South Mississippi Regional Center

09/12/2025

Hello Everyone,
SMRC is very honored to be hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, September 19th in our Long Beach Campus Gymnasium. Appointment times start at 9:00am to 2:45pm. Please sign up for a timeslot to give the gift of life through your donation of blood. You can either go to the RedCrossBlood.org site and use sponsor code SMRC or put in our zip code of 39560 to find our SMRC calendar site or you can use the QR code below which will take you directly to our SMRC Red Cross Blood Drive site. Please give the gift of LIFE.
Thank you to those who have already signed up.
We hope to see you there.

08/25/2025

South Mississippi Regional Center staff is happy to spend time with Student Services Coordinator Eileen Sumlin during an area job fair at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, MS. Go Wildcats!

08/22/2025

Today, during their morning discussions on the topic of "community helpers", several residents from the Poplarville Community Home (PCH) concluded that being a Radio DJ or a Radio Personality could truly serve as a significant community helper. Later that day, PCH learned that Kicker 108 was broadcasting live from a local grocery store. Consequently, PCH's John Pace, QIDP, and Christopher Dudzienski, Social Worker, stopped by to speak with the Radio Personality on site, who turned out to be "Momma Vee", the co-host of the "Bryan and Momma" morning show. Upon hearing about the fans at PCH, she kindly agreed to give them a quick visit before leaving town. The residents were thrilled to see the Kicker 108 broadcast truck arrive and to hear the familiar voice of "Momma Vee". She warmly engaged with the residents about her role as a Radio Personality and took pictures with them. SMRC extends its gratitude to Kicker 108 for generously taking the time to visit our Poplarville Community Home and meet some of the individuals we are blessed to serve who have long aspired to be Radio DJs, also known as Radio Personalities. You truly made their day! Bryan & Momma on Kicker 108, Nina Stevison, PCH Director

08/15/2025

SMRC was very excited about the creation of the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline! This is a very interesting yet brief video and article about the launch of the 988 Lifeline and the stats about its continued success in being able to reach more people in need of real hope during a mental health and/or substance use crises. Thank you, Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) for being a part of this Lifeline for so many Mississippians.

08/12/2025

SMRC would like to congratulate our 2024 Employee of the Year, Sharon Wells!

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in the gymnasium at our South Mississippi Regional Center (SMRC) Main Campus in Long Beach, several members of the SMRC staff organized a luncheon to honor our 2024 Employee of the Month (EOM) Winners and to reveal our 2024 Employee of the Year. During this event, each EOM winner was acknowledged and thanked once more for their dedication and effort in serving the individuals at SMRC. Each 2024 EOM Winner received a small token of appreciation and was commended for embodying SMRC’s Mission and Core Values of Respect, Commitment, Responsibility, Communication, Cooperative Effort, and Continuous Learning.

The Employee of the Year (EOY) for 2024 continues to exemplify these values. We are thrilled to announce Sharon Wells as our Employee of the Year for 2024. With more than sixteen years of experience, she has played a crucial role in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as a Support Care Professional at SMRC. Sharon consistently showcases a strong work ethic and a profound commitment to her role, always aiming to surpass expectations to ensure that tasks are completed both efficiently and effectively. She tackles challenges with a positive mindset and approaches every task with enthusiasm and determination. Her dedication to excellence is evident in every facet of her work, making her an invaluable member of our team. Sharon believes whether in a professional environment or in our personal lives, that each day is shaped by our perspective; therefore, she expresses, "Life and work is what you make of it. Keeping a positive outlook through both the ups and downs is always the key to finding joy in everything we do and in sharing that joy with others."

04/23/2025

Monday, April 21, 2025, several individuals from the SMRC Gautier Community Home enjoyed an evening at the Buddy Ball Sport event "Ride with a Buddy". The individuals that we serve at GCH were a little nervous about getting on the big horses but with the patient help of the volunteers and the gentle nature of these beautiful horses, they had a calm, relaxing ride and a wonderful experience. Only one individual did not want to ride but he loved petting and interacting with the little pony they had on location. We can't wait till next month to "Ride’n with Buddies" once again. Thank you to the MS Gulf Coast Buddy Sports organization for all you do for IDD individuals! NOTE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Buddy Ball Sports organization is in need of VOLUNTEERS. They have many different types of activities throughout the year - baseball, soccer/kick ball, basketball, horseback riding, and other activities. Please go to their FB site or their web site for more information on how to get involved individually or by signing up as a group such as your church youth organization or your school club.

04/03/2025

SMRC would like to THANK the Mississippi Sea Wolves Hockey Team members for coming to our main campus in Long Beach to meet the wonderful IDD individuals that we are blessed to serve on a daily basis. These gentlemen signed many jerseys, t-shirts, and cards and took a lot of pictures with the people that we serve from the SMRC main campus and from the community homes. Below are just a few of the MANY photos of some very excited MS Sea Wolves fans from our SMRC family.

03/11/2025

SMRC is hosting our next Blood Drive this Friday, March 14, 2025, from 9:00am-1:45pm in our gymnasium. Our SMRC Campus entrance is located on Beatline Rd at the corner of Beatline and West Railroad St. in Long Beach, MS. If you are a successful donor, you will receive a $10 Amazon online gift certificate and you will be tested and given the results for your A1C for FREE!! AND NO FINGER STICKS thanks to new, wonderful technology. We still have several available early slots at 9:00am which means quick in and out, and one Power Red slot at 12:00pm (must be A-, B-, or O blood type for Power Red), and other times available throughout the day. Come join us at SMRC's main campus and give the gift of life!!

Come to give blood or platelets March 1-31 for a $10 Gift Card by email plus successful Red Cross March donations get free A1C testing (diabetes screen)! See details.

03/07/2025

SMRC extends our gratitude to Governor Tate Reeves and expresses our appreciation to DMH for their exemplary leadership.

03/07/2025

If you know any young individuals looking to fulfill volunteer hours for school or enhance their college and scholarship applications, this organization is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with! The people they support will bring you immense joy. Please share this message with others, as the Buddy Ball program is seeking volunteers for their upcoming season.

Non-profit organization supporting recreational sports and leisure activities for individuals with special needs. Registered 501(c)(3) public charity. MS Gulf Coast Buddy Sports.

02/17/2025

Such a wonderful organization of volunteers and sponsors who are making a positive difference in the lives of IDD individuals!! ❤️

Non-profit organization supporting recreational sports and leisure activities for individuals with special needs. Registered 501(c)(3) public charity. MS Gulf Coast Buddy Sports.

02/17/2025

Reducing stigma around su***de in the Black community is crucial to helping people get the mental health they need! https://988lifeline.org/ 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline