Friendship Circle provides an inclusive network

By Eva Trieger

SAN DIEGO — King Solomon may have said it best when he penned “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”  The wisest man of his time knew the value of having a true friend.  So does Elisheva Green, Director of the San Diego chapter of Friendship Circle.

This international organization is flourishing in several countries in the world including Australia, Canada, the United States and South Africa.  The mission is simply to improve the lives of Jewish children with special needs and offer volunteers the chance to become enriched by sharing themselves and being changed in the process.   “The Friendship Circle’s unique approach brings together teenage volunteers and children with special needs for hours of fun and friendship. These shared experiences empower the children, our special friends, while enriching the lives of everyone involved.”

A local rabbi with a special needs son shared with Green that one Shabbat, while walking home from shul, his son said to him, “Daddy, I wish I just had one friend who would come over and play with me.”  This single desire became the impetus for the San Diego chapter.  Green, whose daughters volunteered in the LA chapter, teamed up with Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, and the pair formed a board of parents and grandparents of children with special needs.  Retired educators and psychologists chimed in to support the children and families personally and professionally.  The grass roots organization took off.

Today, the San Diego chapter is no longer a “start up.”  It has grown into a medium sized organization, in need of better funding and more professionals, as well as additional volunteers. The chapter serves 150 families, with children ages 5 through adult.  Programs have grown with the demand, and now Friendship Circle is serving newborns, young adults, and mature adults. This has been hugely rewarding for those young adults involved in NextGen.   Under the guidance of Monica Kohan, Program Director and Behavioral Therapist, teens are implementing programs of their own design and creating a bridge into the lives of special needs families.

So often when a family has a child with special needs, the family members become socially isolated and need emotional support, Green shared.  Additionally, many of the families experience financial stress because treatment can be costly, and caring for a child with needs may disrupt work time and earning capabilities.  Often siblings of children with special needs feel neglected or may become overly protective of their brother/sister.

One way in which the Friendship Circle provides support is to pair families with similar experiences.  Who knows better what hurdles are surmountable, than someone who has scaled these same peaks?  To this end, Green told me that families are partnered, thus removing the fear of the unknown and providing a coach who has been there.

Through myriad creative activities, Friendship Circle relies upon its 300 teen volunteers to create programs that will promote understanding of what it means to live with a physical challenge, a mental illness, or an emotional block that gets in the way of forming friendships effortlessly.  Unfortunately, and understandably, there is about a 25% turn over in the teen volunteers annually as they matriculate to college or seminary.  Friendship Circle is always in need of this critical resource.

How can the community help? I queried Green.  “Donations are always welcome, but we also need volunteers who can help us get the word out.  We can always use photographers, web designers, videographers, anyone who is tech savvy and knows how to work social media.  Drivers are critically needed to help single parents or children get to appointments and events.  And, Friendship Circle is always looking for talented individuals who care to share their special gifts.  Recently, Jacob Shore, a gifted local artist, gave a demo on drawing.  Musical entertainers and music therapists are always welcomed.”

Green also told me that, regretfully, Friendship Circle, is “the best kept secret” and this has to change in order for the San Diego chapter to accomplish its goals and meet the demand.  The group would love to get the word out to radio stations, television stations and all forms of media.

Some fabulous upcoming events include the Friendship Walk on April 26^th at Nobel Athletic Field.  This important walk will raise more money and awareness for the group, and will deliver a very entertaining and rewarding day for all participants.  Co-chairs of the walk, Dr. Cherri Cary and Cheryl Levitt, encourage seasoned walkers and newcomers to register. Registration is online (www.friendshipwalksd.org) or on the day of the event at the park from 9-10.  Participants will be entertained by clowns, group exercises and stretching.  There will be several stations set up to provide hands on activities of high interest to all walkers.  Three stations will have a Jewish theme, some will focus on special needs themes, and there will also be a Shabbat Project, similar to the community challah baking that took place in October.

The immediate goal of the San Diego chapter is to include more special needs Jewish families.  Currently, Green estimates that only 10% of Jewish families with special needs are being served by the Friendship Circle.  Surely, with better publicity, many more families could partake in the wonderful events such as theater excursions, summer camp, Torah circle, sports nights and more, all with the love and support of a teen population.  So many  talented teens give so much of themselves and are enriched for it.  A few star teen volunteers include, Raquel and Josh Glasser, Nicole Eichner, Leetal Winick and Chloe Dahan.

What better time of year to look outside of ourselves and make a difference in our community?  We are celebrating the Festival of Freedom and if we can appreciate our own lives without bondage, perhaps we can help someone else experience that sense of liberation and expansion as well. “By fulfilling its mission, the Friendship Circle is helping to build a better world for children with special needs, one good deed at a time.”

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Trieger is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts.  Your comment may be sent to eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com, or posted on this website, per the instructions below.

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