Everett’s Place began with one little boy and a diagnosis that changed everything.

Everett was born with an incredibly rare medical condition, and through our family’s journey, we saw firsthand how difficult it can be to find spaces, resources, and community for families navigating medical complexity. A sudden change like this can be rattling! Instead of letting that experience define us, and struggle alone, we decided to turn it into something meaningful: a place that could make the journey a little easier for other families like ours.

Everett’s Place Play Café will be a nonprofit indoor play café and family resource center created with medically complex, disabled, and special needs children and their families at heart, while welcoming the entire community with open arms. Our space will combine inclusive, development focused play with a family friendly café, caregiver support, community programming, and resources designed to make families feel seen, supported, and connected.

Our Vision Includes:

Medical Supply Swap
Connecting families with gently used medical supplies and equipment that can help reduce financial strain and prevent usable resources from going to waste.

Caregiver Coffee Fund
Providing small moments of practical support and encouragement for parents and caregivers who spend much of their lives caring for others.

Hospital & Home Care Packages
Supporting families during some of the most difficult seasons of their lives, whether they are navigating a hospital stay, a new diagnosis, or extended care at home.

Medical Mom Mondays & Caregiver Support
Creating opportunities for caregivers to connect with people who understand their experiences and reminding them that they do not have to walk this journey alone.

Free & Low Cost Community Events
Making meaningful experiences accessible to families regardless of their financial circumstances.

Zebra Award
Providing direct assistance to families facing extraordinary medical, caregiving, or disability related expenses.

Inclusive Play & Family Connection
Thoughtfully designed play spaces for children of all abilities, including a designated play space for our non ambulatory friends so every child has a place to explore and participate.

Now, after 2 years of learning and planning, we’re taking the next step from vision to reality and working to build a permanent home for Everett’s Place in Coles County, Illinois! These early gifts do more than move us closer to opening our doors. They demonstrate to major funding partners that our community believes in this mission and wants to see Everett’s Place become a reality. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us show that this is a place our community is ready to stand behind and help build.

Help us build it. Help us make room. Help us create a place to belong.

Building a Place to Belong