Getting a Second Chance

PANAMA CITY — Second Chance of Northwest Florida is continuing its mission of helping people with brain injuries and cognitive disorders after Hurricane Michael.

The nonprofit in building #4 at the A.D. Harris Learning Village on 11th Street in Panama City wasn’t severely damaged and reopened the first week of November. Second Chance was established in 1992 and provides games, therapy, crafts and other activities.

“Probably half our membership relocated. We have added nearly all that back with new membership. We’d like to see membership get back up,” said Executive Director Jon Cupp. “On Thursdays, we have what we call Safe Harbour Thursday, every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We have a day for people to get away from the storm and have a chance to enjoy the day and decompress because the community has suffered stress.”

Adults 18 and older can attend the Safe Harbour Thursdays and have to fill out an application and be screened before being accepted.

Kenrick Dillon, who sustained a brain injury in a vehicle wreck, was painting Wednesday at Second Chance.

“It’s really good. It’s helping a lot,” said Dillon on his experiences with Second Chance. “We’re doing a design on a CD. Right now we’re just enjoying it. We’re all progressing.”

Membership in Second Chance costs $50 a month, though if a person can’t afford that they can do extra chores.

“We have never turned anybody away over money,” said Cupp. “We never did and we never will but we expect people, if they’re a member, to help do the work and chores.”

Second Chance also is working with other local agencies. The roof is almost repaired, said Cupp.

“I remain very hopeful. We’re going to have a new normal,” said Cupp. “I expect our new normal to be a good new normal but it’s going to take a while. We’re going to need some help and we’re going to help others.”

Second Chance is looking to expand and start new programs, including teaching members to be entrepreneurs and dress for job interviews, selling items at farmer’s markets and having people from the business world come speak about what they do. A holiday bazaar later in the year also is planned.

“Sometimes there’s a bit of a stigma (against people with brain injuries and cognitive disorders) that’s not deserving,” said Cupp.

An upcoming Valentine’s Dance event on Feb. 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors office, 4952 W. U.S. 98 in Panama City, will raise funds for Second Chance. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by visiting centralpanhandlemls.com and typing “let’s dance” in the search box.

Second Chance’s hours of operations are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with classes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 850-769-7779 or visit secondchancenwfl.org or the group’s Facebook page.