When Shelley Brookins gave a man named Richie a ride to church, he told her about a simple dream: a day program where he could go, make friends, learn new things, and feel like he belonged somewhere. What she learned next stopped her. In Texas, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities wait an average of 15 to 20 years for a spot in a day program like the one Richie was describing.
Shelley didn't set out to start a nonprofit. But when she learned what families were up against, she felt called by God to be a solution. Richie was there on the day Bee Happy Programs opened its doors. Today he's an active part of the Day Program, showing up every week to do what he always wanted: hang out with his friends, and really feel like he belongs.
Too many people in need are still waiting for that.
In Kaufman County and the surrounding communities of the DFW Metroplex, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities age out of school services and into an almost total absence of support. No structured days. No work. No community. Families who spent years advocating for their loved ones find themselves starting over, navigating waiting lists measured not in months but in decades, wondering what happens next.
Bee Happy Programs exists for every person still waiting.
Our Day Program gives 39 adults a place to belong Tuesday through Friday with activities, daily living skills, community outings, and the kind of daily life most of us take for granted. At The Hive Creamery, participants run a real ice cream business, serve real customers, and earn real pride. At Buzz IT, they build and refurbish computers, offer IT services to the community, and run an e-commerce storefront. At Joy Works, they make dog treats, sew, and craft cards. At Reimagine, we extend that belonging to the whole family with a free weekly program for caregivers and families, because the people who show up every day for their loved ones deserve a place to breathe too.
Right now, more than 30 adults are on our waiting list. We are working toward adding more 15-passenger vans and a second location in Forney so that more families don't spend another year without a place to belong.
Your gift on North Texas Giving Day moves that forward. And somewhere out there, there's a Richie who is still waiting.
Bee Happy Programs is a faith-based nonprofit in Kaufman, Texas, serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have spent years, sometimes decades, on statewide waiting lists for a program like ours. We provide day services, prevocational training, and family support because we believe that belonging and opportunity shouldn’t depend on your zip code or your bank account.
We are working toward acquiring additional 15-passenger vans. More than 30 adults are currently on our waiting list, primarily for our upcoming second location in Forney, and transportation is a persistent barrier to serving the 39 people already with us. Additional vehicles would allow us to reach more families and expand the community access our participants count on. Your support on North Texas Giving Day moves both of those goals forward.
Even in a growing region like the DFW Metroplex, day programs and residential options haven’t kept pace with demand in the outer counties. Families in communities like Kaufman County face some of the longest waits for services in Texas, leaving them to drive long distances, join years-long waiting lists, or go without support entirely. Our sliding-scale fees ensure that cost is never the reason a family can’t access the Day Program, and Reimagine is completely free to every family we serve.
Organization name
Bee-Happy Programs
Causes
Intellectual, Developmental, and Physical Differences
Operating Budget
$250,000 - $499,999
Counties Served
Kaufman, Rockwall, Dallas
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
106 N Washington St