Three children climbed onto the stage at the Friendship Circle Awards Dinner — and rocked the house, filling the room with joy and laughter as they told the crowd why they loved their "friends-at-home" buddies. Sarah said, "I love to play soccer with her."
Miriam said, "My best buddy likes to talk about the Capitals with me. I love hockey.” Joseph says he likes to do homework and play games with his best buddy. All three children expressed the love they have for their buddy and that their buddy is their best friend and loves them too.
Established eight years ago by Chana Kaplan and her husband Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, The Friendship Circle serves families with developmentally-challenged children, teens and young adults. With more than 200 volunteers, the program provides social and Judaic opportunities as well as a much-needed two-hour break for parents of these children. Kaplan is the rabbi at the Chabad House at Potomac Village. Many of the volunteers who were honored at the awards dinner are from Potomac.
"The Glow of Friendship" was the theme of the Friendship Circle's Appreciation Dinner for all volunteers, participants and families. It was held at the Jewish Community Center on May 12. More than 200 people attended the event which included a raffle, silent auction, buffet dinner and video in which many of the volunteers spoke and some of the participants with special-needs and their families shared their appreciation for the program. The new Teen Board was inducted and spoke. Awards and gifts of flashlights and baseball caps were given to all the youths who were befriended — and then all the youths and their friends came up on stage as a group.
"The Friendship Circle is a win-win," said founder Chana Kaplan. "I don't know who benefits more — the children or the volunteers. Everyone is dedicated to their buddy. It has touched their lives and led to changes in career-planning and college majors for many of the teen volunteers."
The Friendship Circle offers the "Friends-at-Home" program in which volunteers are matched with a child and visits him or her once a week. They become friends who have fun together and share special times. They often remain life-long buddies. These friendships are invaluable for the special needs child and for their families.
Another program that The Friendship Circle has adopted is a group program for all ages that meets every Sunday for two hours. Some of their programs include a Torah Circle and a Teen Scene. The purpose is to provide a Judaic activity as well as a social activity. Forty volunteers provide one-on-one support for the youths who have a different activity every week. They might learn yoga, cooking, or sports skills — many activities that they have never before had the opportunity to experience.
One of the activities of The Friendship Circle is a monthly Birthday Club. Organized and managed by youths who are preparing for their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, the Birthday Club is geared for younger children who are often excluded from birthday parties and don't have one of their own because they have not been able to form friendships. The Birthday Club provides these youths with monthly birthday party that might include a moon-bounce, arts and crafts, bowling or a special activity. The birthdays of the month are highlighted at each party." Parent Joe Usher said, “The Birthday Club has made a tremendous difference in the life of our son. It's so important to learn to give and receive."
The Friendship Circle also has a Young Adults Division that holds monthly events and gives young adults with special needs a chance to socialize with college-age individuals and young professionals while participating in outings, such as glass arts, wood-working and visiting places of interest.
To learn more about The Friendship Circle, to volunteer or to donate, see
www.fcmd.com.