Fredericksburg, Virginia – For 40 years, an annual rite of spring has helped adults with disabilities flourish in our community. Rappahannock Adult Activities, Inc. (RAAI) will open its spring plant sale on April 10, featuring a wide selection of flowers, herbs, vegetables, and hanging baskets.
This annual fundraiser first took root in 1986, a decade after the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) established RAAI as a private nonprofit to provide daytime support for adults with developmental disabilities.
The seeds for the plant sale were sown even earlier, in 1980, when the Mary Ball Women’s Club donated a greenhouse. Participants in day support services embraced the opportunity to tend plants, inspiring RAAI’s board of directors to launch a spring sale that would both raise funds and increase community awareness of developmental disabilities.
Over the years, as RAAI has grown, the plant sale has blossomed into a beloved community tradition—offering gardeners high-quality plants while supporting adults with developmental disabilities.
Customers can shop the plant sale at 750 Kings Highway in Stafford County on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Proceeds help adults with disabilities explore hobbies, build friendships, and develop new skills. For more information, call 540-373-7643 or visit www.rappahannockareacsb.org/dayservices.
RAAI will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a community event on May 16 from noon to 2 p.m. at 750 Kings Highway.