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24 people are interested
Become a Friend for a Jewish child with special needs
ORGANIZATION: Friendship Circle
Please visit the new page to apply.
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24 people are interested
Welcome to your teenage years. Sure there are things you've been enjoying: MP3s, DVDs, cool clothes, perhaps? Spending time on the phone, IM chatting on the computer or just hanging out with friends? All of these are good and fine. But there is something else you can be doing as well that would make a real difference; a difference in your life and in the life of a very special child. The kind of thing that will add incredible amounts of joy and meaning to all of the other stuff you've got going on.
We're talking about joining up with an exciting group called The Friendship Circle. Thousands of Jewish kids your age all over the country are doing it and, now that it's available in our community, you won't want to miss out!
In a nutshell...
It's about volunteering some of your time for a child in your neighborhood who really needs a friend -- a child with special needs. It's about the amazingly fun times and the incredible feelings of accomplishment you will enjoy while you're at it. And it's about the fringe benefits that come along with being a part of the circle.
More opportunities with Friendship Circle
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Friendship Circle
Location:
472 High Rock Street, Needham, MA 02492, US
Mission Statement
(the above # is for our parent org - Chabad Jewish Center)
" The Friendship Circle aims to link volunteers, children with special needs, parents, volunteers, staff, and donors together to form a seamless circle of friendship."
Description
The Friendship Circle is a unique organization that addresses the challenges facing the families of children with special needs in an innovative way.
The program begins with the pairing of local teenagers with children for weekly "Friends at Home" visits, but hardly ends there. Through a full range of activities and events, the Circle creates its own special environment of friendship and love.
The Friendship Circle programs are offered free of charge to qualifying families.
Why is our program unique?
While many organizations address the issues of children with special needs, most are focused on goal-oriented therapeutic care. The Friendship Circle brings another dimension in that it offers unconditional love. By having this love flow from the youthful spirit of well-guided teenagers, its effectiveness has proven to be remarkable. These volunteers have been able to reach the children in ways that professionals, or even family members, have not.
Furthermore, the program has had a profound effect on the teenagers themselves, instilling within them the values of giving and gratitude.
The Friendship Circle touches so many...
The child with special needs looks forward to weekly visits from his or her teenage friends, as well as the special events they get to attend together throughout the year.
The teenage volunteer learns the value of giving, and cherishes the experience of making a difference in a child's life. Without exception, the teenager gives of his or her time lovingly, never grudgingly.
The child's family gets desperately needed respite from the constant strain and drain, and the pleasure of seeing their child become part of the community. They also get to share and interact with others facing circumstances and challenges similar to their own.
The supporter provides the wherewithal for the Friendship Circle to exist. By observing the very obvious difference the program is making to so many lives, supporters of the Friendship Circle make the smiles of these special children their own.
The staff is a team of leaders and professionals for whom the Friendship Circle is a labor of love. Be it through working with the children, teenagers and parents; or planning the various activities; these dedicated men and women are the driving force behind the program.
" The true beauty of the Circle is how we all link together
to form a seamless circle of friendship."
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
home of a child with special needsNeedham or surrounding areas, MA 02492
DATE POSTED
July 8, 2010
SKILLS
GOOD FOR
- Teens
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 13