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For more photos and b-roll of the new multi-sensory calming room, visit: https://bit.ly/3QV8mJj
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (April 8, 2025) – In honor of the Month of the Military Child, Zing Zumm Children’s Museum of Jacksonville and Hope For The Warriors (HOPE), in partnership with CVS Health, opened a multi-sensory calming room for children April 1.
Located in Zing Zumm, between the book nook and nursing room, the goal of the new multi-sensory calming room is to help inspire children’s senses and help them come alive.
“A soft touch to comfort, gentle lights to calm, and soothing sounds to inspire,” shared Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO for Hope For The Warriors. “This is the vision for the new HOPE-sponsored multi-sensory calming room. The space is designed to spark imagination and to help children heal and grow.”
Hope For The Warriors prioritizes family wellness by offering licensed play therapy and counseling for children of service members and veterans at its Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors in Jacksonville.
“Military children are resilient, and their experiences help them navigate life’s inevitable uncertainties with grace and determination. To further support mental health and family well-being, we are excited to reach more families by creating and offering a sensory-rich calming room at the Zing Zumm. It will be a safe haven, strengthening their families in the process,” added Kelleher.
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and honor the resilience and sacrifices of military children. According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents’ service.
“We are so excited for Zing Zumm Children’s Museum of Jacksonville to have an updated calming room,” said Keeley Farmer executive director for Zing Zumm. “This sensory-friendly space provides a necessary and welcoming environment for all ages who are in need of a safe space for emotional regulation and to minimize overstimulation. The Children’s Museum strives to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone, and the updated calming room is one way that we are working to ensure that our space is available and functional for everyone.”
According to the clinicians at the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors, in this multi-sensory calming room, children can explore a sensory world of wonder in ways that:
- Reduce stress and anxiety, studies show that multi-sensory rooms like this can reduce disruptive behaviors and provide a calming, supportive environment.
- Strengthen connections, these spaces promote trust and communication, helping children build meaningful relationships with their loved ones.
- Renew creativity and joy, multi-sensory environments encourage exploration, enhancing a child’s quality of life and sparking their imagination.
For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org or zingzumm.org.
Contacts:
Hope For The Warriors
Erin McCloskey
erin@etmccloskey.com
(336) 207-5222
Zing Zumm Children’s Museum
Keeley Farmer
director@zingzumm.org
(910)-650-2769
About Hope For The Warriors
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors providing confidential, high-quality mental health care services. For more information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Zing Zumm Children’s Museum
Zing Zumm® Children’s Museum of Jacksonville is a community supported, 501(c)(3) non-profit children’s museum geared towards ages 0-10 years old. Our mission is to engage all children through hands-on learning experiences that promote play, inspire imagination, foster creativity, and spark exploration in a fun, family friendly environment. We are open to the public Tuesday – Saturday from 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday from 12 pm -5 pm. We provide daily programming Tuesday- Friday for all ages and host fields and birthday parties! We are located in downtown Jacksonville at 625 New Bridge Street. Check out our website and social media for information on programming and special events. We can’t wait to meet you!
