Friendship Circle Launches Local Pilot Program

As the New Year approaches a pilot program for a unique project called "The Friendship Circle" is being started locally. This is a wonderful and meaningful program that reaches out and extends warmth and friendship to families in our community who have children with special needs.

The Friendship Circle serves a dual purpose and enriches all who participate. Pairs of teenage volunteers will visit children with special needs at their homes once a week. Their role will be to play and interact with the child, thus giving the parents a much needed respite. The children gain a friend and a meaningful relationship. The teenage volunteers become empowered and enriched as their own moral character grows through their service.

This free program has been met with incredible success in several other states, and is greatly appreciated by all those involved. It is with much excitement that we will be creating our local Friendship Circle. As we begin a pilot program we turn to you, to help us bring this program to fruition. Together, we can make it happen.

The Friendship Circle Volunteer Club provides opportunities for chesed as well as many fun events and trips for Jewish teenagers. Teens that need to fulfill community service hours for their schools can use Friendship Circle hours towards this requirement. If you know of a family with children who have special needs of any kind that would benefit by participating or if you know teens who might like to volunteer, please contact the Friendship Circle office at 858-487-4879 or send an e-mail to elisheva@friendshipcirclesd.com or visit the Friendship Circle office at 16934 Chabad Way, Poway, CA. Please remember to obtain the family’s permission prior to disclosing any information as people’s privacy and respect is a main concern. Together we can make a child’s life happier and enrich the life of a young teenager.

Friendship Circle Chanukah Party

On Monday December 26, from 4 PM to 6 PM there will be a rollicking Chanukah party geared to those with special needs. The event will feature a dreidle house, guest appearance by Yehuda HaMacabee, music, crafts, stories, a fun bounce, donuts, latkes, Chanukah gelt and lots of surprises. The evening will end with menorah lighting and a sing- along of traditional Chanukah songs.

Teenage volunteers will assist participants with special needs and cater the activities to their particular needs. An adult family member must be present. There will also be an opportunity for parents and siblings to meet and share ideas and experiences.

Friendship Circle is a unique program that pairs caring, dedicated volunteers with children and teens with special needs. Friendship Circle reaches out to Jewish families and involves them in a full range of Jewish and social experiences.

The Chanukah Party will be held at Chabad of Poway, 16934 Chabad Way, Poway, CA 92064. For more information email Elisheva Green at the Friendship Circle office at elisheva@friendshipcirclesd.com or call the Friendship Circle office at 858-487-4879.

Upcoming for 2006

Volunteer Teen Club, Sunday March 5, from 1-3 PM at the Goldsteins, baking hamentaschen, making shalach manos for your friends at the Purim Celebration.

Volunteer Teen Club, Sunday March 12, from noon-2;30 PM . Come early, in costume, to prepare for Purim Celebration.

Family Event, Sunday, March 12, from 1-2:30 PM at Chabad of Poway. Purim Celebration-come in costume, make groggers, boo Haman, and lots more!!

Volunteer Teen Club, Sunday, April 2 11AM-1:30 PM come early to set up for Pesach Factory, Matza Bakery, and Model Seders.

Family Event, Sunday, April 2 noon-1:30 PM Pesach Factory, Matza Bakery, and Model Seders.

Friendship Circle Purim Celebration

Boos and hisses for the evil Haman! Laughter and giggles for the joyous games! Cheerful songs and noisy groggers! Colorful costumes and glorious pretending! Yummy hamentaschen and delicious nosh! All this and much more at Friendship Circle’s lively Purim celebration.

On Sunday March 12 from 1:00-2:30 PM at Chabad of Poway (take the Rancho Bernardo Road exit from 15) teen volunteers will pair with children, teens, and adults with special needs. Together they’ll make Purim groggers and then use them while shouting down wicked Haman’s name as we read and perform a modified version of Megillas Esther. They’ll learn jolly Purim songs and take part in the traditional Purim merry making. They’ll decorate, stuff and exchange shalach manos (special Purim food baskets). All activities will be appropriately adapted for the participants. Parents will have an opportunity to visit and get to know one another while their children are happily engaged.

