Most youngsters spend nine or so months waiting, patiently or otherwise, to hear the proclamation: “School’s out.”
Heck, a song with that title remains popular even though it’s been around for more than 50 years now.
But Destiny Otricelli of Bridgeville, a student at Pathfinder School in Bethel Park, is an exception.
“School is her social life,” her mother, Stephanie, said. “She loves school, and being out of school is kind of heartbreaking for her. So this is nice that she has this program.”
Destiny, 15, is a frequent participant in offerings by Always B Smiling, which supports children, teens and young adults with disabilities and health challenges. The nonprofit launched its activities with Saturday morning rides on adaptive bicycles, something that Destiny particularly enjoys — the quicker, the better.
“We’d take her to Kennywood and put her on the train, and she didn’t like it,” Stephanie said. “But you got her on a fast ride, and oh, my gosh. She loved it.”
Always B Smiling, launched in 2020 by South Fayette residents Kristin and Dean Huibregtse, added two programs this year: “B” Independent, which focuses on developing life skills, and twice-a-month creative arts sessions featuring various types of therapies, including stress relief for caregivers.
Each Friday morning during the summer, “B” Independent participants help make dog treats shaped like the Always B Smiling logo, in partnership with local business the Special Barkery.
“Then they will be selling them for donations on the trail as families with dogs walk by,” Kristin Huibregtse said.
‘He’s telling us to keep going’
Courtesy of Bridgeville business owner Tom Robinson and his family, Always B Smiling has a home along the Montour Trail in Peters Township. The space for activities is called Bennett Park, named after the Huibregtses’ late son.
Prominently posted is an enlarged photo of Bennett flashing a smile, the seemingly perpetual expression on his face that inspired the nonprofit’s name.
“That picture right there is what started it all. Bennett’s the one who keeps guiding us on this journey. And he’s telling us to keep going, Mom and Dad,” Huibregtse said. “We are listening, and we want to do it for him, and in turn, do it for all the families.”
In April, Always B Smiling celebrated the construction of a spacious recreational barn, financed by for the Washington County Tourism Grant Program. On the horizon is an even larger activity and learning center, its future location staked out next to the trail.
To raise money toward building the center and continuing to offer programming, the third annual Miles for Smiles “5k Walk, Run and Have Fun” is scheduled for July 23 at Bennett Park, accessed through TAR Outdoor Storage at 107 Valley Brook Road in Peters.
Sure to be present is Kerrin Hetland, a former neighbor of the Huibregtses and one of Always B Smiling’s original supporters.
“We were having a conversation with them, and they wanted to start a nonprofit. So my husband and I jumped right on board,” she said, and Scott Hetland promptly designed a website for the organization. “I’ve just become their ‘Swiss army knife,’ they say. Whatever they need done, I can usually make it happen.”
‘An amazing organization’
Kerrin was among the volunteers assisting with “B” Independent on June 9, and she purchased a bag of dog treats to start the morning’s fundraising effort.
Also helping with everything from baking to decorating treat bags was Julie Binsse of Peters. She joined older brother Christian and their mother, Alex, in attending their first Always B Smiling activity.
“I think that it’s an amazing organization. Having a child with a disability, despite how hard parents can try, can be really isolating,” Alex said regarding her 16-year-old son, who is autistic. “These kinds of things become a part of the fabric of your community, and the more people see this, the more likely they are to want to include people with disabilities.”
For his part, Chris greeted others at the event with enthusiasm, and his observation about his experience:
“Good.”
The Huibregstes’ intention was to create an inviting atmosphere for everyone involved.
“The feedback we are always getting is that when families come out, it’s relaxed,” Kristin said. “And we get it. We understand the challenges that families face.”
‘They put everything into Benny’s life’
Bennett Matthew Huibregtse (2003-20) was born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormal development of the organs. He loved to make people laugh, according to his parents.
“They put everything into Benny’s life. They were amazing with him,” Kerrin Hetland said, recalling that they often took their son for walks, with him smiling from his wheelchair. “All the neighborhood kids got to know him, and it was always, ‘Oh, here comes Bennett!’ And they’d run out to see him.”
The goodwill continues with Always B Smiling, which particularly is beneficial for folks like Stephanie Otricelli who have teenagers with special needs.
“When they get older, there just aren’t a lot of programs out there,” she said.
Compounding her situation with Destiny is an arm injury that Stephanie sustained, limiting her mobility.
“I’ve been really overwhelmed about her being off school and how am I going to manage,” Stephanie said, and Always B Smiling provides a solution: “It gives me something to entertain her. It gives me a little bit of a break.”
For more information, visit www.alwaysbsmiling.org.
