A nonprofit in the city that takes adults with developmental disabilities on trips of a lifetime is in danger of closing forever.

"For us living in COVID right now we're getting a taste of what isolation is like, but in reality, these people deal with this every day of their lives,” said Alex Foster, a volunteer at Sprout.

For people with developmental disabilities who participate in Sprout trips and activities, isolation is a way of life, and these adventures give them a chance to explore the world. 

"Getting to go away and travel, see new places is what most of us look forward to as highlights of our year,” said Laura Cohen, the assistant executive director. 

Like many people’s vacation plans, all Sprout trips have been canceled through June due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is more than a missed vacation. 

"Their only outlet to be able to go and live life normally is through Sprout... it's an organization that helps them socialize, make friends, make relationships,” said Foster. 

Staff-led trips provide care and supervision for people to be able to take vacations and meet people they wouldn’t otherwise be able to. Trips are paid for by the individuals or their group homes, and some are free. 

Foster says he doesn’t know of another organization like it.

"Without Sprout, they essentially live in the prison of their own home, Sprout offers them the opportunity to go out, to see the world, do socially organized events,” said Foster.

They’ve launched a GoFundMe to help fund Sprout, which normally stays afloat by trip fees. They say they’ve seen some rapid support from the community, but will need much more to survive.