Social "U" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was specifically created to provide a social outlet for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities once they have aged out of the educational system.  Our organization is filling a void for these individuals by providing a social outlet in a non-judgmental, safe, group setting of their peers.  It gives them a chance to connect with old friends and make new friends.

Social "U" started in May of 2015, our first meeting was very successful in having 32 new members attend, over the pasts seven years our group has grown to over 175 members and continues to grow! Not all members attend each meeting, on the average we have approximately 100 in attendance including caregivers.

Each month we meet has a different theme, but basically the same format. We first gather and have an "open floor" where any member wishing to share a story, upcoming event or anything else exciting has the opportunity to do so. During this time they have the opportunity to have the full attention of the group to share their story. This has been a great confidence builder for many of our members that would typically be timid or scared to speak in large groups, but our group is different, our group is AMAZING and there is no judgement! Also during "open floor" time, we announce birthdays and sing to those members, announce future events and tell a joke or two and introduce new members. Once we have finished with open floor time we move on to the theme of the evening, either playing games, having dances or doing community give-back projects. We strive to make sure we have activities for all abilities at each meeting so no one is ever left out.

Although our group is for an AMAZING group of individuals, we also believe that we should give back to the community. With that belief in mind we have done multiple community give back projects over the years. To name a few, we decorated wooden Christmas trees and coffee mugs and delivered them to residents at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, made special thank you cards and gift baskets for local veterans, made spring floral arrangements for residents at a local nursing home, and most recently we adopted a highway.

Our group is also involved in community involvement events. The past two years our members have served cider and donuts at Gingerbread Village in Caro. Our group has participated in the Pumpkin Festival Parade by building a float and being in the parade. We have won first place with the amazing float the members helped to build for three years in a row. One of our favorite outings is the Loon's game that we go to in August.

We are super excited about the future of our group and expanding it to surrounding areas. Our newest group has started in Saginaw County and we couldn't be more excited to bring this program there and serve the members of the Saginaw County community.

Friends Old, New & Social "U" would like to thank everyone that supports our group and beliefs.  Without the support of the community, families, caregivers and local organizations we wouldn't be able to do so many of the fun things that we do....

Special thanks to:

Let's Talk Sounds DJ Service LLC - Mike & Sandy Wilson - for providing DJ service for our dances
Tuscola Intermediate School District - for letting us use their facilities to hold our events
USA Gleaners - for sponsoring our summer carnival
Caro VFW - for allowing us to use their facility for events
Tuscola Behavior Health - for helping us get the word out about our group and your continued support
Caro Goodwill  - for having us as their "Round Up" partner
Renee's Travel LLC - for your generous donation to our AMAZING group
Tuscola County Community Foundation - for awarding us a grant for a sound system, storage solutions and first aid kit and many other items over the past few years.
Caro Gleaners Arbor 106 - for your generous donation to our group
Caro Walmart - for your generous grant to support our group
Michigan Bean Commission - for your generous donation to support our group
Frankenmuth Credit Union - for the grant to help support Social "U" and to also help with starting our Saginaw group.
Thrivent  - for support with funding some of our activities.
4-Imprint - for the grant for promotional items



TUSCOLA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOUNDERS FUND - for awarding us a grant for promotional materials to better reach individuals that could benefit from our program. Tuscola County Community Foundation has been a huge supporter of our group by awarding us grants and helping us continue to serve the residents of Tuscola County.  We are very appreciative of all the board members that read our grants and awarded them to us.  

We are also a proud member of the Caro Chamber of Commerce.

I would also like to thank all the special people that volunteer their time to help make our meetings so great....  Jerry, Abby, Tyler, Keith, Jayne, Virginia, Ann, Angela, Lee, Aliyah, Isaiah, Denise and Dave.