A smile spreads on their faces as they enter the room, excited hollers exit the room. They hold gifts and plates of food for the whole group to enjoy. Their buddies wrap their arms around them in an excited manner, smiles filling the room. Junior Sarah Lins has one of those smiles on her face.
Best Buddies is an international organization that assigns a “Best Buddy” to a student with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program takes volunteers, the “Best Buddy,” to spend time and run social events with students with disabilities. They stand for inclusion and a more accepting place.
“The most important thing about this program is the spreading of awareness on the importance of reaching out to starts friendships with anyone and everyone,” said Lins.
The “one-to-one friendships” is one of the more common for high schoolers to help volunteer. The “one-to-one friendships” assigns a student to one with a disability to help them feel more involved and accepted, despite their differences. Best Buddies also helps those with disabilities find accessible jobs in which they can work and learn life skills.
“I’m a peer buddy, which means I meet up with my buddy Remy outside of school so we can get food, see a movie, or even go on a bike ride,” said Lins. “Doing this has changed my life and Remy has taught me so many things I would’ve never known if we have never met and weren’t able to form this relationship.”
On April 18, Houston will be having a “Best Buddies Friendship Walk,” where buddies will walk and fundraise for more local Best Buddies program. Best Buddies in 2020 strives to open offices in all 50 states of America and to become a household name, where they can expand people’s thinking and understanding of those with disabilities. For more information to volunteer for the Best Buddies program, go to the Best Buddies website and search for the Texas organization. There you can find the volunteer section where you can sign up to volunteer for the program.
“Best Buddies is truly such a blessing,” said Lins. “It’s a club where everyone should get involved in here at Tompkins.”
