Santa’s special visit: Sensory-friendly, family-focused and full of cheer with Zan’s Mission

MANSFIELD — Holiday magic came to life in a thoughtful and inclusive way Monday morning as families gathered for a sensory-friendly Christmas Breakfast with Santa, hosted by Zan’s Mission.

Designed specifically for families who have a loved one with any disability, the event took place at First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Avenue West, offering a calm and welcoming environment during an often overwhelming time of year.

When families first arrived they were welcomed by Santa, who took a photo with each child and gave them a gift. From there, children could head to multiple spots. One option was a “quiet room” where children could play with fidget toys, color and do other activities.

Children also had two options for a craft ornament — one made with tissue paper and the other acrylic with stickers. Both options were chosen with sensory needs in mind.

The church was also completely handicapped accessible with ramps for those in wheelchairs.

(Story continues below the pictures. Photos from the Sensory Friendly Christmas Breakfast with Santa. Photos provided by Zan’s Mission Secretary Juanita Cherry-Hamons.)

Creating space for inclusive holiday joy

Emily Kopina attended the breakfast with her three children and mother, Linda Kopina, after learning about Zan’s Mission through the daycare her family uses at the church.

She said the holiday season can be especially challenging for her family and particularly for her son, who has special needs. Large, crowded public events can be overwhelming, making it difficult to participate in traditional holiday activities.

“It’s nice for events like this and for people who understand that families aren’t always able to enjoy big, public, busy spaces during the holidays,” Kopina said. “It makes it more enjoyable, even for me.”

Kopina said sensory-friendly events offer a calmer environment, allowing families to fully enjoy experiences together.

“These events are much more calm, which allow us to truly enjoy the holiday event along with our children,” she said.

She emphasized the importance of awareness, noting she did not know these type of sensory-friendly events existed until she became more involved with the church.

She added inclusion does not have to be complicated.

“It is pretty simple to figure out children with disabilities — it’s not hard,” she said. “Having calm and sensory-friendly environments isn’t difficult to do.”

Pastor Jay Jackson of First English Lutheran Church said events like this often become more for the caregivers and parents — allowing them to take a deep breath and enjoy the holidays.

A mission born from community need

For Zan’s Mission founder and president Stevanie Brown, the event represented both a continuation of something meaningful and the beginning of something larger.

“This event was inspired by one we used to attend at the mall,” Brown said. “When that one stopped, myself and other community members organized one at the mall last year. That inspired me to take a leap of faith and start Zan’s Mission sooner rather than later.”

Brown said Zan’s Mission intentionally designed the Christmas Breakfast with Santa to welcome entire families — especially those who often feel excluded from traditional holiday events.

“These individuals and their families are often the ones left out and excluded because of feeling unwelcome, being overstimulated or not having the inclusive nurturing environment,” she said. “Events like this will offer the support needed to help the whole family feel welcome.”

She said many families hesitate attending church services due to fear of their child not being accepted or not being able to make it through a service.

“We want to make sure every event shares the gospel for those who need to hear about our Savior,” Brown said.

Pump and Grind donated all the pancakes and coffee. Mansfield Family Restaurant on Cook Road donated a gift card to GFS so Zan’s Mission could purchase other items needed for the event.

Brown noted the entire event was a community effort and thanked all the people who made it possible.

Inclusive events meant for the whole family

Zan’s Mission has already hosted several sensory-friendly and inclusive events in the community, including an Easter event, an autism walk and an “Egg My Yard” fundraiser. Brown also previously helped organize a sensory-friendly Santa event before Zan’s Mission officially became a nonprofit.

She stressed inclusion during the holidays should never mean separation.

“It’s important to include individuals with special needs with their families,” Brown said. “This isn’t a time to isolate youth or individuals, but to give them an experience alongside their whole family.”

She noted while some events focus solely on individuals with special needs, separation is not always helpful.

“There are many places that will do things for the individual only or events that aren’t inclusion-focused, so the separation isn’t something that is further needed for events like these,” she said.

The event’s location came through a community partnership with First English Lutheran Church.

“This isn’t our home church, but (First English Lutheran is) an incredible community partner,” Brown said. “(Pastor Jackson) was all in. It truly takes a community effort.”

Looking ahead for Zan’s Mission

Looking to the future, Zan’s Mission hopes to expand its reach, but Brown said additional support will be necessary.

“We are looking for more partners to bring in additional funding and services,” Brown said. “We would love to start respite weekends, autism-focused mental health therapy and a Christian autism school.”

Currently, Zan’s Mission operates entirely through volunteers.

“These families deserve a break without judgment. These kids deserve a Christian education no matter their level of need,” Brown said. “They deserve support groups, psychoeducation, understanding and validation. Sometimes just knowing someone is here for them is everything — and that’s what we want them to know.”

(Photos from the Sensory Friendly Christmas Breakfast with Santa. Credit: Hannah Martin)