TESTIMONIES

Recipient of Uniting Pieces Scholarship: "This was our daughter's second summer clinic at The Helping House. Her goals this summer included improving her social skills, initiating play with friends, and strengthening her communication. We saw so much growth this summer. We noticed increased awareness, improvement in her receptive language, and we see improvement on her ability to tolerate situations with increased stimulation. We are so grateful to the Helping House for all their hard work, and for the scholarship Uniting Pieces provided toward her summer clinic tuition. Your generosity helped make it possible for her to continue building her skills and helped prevent regression over the summer. Thank you for investing in her progress!"

Recipient of Uniting Pieces Scholarship: "My 5-year-old was completely non-verbal and not potty trained before getting involved with Uniting Pieces. They awarded him a scholarship to attend the Helping House, and after a few months of them working with him, I've heard him say the word 'no' twice. He is also learning to communicate using pictures. He does not have as many meltdowns, and when he does, it is easier to calm him down. Toilet training progress is slow but we are still maintaining high expectations. This would not have been possible without Uniting Pieces!"

Uniting Pieces is an outreach ministry to families dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Specifically, Uniting Pieces works closely with area pediatricians, primary care physicians, and Shelby County schools, as a resource to provide assistance to children and families impacted by ASD. In addition to providing resources, Uniting Pieces offers a support system for families who are new to autism and who need someone to lean on to answer questions from personal experience. Board members Josh and Lindsay Davis have three children with the youngest two on the spectrum. The idea for the Uniting Pieces ministry came from the heart of their oldest daughter, age 9. She loves her younger siblings so much, and so she developed a concern for the care of all of the other children with autism outside of her family. 

How Uniting Pieces works:
Upon receiving an application for assistance, the Uniting Pieces Board Members will schedule an interview with the family. During this interview, we will go over the specific care requirements of the child to see which resources the family may be eligible for. Uniting Pieces will provide the specific resources needed on a case-by-case basis, as long as funds are available. The Superheroes for Autism 5K is the primary annual fundraiser that funds the Uniting Pieces ministry.

Because ASD is a spectrum, not every child with ASD requires the same care. Below is a breakdown of resources which may be offered depending on the specific needs of the requesting family.

• Financial Aid for Therapy Sessions: Children on the spectrum may need specialized therapy sessions in behavioral therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and/or occupational therapy.
  
  
• Scholarships: Scholarships for Shelby County residents with ASD to attend The Helping House in Nacogdoches. The Helping House is a private school and resource center serving children on the autism spectrum, specializing in early intervention programs that focus on communication, behavior, self-care, and social skills.
• Communication: These items may help children better communicate and/or help with transitions and routines.
  • Electronic devices that can generate speech for individuals that have difficulty communicating verbally
  • Talking flashcards to improve communication
  • Visual supports such as a visual schedule board with cards
  • Feeling charts to help understand emotions
  • Flashcards with words and pictures to improve speech and language
  • Visual timers
    
    
• Sensory Items: These items can help with focus, reduce anxiety, and have a calming effect for many children on the spectrum.
  • Compression clothing, compression vests, and weighted blankets can provide deep pressure
  • Chewy necklaces or bracelets
  • Noise cancelling headphones and/or ear buds
  • Sensory chairs
    
    
• Safety Items: These items can help keep children with autism safe
  • Door child locks
  • Cabinet and drawer locks
  • Safety bed tents
  • Indoor safety gate
    
    
• Personal Care Items: These items can help with daily personal care for children with autism.
  • Diapers and/or Pull ups
  • Wipes
  • No rinse bathing cloths

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITING PIECES AWARDS $12,600 SCHOLARSHIP TO SHELBY COUNTY RESIDENT WITH AUTISM

[CENTER, TEXAS, JULY 2026] In June, Uniting Pieces received an application for assistance from a Shelby County resident who is the sole provider for a family member with autism. The applicant requested both prayer and financial support to enroll their family member in the Helping House, a private, non-profit early intervention center in Nacogdoches for children with autism and developmental delays. The Uniting Pieces review board reviewed the application, evaluated the household income, conducted in-person interviews with the caregiver and the child, and ultimately approved the request for funds on July 22, 2026. A check in the amount of $12,600 was issued to The Helping House in the form of a scholarship in the name of this student. Upon receiving the news, the caregiver responded, “Thank GOD and thank you Uniting Pieces!” The total tuition is $19,800 for the school year with the remaining balance covered by other scholarships and fundraising done at the Helping House.

In May, Uniting Pieces awarded a scholarship to another Shelby County resident to attend the 8-week summer program offered by the Helping House. This program ensures that students with autism who have gained skills throughout the school year do not regress over the summer break and lose those learned skills. 

Uniting Pieces can help people with autism in more ways than just access to specialized education. The ministry can also assist with the cost of care items, such as electronic devices that generate speech for non-verbal individuals, flashcards with words and pictures to aid in communication, sensory items such as noise cancelling headphones or ear buds, weighted blankets, and more. In addition to financial assistance, Uniting Pieces also offers the opportunity to request prayer, or for caregivers to participate in a support group.

In April, Uniting Pieces held its first annual Superheroes for Autism 5K, which raised over $30,000 to assist Shelby County residents with autism in their development of foundational skills, including self-care, language and communication, independent work, and peer tolerance. Over half of the funds raised in April 2026 have been used to accomplish these goals. Next year’s Superheroes for Autism 5K is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2027. We hope to have an even bigger event, and we will need the continued support of this loving community to sponsor and donate so that this ministry can keep helping families in need.

For more information on Uniting Pieces, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Superheroes4Autism/Page/About-Uniting-Pieces

For more information on the Helping House, visit https://the-helping-house.org