EFMP hosts Reach Out: A Celebration of Fun and Music

Photo By Sgt. Jessica Collins | Cpl. Julian Ramirez helps a child make a tambourine during Reach Out: A Celebration of Fun and Music, hosted by Exceptional Family Member Program June 3 at the Butler Officers Club aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The event was part of EFMP’s outreach efforts to bring special needs children from the local and military community with together. Volunteers helped children create their own instruments, paint their faces and learn new dance moves. Ramirez is a volunteer and combat engineer with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

06.03.2017

Story by Sgt. Jessica Collins 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted Reach Out: A Celebration of Fun and Music June 3 at the Butler Officer Club aboard Camp Foster.

EFMP works with military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive community support, as well as educational, medical and personnel services to U.S. military families with special needs.

“We support the military community by helping to ensure a continuity of care for families as they move to and from Okinawa,” said Katrina Covington, a manager for EFMP. “This event was part of our outreach efforts. We wanted to bring children with special needs from the local and military communities together through a celebration of fun and music.”

Volunteers helped children create their own instruments, paint their faces and learn new dance moves.

“This is my first time working with special needs children,” said Pfc. Chad Cruz, a volunteer and motor vehicle operator with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “My favorite part was being able to make the kids laugh. It was so much fun and I learned a lot.”

The EFMP believes music is a powerful communication tool to help children with special needs.

“Music is universal,” said Covington. “For children who have special needs, music and art have so many benefits. In a therapeutic setting music and art help with development of cognitive, social, communication and emotional skills. They stimulate the mind and body as well as provide an outlet for emotional expression when words can’t be articulated.”

• Date Taken: 06.03.2017
• Date Posted: 06.08.2017 23:11
• Story ID: 236802
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP