Texarkana Resources for the Disabled residents head to Galveston for first-ever beach trip

A great group of folks with big smiles and brand-new beach bags is ready to board a bus this Friday for a group trip unlike any they’ve taken before — their first-ever visit to the beach.

Texarkana Resources for the Disabled is taking its residents to Galveston this weekend, giving them the chance to experience the ocean, sand, and sun just like everyone else.

Jennifer Lewis, CEO of Texarkana Resources, said the trip took over a year of planning and saving to make possible, and the organization didn’t have a lot of extras. When the community heard about it, they stepped in to help.

Led by Dani Hamblett with For All Brandkind, a community donation drive made sure each resident left for the beach with a beach bag, towel, sunglasses, and sunscreen — plus spending money for the road.

“We wanted to send them off in style,” said Hamblett, who posted on her personal Facebook and watched neighbors rally around it. “I got so many donations that they’re getting a couple hundred dollars in extra cash to take with them for gas, food, whatever they need on the trip.”

Residents were all smiles as they picked out their bags, tried on their sunglasses, and joked about stopping at Buc-ee’s along the way — some were heading to the Gulf for the very first time.