This Purim celebration is for the whole family. The teen volunteers are making unique shalach manos to give to their friends with special needs. Please RSVP so we will have enough volunteers and materials for everyone with special needs. Email Elisheva@friendshipcirclesd.com, phone 858-487-4879. Admission is FREE if you are wearing a COSTUME, otherwise it’s $5 per person.

Teen Volunteers Please arrive at noon to set up before our guests arrive at 1:30 PM. The families loved the Chanukah Wonderland. Thanks for all your hard work.

Friendship Circle Pesach Factory, Matza Bakery, and Model Seder

Have you ever baked a matza? In under 18 minutes? Friendship Circle participants will race the clock as they mix flour and water and knead and bake the matzas before they can turn into chametz . Gasp! Chametz is strictly forbidden on Pesach.

Have you chopped apples and nuts for charosis? Cried over fresh horseradish? On Sunday April 2 from noon to 1:30 PM at Chabad of Poway (take the Rancho Bernardo Road exit from 15) teen volunteers will pair with children, teens, and adults with special needs to prepare all the seder requirements.

Everyone will have an opportunity to share in making all the traditional Passover foods. The participants with special needs will receive simplified Hagadahs . There will be a modified model seder where everyone can sample a Passover meal replete with grape juice, hard-boiled eggs, salt water for dipping the vegetables, and delicious nostalgic macaroons.

This Passover celebration is for the whole family. Please RSVP so we will have enough volunteers for everyone with special needs. Email Elisheva@friendshipcirclesd.com, phone 858-487-4879. Admission is $5 per person or $15 per family.

Teen Volunteers Please arrive at 11:00 AM to set up before our guests arrive at noon. The families are so appreciative of everything you are doing. Thanks for sharing in this mitzvah. You are amazing!!!

Friendship Circle Holding Inclusion Services for Rosh Hashana

Would your family like to attend Rosh Hashana Services and know that your child with special needs was having a meaningful and appropriate experience? Would your teen like to go on outings with other Jewish teens where they would be paired with two teen volunteers that would modify the day for them? Would your young adult like to attend a hands on adapted Torah class with music, art and cooking? Would you like to have 2 teen volunteers come to your home and be friends with your child with special needs? Friendship Circle trains student volunteers to befriend Jewish youngsters who have a difficult time making friends on their own. The students are trained and supervised by professional adult volunteers. They have a great time, do a mitzvah and fulfill school community service or chesed requirements.

One of Friendship Circle’s generous hosts, Chabad of Poway is welcoming families with children, teens and young adults to a unique FREE opportunity this Rosh Hashana. Friendship Circle will be including those with special needs in a choice of two programs both days. There will be an opportunity to join the regular children’s programming with a teen volunteer as an inclusion aide. There will also be separate classrooms set up under the supervision of volunteer professional teachers where teen volunteers will pair with children, teens, and young adults who need a fully modified situation. In both choices, the participants will hear the shofar, eat apples dipped in honey (let us know if your child has a restricted diet), and join in adapted games, songs and stories for Rosh Hashana. Both programs will be from 11 AM to 1 PM on both days. Families are invited to join the congregation for services while their children are celebrating with Friendship Circle’s wonderful volunteers. Families must RSVP to reserve a volunteer for their child and free tickets for the regular services.

During the year Friendship Circle offers the following programs for those with special needs : • Yom Tov and Shabbos programs (for families). • Adult special needs Torah classes. • Monthly outings (children and teens). • Home visits (children and teens). • Inclusion teen programs.

To view photos, upcoming events and details go to www.FriendshipCircleSD.com.

To RSVP for the Rosh Hashana program call Elisheva Green at 858-487-4879 or e-mail elisheva@friendshipcirclesd.com.

Friendship Circle Kids Ride the Waves!!

