Welcoming Home Outfits Newly Expanded Autistry Studio
Autistry Studios is a therapeutic educational Maker Space. The nonprofit supports autistic and neurodivergent teens and adults in developing independence by nurturing their interests and talents within a strong, creative, and supportive community.
On a Saturday in November, Welcoming Home volunteers transformed Autistry’s newly expanded - and nearly empty - second space in San Rafael. The new area needed a teen hangout zone, a homework nook, a meeting space, and a “kitchen.”
While it wasn’t a formerly homeless family’s apartment, it became something equally meaningful: a welcoming “second home” for people on the spectrum to relax, connect, and spark their creativity.
Coincidentally, or maybe not, two local Bay Area non-profits - Home Away from Homelessness, which provided safe, supportive after-school environments for children experiencing housing insecurity, and Downtown Streets Team, which empowered unhoused neighbors through outreach, services, and community clean-up programs - were both closing their doors due to funding cuts.
While we were saddened to hear of the closing of these two amazing organizations, Welcoming Home was able to give new life to many of their furnishings and artwork, repurposing them to furnish Autistry’s new space.
Left to right:
Geo Monley, Autistry Head of Production; CEO and Co-Founder, Janet Lawson; Lead Welcoming Home Volunteers Dian Smith and Laurie Weatherford
About Sponsored Welcomings
"Sponsorship" means paying for the brand new mattresses, box springs and frames; the cost of the movers; the Starter Kit of necessary items that the individual or family needs in the short term, and any needed items that aren't donated. To enable us to help more people, we need more organizations, groups of friends, schools, etc. to sponsor Welcomings.
Click here or contact info@welcominghome.org for more information.