On Sunday, May 15th I’ll be walking to raise awareness and funds for the organization Friendship Circle Upper East Side. I’ve been volunteering with this organization for kids/teens with special needs for almost 2 years now and it has been a rewarding experience.
Friendship Circle Upper East Side, a Jewish organization, works every day to cultivate friendships between volunteers such as myself and kids, teens and young adults with special needs, providing social and recreational opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to them. Hundreds of friendships have been formed and so many lives have been changed for the better because of this organization.
Through my time volunteering here, I have come to realize some special moments. It was a couple weeks ago when my buddy Ben’s mom came to pick him up from Sunday Circle, and expressed her gratitude to myself and my partner volunteer. She told us how it is difficult to get Ben anywhere but Friendship Circle on Sunday’s as it is the only thing he looks forward to each week. This was a special moment because it reminded myself why Friendship Circle is so critical to the lives of the special needs community, and showed firsthand the impact this organization has on the children.
The sort of social isolation that we’ve all felt at one time or another during the pandemic, can really open our eyes to what the special needs community experiences on a daily basis and why the work that Friendship Circle does is so critical. Now more than ever, as we begin to rebuild in a post-covid world, I’m inspired to continue supporting the Friendship Circle community and organization. Anything you can give to support my walk will be so appreciated and will go such a long way. Thank you!
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