Would your child like to spend the day surfing? Do you long to hear happy peals of laughter instead of shrieks of frustration? On August Wednesday August 1st the Friendship Circle will be pairing with Surfer’s Healing for an amazing afternoon at the beach. Surfers Healing was founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz. Their son, Isaiah, was diagnosed with autism at age three. Like many autistic children, he often suffered from sensory overload-- simple sensations could overwhelm him. The ocean was the one place where he seemed to find respite.A former competitive surfer, Israel hit upon an idea--with Isaiah on the front of his surfboard, and Izzy steering from the back, the two spent the day surfing together. Surfing had a profound impact on Isaiah. Israel and Danielle decided they wanted to share this unique therapy with other children with special needs. They began to host day camps at the beach where these children and their families could be exposed to the completely new experience of surfing.

Families are welcome to come and Friendship Circle will have beach activities for siblings. The Friendship Circle teens will pair up with their special friends to build sand castles, play ball, and share an afternoon of camaraderie. The actual surfing lessons by Surfer’s Healing are only for the children and teens with special needs and only for those who are pre-registered. Both Friendship Circle and Surfers Healing are free of charge, run by volunteers and depend on donations.

For more information about this or other Friendship Circle events call: 858-487-4879 or e-mail Elisheva@FriendshipCircleSD.com.

Friendship Circle Volunteer Training Session
Does your teen want to visit a lonely child? Does she need community service hours? Does he enjoy doing a mitzvah? On Sunday August 26 from 5-7 PM the founder of Ability Awareness, Diana Carson, will be training the Friendship Circle teen volunteers. Friendship Circle is thrilled to have such a renown expert as Diana Carson to run this workshop for our teens. For more information about Ability Awareness, go to www.AbilityAwareness.com. Returning volunteers will visit with their friends while gaining indepth knowledge. New volunteers will attend an orientation session before joining the seminar.

Children with special needs
Today, at least 1 in 12 children has some form of special needs. It may be cerebral palsy or autism. It may be learning disabilities or ADHD. The common thread between most disabilities is the fact that they make children seem different to their peers. It may be a wheelchair, the inability for a child to verbalize his thoughts, or simply struggling to read or write that can cause a chasm between a child and the rest of the children at school, at summer camp or at the local youth group. Even more painful than the stares, the impatience and the difficulties in communicating is the phone that doesn’t ring, the empty afternoons longing for companionship, a playmate or just someone to talk to. For a child with special needs, loneliness and isolation can very often be a regular part of life.

Teenage Volunteer Club
For the teenager, Friendship Circle offers them a challenge. It motivates them to give of their time, patience and love every single week for an hour and a half. It means building a friendship with someone who will truly love them and accept them, and who will never forget them. It means hours and hours of fun in a safe environment, far away from the lure of alcohol, drugs or illegal behaviors. It means getting to meet other teenagers who are committed, caring and responsible. It means gaining a sense of security and self esteem that comes with knowing that what you do makes a difference in the life of a child. Teenagers have an unparalleled love and excitement for life—that makes them the perfect age group to take on this particular role in serving the community. A volunteer club means hundreds of teenagers who are committed, excited and motivated to learn more and do more. The beauty of the Friendship Circle is the teenager’s devotion to the child they volunteer for—their friendship with a child encourages them to remain dedicated and to stay involved. Their interest in the Friendship Circle paves the way for continued involvement in the community, and makes them search their lives for meaning. It develops their identities and opens a line of interest in discovering their Jewish identity.

This free workshop and dinner will be held at Chabad of Poway, 16934 Chabad Way, Poway 92064. There is no charge but you must make a reservation. Parents are welcome also. Please call Elisheva Green at 858-487-4879 or e-mail Elisheva@FriendshipCircleSD.com.

Due to the fires, Queen Califia’s Garden in Escondido is currently closed. Instead, the Friendship Circle will be having an outing to the zoo on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 12th. We will be meeting at 12:45 p.m. at the zoo’s entrance.

We have a special group rate; friends and one volunteer per friend are free. Everyone else is $10 a person (unless you have a zoo pass). To receive the group rate you must RSVP and arrive on time. Between the hours of 1-3 p.m., a friend and their parent will be accompanied by a volunteer. Please bring your own snacks. We’re looking forward to spending a great afternoon together!

Friends, families, and volunteers, your RSVP is important to us, so please reply now or call 858-487-4879. Thanks.