Chabad 'Friendship Circle' Seeks Teen Volunteers

In a Detroit suburb a decade ago, a teacher wanted to encourage a teenager to get involved in the community. The Friendship Circle – an organization which pairs teen volunteers and youth with special needs to facilitate fun and friendship – was born.

"The teacher thought that if he would give the teenager a chance to volunteer it would encourage him and lift his spirits," explained Rabbi Shalom Ber Cohen of Chabad at Stony Brook.

It worked wonderfully and since then, the Friendship Circle has inspired 100 other branches of the program around the country, including a program at Chabad at Stony Brook established seven years ago.

"This is about friendship, social life," said Rabbi Cohen, who runs The Friendship Circle with his wife, Chanie. "The program thrives because the teenagers feel very good about themselves and the parents are happy and the kids are happy. It feeds its own success. It really is brilliant."

But Chabad SB's Friendship Circle is in need of volunteers to continue "curing loneliness with love." According to Rabbi Cohen, for every two volunteers the organization gets, 10 families with special needs children want to participate.

He said many teens who have volunteered in the program have gone on to pursue the field of special education, and said parents frequently notice positive changes in their teens who volunteer.

"It really helps kids put things in perspective, give back to the community, and be thankful," he said.

The process of becoming a volunteer involves an interview, reference checks, training sessions and visits to Friendship Circle families' homes first. Eventually, the participating families welcome the teen volunteers into their homes for activities such as reading, baking together, taking walks, and playing board games. Visits occur while parents are home. Programs also include monthly "Bowling Buddies" outings and arts and crafts.

"What’s nice is that the families really start connecting," Rabbi Cohen said. "It really brings people together.

The Friendship Circle is also volunteer-run, and is seeking donations to help support its programs. Donations can be sent to The Friendship Circle at 821 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Grove, NY 11755.

To get involved as volunteers, teens can visit Chabad at Stony Brook's Friendship Circle website. But they don't have to be specifically affiliated with Chabad at Stony Brook in order to volunteer.

"It’s people helping people," he said. "It’s beautiful. People from all walks of life, and all different religions, all grouping together for the cause. It’s heartwarming."