Beach Party in Crown Heights

After nearly 10 months of dedicating themselves to children with special needs, and the Friendship Circle of Brooklyn, close to 250 young ladies gathered at the Jewish Children’s Museum for an evening of recognition and appreciation.

Dubbed “A BarBQ at the Beach” the girls entered the room to the sounds of waves brushing against the sand, beach chairs, sun umbrellas and a summery environment.

This year’s program focused on the tremendous effect a volunteer has on a child with special needs and their family. Driving the point home, Mrs. Chani Majesky, director of The Friendship Circle, shared stories and anecdotes heard from mothers how volunteers change the week of their special friend after their weekly visit, complimenting the many girls who go out of their way to make their friend feel really special.

The highlight of the evening was the “Accumulated Gumball Drop” girls who had volunteered for various programs of the Friendship Circle, joined Malka Kugel – Bais Rivka school president – as she listed the many hours the volunteers have accumulated over the year. Each hour was represented by a gumball, the young women were able to get a visual as to how their one hour a week really amounts to so much more, and how together we can all make a difference.

This year, the high school girls volunteering for the Friendship Circle accumulated nearly 6,000 hours of dedication to children with special needs in Brooklyn.

Mrs. Chani Majesky then thanked the five school presidents for going out of their way throughout the year, ensuring the Friendship Circle is well represented in their respective schools, they are: Bais Rivka – Malka Kugel, Leah Lew and Leah Borisute, Bnos Menachem – Mussie Schimmel and Yehudis Segal.

At the conclusion of the evening, a raffle was held on an iPad mini, and this year’s volunteer appreciation gift, a beach towel, was distributed to all.