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The Friendship Circle at the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts at Happy Home

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — This past Sunday, 55 Friendship Circle children and volunteers sporting bright green shirts boarded a coach bus and set out for Fun Time America to enjoy a full day of games, slides, arcades, and rides.

After a day full of non-stop fun, one child just didn’t want to leave. With tears she begged her mother to let her stay in camp.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

First ever Friendship Circle Winter Camp

The Friendship Circle at the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts at Happy Home

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — This past Sunday, 55 Friendship Circle children and volunteers sporting bright green shirts boarded a coach bus and set out for Fun Time America to enjoy a full day of games, slides, arcades, and rides.

After a day full of non-stop fun, one child just didn’t want to leave. With tears she begged her mother to let her stay in camp.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Lucky for her, Sunday was only the first day in a week-long winter camp for children with special needs. For the first time ever, Friendship Circle of Brooklyn is providing children with special needs with enough fun to fill their days off from school.

Says Friendship Circle Director Rabbi Levi Eckhaus; “what is usually a difficult week for most parents of children with special needs, has been turned into a lively week of relaxation for parents, and ultimate fun for the kids. A short five days with Friendship Circle will create memories for a lifetime.”

After a fun and exhausting day the volunteers were treated to a relaxing trip to Paint-a-Pot, where they had the opportunity to unwind and paint. The volunteers were also treated to a full range of food to choose from for dinner.

Monday was met with even more excitement. The children enjoyed themselves with a complete tour of the Jewish Children’s Museum, including a fabulous game show hosted by Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum. The children baked special “fruit” cookies and made fruit kabobs in honor of Tu B’Shvat at a nearby cooking school. Thanks to our fantastic volunteers, camp spirit is palpable at every second. “The energy of this group is amazing,” said one chef at the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts at Happy Home.

The source of camp’s energy is the Bais Rivka and Shulamit High School Volunteers, who are taking off a full week of school to dedicate their time and love to Friendship Circle.

At a pre-camp orientation last Thursday, the volunteers were given a short training session from special education specialist Libby Slavin. The meeting provided great food along with essential information about camp and working with children with special needs.

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33 Comments

  • A huge fan of the baale chesed out there

    You know,
    When I started working in special ed right out of high school, there was nothing like friendship circle. Most of the frum organizations were fledgling little seeds, that we hoped would turn into flowers one day. Today Friendship Circle has changed that in a most beautiful manner. Hashem should bentch all you volunteers and the organizers of Friendship Circles all around the world for ur non stop dedication in a thankless world. You guys are bringing light into families that otherwise have it so hard. You are all incredible.
    Thanks Techie for posting such a beautiful article first thing in the morning, it made my day!!!

  • A huge fan!

    Happy B-day chaya you are the best!!!
    Camp rox we are having a blast!!!
    Go Friendship Circle Wahooooooo
    Stop dont think about it !! cuz tomorrow is a brand new day!

  • your friends in Manhattan

    Chayle & Levi you have transformed an organization into a flourishing incredible haven for so may people. you don’t stop!!! may your positive enthusiasm inspire others to do good work.. Hatzlacha!

  • I LOVE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

    WOW WHAT GREAT PICS YOU HAVE UP! YOU GUYS ARE DOING THE GREATEST WORK!
    LEVI & CHAYLE YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!

  • Stop don-t think about it!

    Go FRIENDHIP CIRCLE, you camp is the best camp ever we are all having a blast !

  • beautiful!!!!!

    malka and chaya you both did an amazing job! keep it up. can’t wait to see you.

  • ok wtvr

    wonderful! im a big fc fan but the title is a misnomer, this is not the first winter camp – winter camps have been all over the us by fc’s for years. so new york to claim that they had it first!

  • Response to Ok whatever....

    Yes I’m sure the fc of Brooklyn are well aware that there are other fc camps that have been doing it … first time ever I’m sure was referring to a camp here in Brooklyn!

  • FC 5 Towns

    Friendship Circle Rocks! No matter in California or New York! I was a volenteer during the summer, but because of a tough school schedule I can’t do it during the year! Looking forward to summer to help again!