke. About 150 people attended the event, organized by Kevin McKenna of Hanson.
(Debee Tlumacki for The Boston Globe)
At special party, Halloween joy lives on
Steven Doherty, 26, of Scituate displayed his mask during a Halloween party for children and adults with special needs last night at the Knights of Columbus Lodge in Pembroke. About 150 people attended the event, organized by Kevin McKenna of Hanson.
(Debee Tlumacki for The Boston Globe)
PEMBROKE - Halloween lasted one more day for the witches, vampires, princesses, and queens who hit the dance floor last evening at the Knights of Columbus lodge.
Building off of the special needs prom he has organized for two years, Kevin McKenna, 51, of Hanson, threw the Halloween party yesterday for special needs children and adults.
“There is not enough being done for special needs,’’ said McKenna, a former Boston Housing Authority police officer and Grand Knight of the Pembroke Knights of Columbus, who added that about 150 special needs children and adults attended. “We wanted the kids to have a second chance to wear their costumes.’’
The hall was aglow with orange and purple lights. Fake spiders hung from the ceiling. Costumed party-goers danced and laughed to pop hits, including such Halloween favorites as “Monster Mash’’ and “Thriller.’’
“Anything that can get these kids out to socialize with their peers is wonderful,’’ said Joann Reale, 47, of Scituate. Joann’s daughter, Hannah, who has Sturge-Weber syndrome, a neurological disorder, dressed as an angel. The 19-year-old said she was most excited to be dressed up and dance at the party.
Planning for the celebration started after the prom here six months ago, said McKenna’s wife, Hope.
“We have a lot of positive people helping out. Especially in this economy, no one wants to say ‘no,’ ’’ Hope McKenna said. “It’s a nice night to relax. These kids can be themselves here.’’
Food was donated by a restaurant in Pembroke. Students from Whitman High School and members of the Tri-Town Rotary Club of Hanover, Pembroke, and Norwell volunteered.
“It helps when they can all get together. It’s so good they get to have this opportunity,’’ said high school volunteer Cori Forbes, 17, of Hanson.
Forbes also volunteered at the special needs prom and is the women’s coordinator of Becca’s Closet, a nonprofit organization which donates dresses for proms and formal dances.
Jeannie Blanchard, 49, of Whitman, helped to organize the event with the McKennas. She, like other parents of special needs children, is worried about the state’s human services budget.
Recent cuts to human services have reached $82 million, $7.7 million of which are cuts to developmental disability support.
“My son has been cut once, and I had to scramble to find another program,’’ Blanchard said. “I feel it will have a bigger burden on the parents, if the parents have to stay at home. The state doesn’t realize when they cut, it goes down the chain.’’
Hope McKenna said she is very worried about state budget cuts. Two of her three children are involved in the ARC program of Greater Plymouth, a nonprofit that provides support to those with developmental disabilities and their families.
“I don’t know how much they can cut,’’ she said. “They’ve already cut to the bare minimum.’’
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
