Friendship Circle to host first dinner event June 12
By Jason Cohen
June 6, 2008
Friendship Circle, an organization that is dedicated to helping children with special needs, will be hosting its first ever Chinese Auction and Buffet Dinner on Thursday, June 12 at a private home. It will be an evening of appreciation honoring dedicated volunteers.
Chanale Wosolow, wife of Rabbi Levi Wolosow of the Chabad Jewish Center of Western Monmouth County in Manalapan is the director of the group. It was her mother, Tova Chazanow along with her friend Merryl- Lee Abraham that started the group in memory of Ari Kraut, Abraham's brother.
"There was a need for it in the community and it was something positive for the teens to do," Chanale Wolosow said.
All of the proceeds from the evening will go toward children with special needs. There are numerous prizes that are available that evening including an iPod, a vacation to Hawaii, jewelry, a laptop, clothes, romantic dinners, and many other prizes. Admission for the evening is $54 per person and $100 per couple and for each person that attends they receive a $25 complimentary ticket toward the Chinese Auction.
"This is the first year that we are having a gala buffet dinner, but more importantly it's the first year that we are honoring a volunteer with the Fellowship Award as well," Wolosow said.
She said the
In addition to Ludlum, one child with special needs will speak as well. There will be cocktails beginning at
Wosolow said teens continue to volunteer until they graduate from high school because they feel really good about what they are doing.
"In addition to the teens always coming back to help, the parents always stay in the program because we always have new programs," Wolosow said. "Word-of-mouth gets new parents involved, but ultimately parents really enjoy how the teens and the organization assists their kids and gives them time to relax for just one hour each week."
The group is made up of five parts: volunteers, children, parents, staff, and supporters. The children that are in the group can be as young as 18 months and some are even as old as young adults in their 20s.
The group usually meets at the Chabad Jewish Center in Manalapan, but they have many programs that include: friends at home, Sunday circles, winter camp, teen scene, birthday parties, holidays, moms' night out, lunch and learn, volunteer training, Shabbat dinners, family fun days, and many other programs.
"Each week we send volunteers to visit and play with the children for one hour at the child's house, which means a lot to the kid because usually they don't have too many friends or many people to hang out with, and for the parents it's just great," Wolosow said.
She said people get involved in the organization because they feel it's the right thing to do.
"I go to middle schools and high schools in attempts to get teens involved or interested in volunteering," Wolosow said. "However, many of the teens that volunteer need community service, while others want to do it because it makes them feel good and it gets them to keep coming back."
Wosolow explained that she became involved with
Overall, the organization has a huge impact on the children's and the parents' lives.
"It‘s truly a great feeling," Wolosow said of the experience of helping the kids. "You're non-judgmental, I love the kids and we have become one big family, and overall it's very special. It really is a nice organization, and if anyone knows anyone with children with special needs or has teens that want to volunteer please come and sign up.
Tickets for the