Respite Events - The Makers Child

Who it's for

Families of children with physical, developmental, mental, emotional, or medically fragile conditions — siblings fully included, no age limit. Register once with our registration form and a team member will reach out by email to offer a respite time that fits your child’s needs. While many participants enjoy our larger Friday-evening respite, its transitions, music, and crowds may not be the best fit for friends with sensory difficulties — so our sensory respite, held the Saturday or Sunday afternoon following each Friday respite, is by invitation according to participant needs.

What volunteers do

Serve one Friday evening a month, 6:00–8:30 PM — arrive between 5:00 and 5:30 to sign in and enjoy a meal with our volunteer team. Or choose to serve at our low-stim sensory respite on the Saturday or Sunday afternoon following the Friday respite. Serve as many months of the year as you’d like — we provide training in whatever way suits you best: watch the training videos or read the volunteer guide.

Upcoming Respite Nights

Fri, Nov 13 · 6:00–8:30 PM

Lifepoint Church · 700 Motley Street, Albertville, AL

November Respite Night — 130th

Join us for our 130th respite night at Lifepoint Church.

Volunteer Register

Fri, Dec 11 · 6:00–8:30 PM

First Baptist Church of Albertville · 309 E Main St, Albertville, AL

December Respite Night — 131st · Christmas Edition

Join us for our 131st respite night at Albertville FBC — our very special Christmas Edition.

Volunteer Register

Register once and a team member will reach out with a respite time for your family.

Register as a participant

Step 1 of 4

Thank you for your interest in The Maker's Child! We are happy to serve your family. We believe that each child is created for a special purpose and fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14. This is your initial paperwork required to attend a respite event. We will reach out to you via text once registration is completed. Each respite event will also require an RSVP form completion to reserve a space for attendance. We group respite participants according to needs. One group will be offered respite on one Friday evening a month, typically the 2nd Friday. The other group will be offered respite on the Saturday or Sunday following the Friday respite. There is NO AGE limit or requirement to attend respite events.

Child's Name(Required)

Date of Birth(Required)

Gender(Required)

Male

Female

Parent's Name(Required)

Address(Required)

Phone(Required)

Country Phone Number

Emergency Contact(Required)

List any person authorized to drop off and pick up your child (a unique pick up tag will given to the individual who drops off the participants at respite and is required for pick up.)

Parent/Guardian Email address(Required)

What does your child calm with? (Ex: quiet room, soft voice, a certain TV show? )

Please share any additional information that would be helpful in making your child's time with us positive and enjoyable.

Each TMC buddy receives basic training on working with individuals with special needs. At every respite, volunteers will float to provide assistance if any medical or behavioral needs arise. With this knowledge, please answer the following question for planning purposes: Typically, which volunteer would be able to meet the needs of your child:

Volunteer with basic training

Volunteer with additional medical training

Volunteer with specialized skills in working with behavioral needs.

Please list the names and dates of birth of all siblings and any ALLERGIES of those who may attend. If there are any significant medical or behavioral needs or information you will need to tell us about the sibling(s), please submit an additional registration form.

Name of person completing form and giving consent:(Required)

Full Name

How did you hear about The Maker's Child?(Required)

Past respite nights

Fri, Oct 9

October Respite Night — 129th — Join us for our 129th respite night at Solitude.

Fri, Sep 11

September Respite Night — 128th — Join us for our 128th respite night at CCC — a safe, fun evening for participants with special needs and their siblings, and a real break for parents.

Fri, Aug 14

127th Respite Night — hosted for the first time by Calvary Baptist Church, Boaz

Fri, Jul 10

126th Respite Night — FBC Albertville, on the inclusive playground

Fri, Jun 5

125th Respite Night — The Fellowship, where it all started in 2014

Fri, May 8

124th Respite Night — Beulah Baptist Church, Boaz

Common questions

What ages do you serve?

There is no age limit. Respite is for participants with special needs of any age — and their siblings are welcome too.

Is my child's need "special enough"?

If you’re asking, yes. We serve physical, developmental, mental, emotional, and medically fragile conditions. Fill out the registration form — a team member will reach out by email and offer the respite time that best fits your family, including our invitation-based sensory respite.

How do you keep kids safe?

Every volunteer is background-checked and trained. Check-in and check-out are secured and matched, rooms are staffed to ratio, and each child’s care notes travel with their buddy all evening.

What should we bring?

Anything your child needs to be comfortable — medications, comfort items, dietary items — plus whatever you’d hand a trusted babysitter. Details come in your registration confirmation.

Does it cost anything?

No. Respite Nights are free to families, funded by donors and staffed by volunteers. That’s the whole point — respite is a gift.

What if a Friday evening is too much for my child?

Some friends find the transitions, music, and crowds of our larger Friday nights overwhelming. That’s why we host a smaller, low-stim sensory respite on the Saturday or Sunday afternoon following each Friday respite — at the same location each month for continuity and familiarity. Sensory respite is by invitation, matched to your child’s needs after you register.

One night off.It changes everything.

Friday, November 13 · 6:00 PM–8:30 PM

Register as a participant

Give a family one night.They'll carry it for weeks.