Leadership project creates, donates ‘sensory kits’ to local schools, facilities
Published 6:56 pm Friday, May 2, 2025
Sensory kits are assembled by students at the Cullman Area Technology Academy. Courtesy photo
Adult Leadership project members Rebekah Lloyd, Christina Jones, Hope Gulledge and Kayla Beckham prepare to assemble sensory kits. Courtesy photo
Sensory kits assembled by students at the Cullman Area Technology Academy. Courtesy photo
Adult Leadership project members Rebekah Lloyd, Christina Jones, Hope Gulledge and Kayla Beckham, deliver sensory kits to Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette. Courtesy photo
Sensory kits are delivered to The Sanctuary at the Woodlands. Courtesy photo
Sensory kits are delivered to the Cullman County Public Library. Courtesy photo
Sensory Kits are delivered to Cullman Regional. courtesy photo
Sensory Kits are delivered to the Child Development Center. courtesy photo
Adult Leadership project members Rebekah Lloyd, Christina Jones, Hope Gulledge and Kayla Beckham. Courtesy photo
Leadership Cullman County graduates recently came together with area businesses and high school students to assemble and distribute sensory kits to area schools and other facilities that have students or clients with autism.
In January, as part of their Chamber of Commerce Adult Leadership class, Rebekah Lloyd, Christina Jones, Hope Gulledge and Kayla Beckham toured various parts of Cullman County with a focus on Quality of Life. As part of the course, participants were tasked with creating a charitable project.
During a visit to Cullman Regional, the group learned that the behavioral clinic lacked sensory items to help alleviate stress for clients. It was during this visit that one of the group members suggested organizing a drive to provide sensory kits to Cullman Regional.
After bringing the proposal to the leadership class, the idea grew to include local schools. After creating a flyer with a QR code, setting up accounts at Merchants Bank of Alabama and People’s Bank of Alabama, the group reached out to schools to spread the word and encourage businesses to donate to the newly named “Jordan’s Junk Drawer” campaign.
The county school system was consulted to get a list of specific items each school needed. The campaign raised more than $2,600 in monetary contributions, along with approximately $500 in estimated value from donated items.
After helping assemble 50 kits, students at the Cullman Area Technology Academy suggested continuing the project to earn community service hours. Sensory kits were delivered to the Cullman Regional Behavioral Clinic, Cullman County Public Library, The Sanctuary at the Woodlands, 14 classrooms at the Child Development Center, all 12 primary and county elementary school campuses, and all 18 county middle/intermediate and high school campuses.
The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Peoples Bank, Merchants Bank, Lloyd Consulting Firm, Cullman County Schools and Cullman Regional collaborated to raise funds and gather donated items.
