Home > FJN News & Features > South Florida > "Friendship Circle" can perform miracles

 

"Friendship Circle" can perform miracles

Click here to recommend
this article to a friend
By David Morris - FJN Editor

New Chabad initiative serves special needs children

Please support our advertisers

The life of a child with special needs is filled with appointments and sadly, many disappointments as well. Quite often other than therapists, no one calls, no one comes, and even worse, it may seem that no one cares. Thanks to the recent efforts of Rabbi Shuey and Sarah Biston, Chabad of North Broward and South Palm Beach now offers a cure for the loneliness often felt by such children. It’s called ‘The Friendship Circle.’

"We want the community to realize that it is a community responsibility to better care for these children. Our unique formula unites teenage volunteers with them in a friendship of fun and love that we see deeply enriching both lives," says Sarah Biston.

The Friendship Circle’s stated mission is to bring friends and smiles to children with special needs and peace of mind to their parents. It also seeks to foster the values of volunteerism and compassion among the younger generation. Consisting of five parts - volunteers, children, parents, staff, and supporters--the Circle integrates all five elements to form a seamless community of friendship.

"Just as a circle has neither end nor beginning, our community offers promise, hope and love that have no bounds," says Rabbi Biston. "Who can say who benefits the most from the Friendship Circle programs - the child with special needs who learns how to ride a bicycle, or her parents who get a much needed break, or the volunteer whose spirit soars to new heights?

The Friendship Circle offers three main programs—Friends at Home, Sunday Circle and Holiday Activities.

"Friends at Home takes place in a home setting where a trained volunteer visits a special needs child on a weekly basis and thus gives the child’s parents a much needed chance to enjoy a respite," says Sarah Biston. "The Sunday Circle is designed to strengthen the kids in a group setting when it comes to many of their personal skills including gross motor coordination, cognitive, language and communication. This is accomplished through such things as music, stories, crafts and karate while at the same time the children have the opportunity to learn the values, songs and traditions of our Jewish heritage."

Rabbi Biston emphasized the beauty of how holiday programming brings families and volunteers together as they celebrate the Jewish calendar.

"Every child of our community deserves the right to participate in the joy of Jewish and social experiences. Sharing our traditions with children who have special needs is particularly rewarding," says Rabbi Biston. "Statistics show that 1 in 12 children have special needs and therefore a program such as this is invaluable. These children teach us important lessons through the sheer force of their courage and what it means to persevere, achieve and inspire against the odds."


For information and teen volunteer opportunities, call Sarah Biston at 954-970-9551 or e-mail: Floridafriendshipcircle@gmail.com or visit: http://www.floridafriendshipcircle.com.


Posted by David Morris - FJN Editor on 04/27 at 02:00 AM • Hits: 170



Reader Comments

Next entry: Hadassah leader chosen
Previous entry: JNF reaches out to local women

<< Back to main