2 minute read
Peak Into Our Friends Together Experience
December 2023
By Sue Schreiber
Friendship Circle is a Jewish organization dedicated to nurturing friendships between children and teens with special needs, our Special Friends, and typically-developing teens from the Greater Charlotte community, our Teen Friends. This month, we are highlighting our core program, "Friends Together," which pairs a Teen Friend with a Special Friend for weekly visits aimed at sharing interests, engaging in activities, and cultivating lasting and meaningful friendships.
"Friends Together" is a yearlong commitment for both friends. To establish a meaningful connection, the pair dedicates themselves to being there for each other every week. They get to know each other's interests and abilities, taking turns participating in activities they both enjoy.
These meet-ups occur in the Inclusive Fun Zone, where a wide range of interests can be explored in areas like the Art and Creativity Center, Music and Movement Studio, Friendship Loft, Tree House, and more. We provide the space, and they bring their creativity and fun.
So far this year, we have 15 friendships, totaling 30 participants, meeting from Monday through Thursday afternoons in our Friendship Circle building, with the number increasing every week. On any given day, you can hear the sounds of conversation, laughter, and genuine friendship.
Friendship Circle is a project of Chabad of Charlotte and a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte.
