Hello, Oconee County!

I can't think of a better time of year for starting something new.

This is my first blog post to the Oconee Patch on behalf of , and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to share what ESP is doing with readers of the Patch.

If you don't know anything about our organization, ESP has been in Watkinsville for 25 years (that's right - ) It might just be the best-kept secret in Oconee County... not that we want it to stay that way! Martha Wyllie, who passed away in 2005, started ESP to offer therapeutic and recreational activities to children with disabilities. What started as a small summer camp for 21 kids has morphed into a year-round organization that offers some truly unique services to kids (and their families) who have no other outlet for such opportunities in Northeast Georgia.

ESP has a lot (and I do mean a lot) going on. We are getting in February, with the hope of building a new facility for ESP kids, young adults and their families. That new building will have rooms for private therapists, sensory rooms, a fully-accessible garden, a teaching kitchen, and so much more of what our current space lacks.

We currently serve 150 families because that's all we can fit into our facilities or reach with current resources. The dream of our families - and of ESP staffers - is to reach every family in our eight-county region that needs our services, and to do it at the lowest cost possible.

I'm really excited to share more about how ESP plans to do that - and the amazing things we're already doing - in future blog posts. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year, and while I know the new year is the official "starting over, turning a new page" time, for me, it really starts at Christmastime. It's a time to reconnect with old friends and make new connections. I hope that in checking out this blog you'll want to become part of the ESP family.

So, stay tuned. There's much more to come. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to check out our website or hit us up on Facebook!