Submitted Photo Second Story members enjoy a bingo night. Bingo is a huge draw for Second Story, a social club in Minot for those with developmental disabilities.

Second Story, a social club for Minot adults with developmental disabilities, brings together around 360 community members throughout the course of each week for recreational activities, events and other social opportunities at its downtown Minot location.

Second Story director Greg Gordon said he considers Second Story to be “a spoke in a wheel,” alongside other community organizations such as Kalix and REM, in assisting those with developmental disabilities to be active in the community.

“Each organization kind of provides a certain part of the puzzle, that when we put it all together, it makes them able to go out and advocate in the community itself,” Gordon said. “What we do is offer the fun side. Our members get together and do the fun stuff, and in the process they get to experience things that will hopefully develop interpersonal skills. They can use what they learn here to go out into the community and have a voice.”

Second Story is operated by the small team of Gordon, assistant director Samara Holen and club assistant Monique Nadeau. Assisting them are a multitude of dedicated volunteers who have been involved with the organization for years.

Second Story’s facility offers members a gathering space, pool tables, computers and full kitchen to whip up something to eat as they hang out before the organization’s popular bingo nights. Holen said the bingo nights, in particular, were so valued by its members that Second Story began hosting them virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, a practice it has continued since lockdown has ended.

Holen said Second Story also provides a number of classes from the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities for its members, covering topics such as nutrition and hygiene. Another social avenue Second Story facilitates is engaging its members in service projects and volunteerism in Minot.

“Yesterday, we actually made so many cookies that we ended up donating them to the fire department. Another time we made tie-blankets for a nursing home. There’s just a bunch of things that we do,” Holen said.

Second Story is entirely funded through donations from the Minot community, grants and various fundraisers held throughout the year. Holen said September is shaping up to be a busy month for the organization, including a “Bagapalooza” planned during the downtown festival on Saturday, Sept. 14.

“We’re doing mystery bags. We have 150-plus mystery bags that people will be able to buy for five dollars that are filled with random items,” Holen said. “We’re also having another fundraiser in September, which is a meet and greet and, of course, the VFW picnic, which they are really excited about.”

Gordon said having a facility for the social club is unique in North Dakota, as most similar organizations take a more ad hoc approach to their gatherings and events.

“I think it provides a sense of being able to get out into the community and be who they are and be comfortable with where they are. We really try to promote community inclusion, but sometimes just having a safe space for them to be who they are, and not feel like they can’t be who they are, is something we really strive to provide for them,” Holen said.