Our Programs
Friends @ Home
Individuals with special needs enjoy weekly visits in their homes from a paired volunteer, giving parents respite while the child enjoys homemade fun with his/her friends.
An opportunity for your child to enjoy companionship and to engage in the activities the child enjoys best. Volunteers are selected to suit your child’s preferences and to form lasting bonds.
If this interests you and your child, contact coordinator Elinore Rabin to be paired with an online buddy: elinore.friendshipcircle@gmail.com
*We are happy to say that in-person visits are back! Participating in activities and spending quality time together once a week is recommended for buddy pairs moving forward.
NO FEE
Availability
Work with your volunteer to find a time that works best for the both of you! This program allows for plenty of flexibility
Location
Our special friend’s home!
Dear Friends & Families,
Here at the Friendship Circle, the health, safety, and well-being of our program participants, families, volunteers, and the community we serve is of utmost importance as we face the current Coronavirus Pandemic. We are closely following government announcements and recommendations and have decided to cancel the Friends @ Home program through the first week of April.
Friendship Circle will continue to monitor this situation carefully and will communicate with you as the situation evolves. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions.
In the meantime, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa has initiated "Jewish Ottawa Helps," a Facebook group to connect volunteers with those in need of help. If you are in need of help, please contact Elinore Marie Rabin (elinore.friendshipcircle@gmail.com) with a list of needs and you will be put in touch with a volunteer who can offer support (for driving, phone calls, etc). We thank you for your patience, cooperation, and support.
- The Friendship Circle Team
In honor of Yud Alef Nissan, Friendship Circle International will be hosting a free live zoom event, Conversation with the Author Rabbi Ari Solish, highlighting the Rebbe’s perspective on, and advocacy for, inclusion. Author Rabbi Ari Sollish will discuss the book, his own experience with inclusion, and the journey that led him to write and publish Inclusion and the Power of the Individual. He will also be sharing practical tips that you can implement in your day-to-day life to facilitate a more inclusive environment.
There will also be a Q+A session moderated by inclusion expert Dr. Sarah Kranz-Ciment, PT, DPT, Executive Director of Friendship Circle of Virginia and the Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative.
This event will be held virtually on Zoom
Tuesday March 23 / 11 Nissan @ 8 PM EST
Register here:
Join us today (Thursday June 11, 2020) at 7pm at GlobalShabbatParty.com
Friendship Circle continues to inspire our Jewish community and celebrates Shabbat.
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Billy Crystal, Howie Mandel, Mayim Bialik, Elon Gold, Omri Casspi, Kodi Lee, The Lost Voice Guy, Yaakov Shwekey, and 8th Day.
Starting TODAY, Monday July 6, 2020, @10 - free zoom program with lots of Friends from all over. Most participants are teens and young adults. Everyone is welcome, join for all or part of the day. Friendship Island on Mondays - Friday 10-12 and Lunch Bunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12-1.
This program is being facilitated by the Friendship Circle of Cleveland, Michigan, Upper West Side of Manhattan and Montreal. Attached is a visual schedule for the week and craft supplies are listed below.
Monday:
Paper plate
Colored pencils or crayons
Scissors and optional colored paper if you have.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85435436814?pwd=bk5yOHhlU3dUQ0xZNVdmT1dwcWd4QT09
Meeting ID: 854 3543 6814
Password: fcvirtual
Sunday lockdown entertainment with Friendship Circle: homemade snow! Thank you to our wonderful volunteer, Deborah A, for creating such fun workshops for our program participants.
Friendship Circle behind the scenes! We love seeing those smiles 😊