Special Needs Charity Inc.
Enriching and supporting the lives of individuals with disabilities — and celebrating them every fall at The Barn Run.
What Is Special Needs Charity Inc.
Special Needs Charity Inc. is a Michigan organization dedicated to enriching and supporting the lives of individuals with disabilities by funding residential communities, day programs, and support services. It was started by Amy and Jesse Lothamer of Williamston, Michigan, whose daughter Jackie was born with a disability — and who spent years watching how few options exist for adults like her once school ends and parents can no longer provide care.
The organization’s work centers on a simple idea: people with disabilities deserve more than supervision. They deserve purpose, community, and a place where they belong. Special Needs Charity Inc. raises money to fund the residential communities, day programs, and support services that make that possible. If you are a family affected by disabilities, a potential donor or sponsor, a volunteer, or someone considering participation, this page explains what the organization does, what it supports, and how to get involved.
Adults with disabilities often face a lack of purposeful activity, community, and permanent housing, which leaves many Michigan families searching for long-term solutions that do not disappear when school or parental care ends. Here you’ll find the mission and founding of Special Needs Charity Inc., the beliefs behind its funding, details about The Barn Run 5K, and ways to support the charity through donations and sponsorships.
Its first major undertaking is The Barn Run, a 5K trail run and walk held each October on the family’s property along the Red Cedar River. Proceeds from the inaugural 2026 race are dedicated to the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.
In Their Own Words
“One of the huge problems that disabled people have is that they don’t get the opportunity to provide a purposeful life.”
— Amy Lothamer, co-founder, Special Needs Charity Inc.
Read the full story in 517 Magazine: The Barn Run: Running for a Greater Purpose
Six beliefs that shape everything we fund.
Why We Started Special Needs Charity Inc.
Upcoming Events: The Barn Run – A 5K Trail Run and Walk in Williamston, Michigan
The Barn Run is a 5K run and walk that Special Needs Charity Inc. will host in Williamston on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The course is mostly trail, winding along the Red Cedar River on private property in Williamston, Michigan, roughly 15 minutes east of Lansing. All proceeds from the inaugural race benefit the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.
The Course
The Barn Run course is a mix of trail and road, with the majority run on trail. It follows two loops through the property and along the Red Cedar River, starting and finishing at the barn at 343 E Grand River Rd. Expect soft footing, fall color, and river views for most of the 3.1 miles. Trail shoes are a good idea but not required.
Event At a Glance
| Event | The Barn Run — 5K Run/Walk |
| Date | Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Start time | 9:00 a.m. EDT |
| Location | The Barn, 343 E Grand River Rd, Williamston, MI 48895 |
| Distance | 5K (3.1 miles) |
| Surface | Mostly trail, some road |
| Timing | Professionally chip-timed by the Michigan Running Foundation |
| Hosted by | Special Needs Charity Inc. |
| Benefiting | St. Louis Center, Chelsea, Michigan |
| Register | thebarnrun.org |
Registration and Entry Fees
| Registration window | Entry fee | T-shirt |
| Through Sept. 30, 2026 | $30 | Guaranteed |
| Oct. 1 – Oct. 16, 2026 | $35 | While supplies last |
| Race day (online only) | $40 | Not guaranteed |
Runners and walkers ages 18 and under receive a $10 discount, applied automatically at checkout.
Run for Free When You Donate
Donate $100, and your entry is free. Donate $75 and your entry is $25. The free-entry offer is valid through September 30, 2026; after that, a $100 donation earns a $30 discount off the entry fee.
To claim it, register first:
- Choose Sign Up and begin registering for the race.
- You’ll be routed to the donation page during registration — choose your donation level there.
- Your free or discounted entry will appear in the cart at checkout.
Important: If you visit the donation page before registering, the discount will not apply. You must start with Sign Up.
What Every Participant Receives
- Race t-shirt — guaranteed for entries received by October 1, 2026; available after that while supplies last
- Inaugural finisher medal — every participant receives one
- Awards — Overall winner, Masters, and Senior divisions, plus the top three finishers in each age group, male and female: 12 and under, 13–14, 15–16, 17–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, and 80+
Packet Pickup, Timing and Results
Packet pickup takes place at the barn, 343 E Grand River Rd in Williamston, on Saturday, October 17 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and again on race morning from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
The race is professionally timed by the Michigan Running Foundation. Results will be live during the event and available immediately afterward.
Run or Walk
Register for The Barn Run. Every entry supports the St. Louis Center, and walkers are every bit as welcome as runners.
Donate
Give directly to Special Needs Charity Inc. Donations of $75 or more also earn a discounted or free race entry through September 30.
Sponsor
Business and family sponsorships help cover event costs so more of every entry fee reaches the mission.
Volunteer
Course marshals, packet pickup, water station, and finish line help are all needed on race weekend. Sign up to volunteer!
Share It
Tell a running club, a school, a church, or a coworker. For a first-year race, word of mouth matters more than anything else.
About the St. Louis Center
The St. Louis Center is a residential community in Chelsea, Michigan, that has provided care, housing, mobility equipment support, and specialized programming for children and adults with disabilities for decades. Residents live in an intentional community setting with year-round support, structured daily activity, and opportunities for meaningful work.
Disability nonprofits may also focus on education and advocacy, including autism and underserved communities, as with Special Needs Network, Inc., while Special Children’s Charities emphasizes access to inclusive athletic and educational programs.
It is also personal for our family. Our daughter Jackie lives at the St. Louis Center, and the difference it has made in her life is the reason The Barn Run exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Special Needs Charity Inc. is a Michigan organization whose mission is to enrich and support the lives of individuals with disabilities. It was founded by Amy and Jesse Lothamer of Williamston, Michigan, and it hosts The Barn Run, an annual 5K run and walk. Readers can also check the organization’s website for additional information, articles, and updates.
The Barn Run is a 5K trail run and walk in Williamston, Michigan, hosted by Special Needs Charity Inc. The inaugural race is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EDT, and proceeds benefit the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.
Proceeds from the inaugural 2026 race are dedicated to the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan, a residential community for children and adults with disabilities.
Entry is $30 through September 30, 2026, $35 from October 1 through October 16, and $40 on race day (online registration only). Participants aged 18 and under receive a $10 discount.
Yes. The Barn Run is a 5K run and walk, and walkers are welcome. Every participant receives an inaugural finisher medal.
No. The 5K course is mostly trail with some road, running two loops along the Red Cedar River on generally flat terrain. It is suitable for casual runners, walkers, and families.
This is the question that drives our work. Without a plan in place, many adults with disabilities move into settings that provide supervision but little purpose or community. Residential communities like the St. Louis Center offer an alternative: a permanent home with structured daily activity, meaningful work, and lifelong support. Families are encouraged to plan early, tour communities in person, and connect with organizations that can help with long-term support needs, including funding or access to a mobility device when required.
Special Needs Charity Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization founded by Amy and Jesse Lothamer, who also founded Lothamer Tax Resolution. Lothamer supports the charity’s work, but the two are distinct organizations with separate missions.
Yes, this is tax-deductible. All donations go directly to the St. Louis Center.
Be Part of the First One
Inaugural races only happen once. Join us on October 18 at the barn in Williamston, run or walk 3.1 miles along the Red Cedar River, and help build something that lasts for people who deserve a purposeful life.