Friendship Circle Volunteers Connect at Friday Night Retreat

There’s something special that happens when the Friendship Circle of Brooklyn high school volunteers get together. It’s a kind of instant warmth, laughter, and sisterhood that you can’t fake. Our Friday night retreat wasn’t just an event; it was a reminder of who our volunteers are at their core: kind, open-hearted, and endlessly connected.

From the moment the girls walked in, the energy was unreal. Conversations sparked between people who had never spoken before. Friends introduced friends. New volunteers found their people. The room felt alive. Not because of what we planned, but because of who showed up.

At one point, everyone headed to a group game. Four rows of chairs, lots of laughter, and a “get to know you” challenge where everyone had to get to know the person sitting next to them and share random facts on the count of three. The result? Absolute, hilarious, high-volume chaos. But behind the laughter, real friendships were forming: inside jokes were born, and girls discovered shared quirks. That one person hates pickles, has never studied for a test, or can’t go a day without iced coffee.

The night was full of moments like this: singing that got louder with each chorus, conversations that turned unexpectedly deep, and stories that made girls nod, laugh, or quietly say “same.” Even better? Being brave enough and sharing personal, raw thoughts with everyone in the room.

Maybe the best part was watching the girls realize that Friendship Circle isn’t just a place they volunteer. It’s a place they belong. A place where they’re seen, valued, and celebrated. A place where showing up for others turns into something that fills them too.

By the end of the night, the room was glowing. Not from candles, but from the feeling that everyone left with: I matter here. I make a difference. And I’m part of something bigger than myself.
That’s what FC nights are really about. And this one hit it out of the park.

Special thank you to Mrs Devora Korolicki for sharing during the Seudah and Rabbi and Mrs Benny and Shayna Schimdt for such an engaging post meal Farbrengen.

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