By Julia Train
Beachview Dreams Foundation board members and volunteers spent the past two weekends getting ready to host 14 “Dream Families” in Ocean City this summer.
The non-profit organization aims to provide individuals with disabilities or significant health conditions and their families a free week-long vacation on a property located close to the beach.
They do so through partnering with beach rental property owners.
The 501(c)(3) opened in 2015 and has given over 60 families a Dream Vacation. This summer, the nonprofit will be hosting its 100th vacation.
Volunteers – mostly consisting of the founder’s family and friends – spent Saturday, April 26 and Saturday, May 4 cleaning, painting, moving furniture and more at their main rental property on the island, as they do every year before the season begins.
The property is located a block and a half from the beach at 828 St. James Place, and conveniently has a public handicap parking spot in the front.
The three-story house was once divided in two, with the second and third floors being part of one rental. Now, it’s three separate units that share a washer and dryer located on the second floor.
The first floor’s unit has three bedrooms and is wheelchair-accessible. It has widened halls and doorways, an expanded bathroom with a roll-in shower with a chair, fixed and hand-held shower heads, grab rails and a sink and toilet that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
The second- and third-floor units are also available for Dream Vacations for guests who are able to use the stairs.
For sponsored guests, a Beachview Dreams Foundation Dream Vacation includes one week of free lodging at one of its rental units, four beach tags and a welcome basket filled with gift certificates from local merchants, food, ride tickets and more.
“The businesses have been super helpful,” said Megan Bolger, the nonprofit’s president and founder. “We can’t really give money to them to cover [the vacation and activities] but we’ll give them a free vacation…goodies [and] beach tags.”
Johnson’s Popcorn donates family-sized buckets of popcorn every year for all of their families. Jilly’s have given gift cards and Augie’s gives free breakfasts.
Rose Marie Turbessi’s brother was the foundation’s first “dreamer.” Now Turbessi is a volunteer and completes administrative tasks for the nonprofit. She also rents each year for her own family through Bolger’s rental company, Beachview Properties LLC.
For the most part, she’ll stay with her family, which includes two young kids, at the 828 property, but sometimes switch to Bolger’s second rental property next door.
“I always would take my brother to the beach, but there was never any place accessible. They’ve thought of everything, which is huge, because not a lot of places do. I’ve stayed at hotels that are handicap accessible, but sometimes they’re not always and there was definitely a need here in Ocean City.” said Turbessi.
For those interested in experiencing their “Dream Vacation” can check out their website https://www.beachviewdreams.com or email info@beachviewdreams.com.
