All You Need Is Friends

Everybody needs a friend. No matter your religion, race, background or differences, no child or adult should live their life lonely. Friendship Circle (FC) of Wisconsin provides a special community for children,young adults and adults with special needs 365 days of the year.

“Friendship is a necessity and Friendship Circle provides friendship,” Leah Stein, Co-Director said. FC is an international Jewish organization with branches all over the world. In some states, the FC program is affiliated with one temple so they only do programs with them, but FC ofWisconsin, which is under the auspices of Lubavitch of Wisconsin, is city wide and does programs throughout the city and state.

There are countless programs and events for the adult division of FC.  Mall Walking is one of the ‘friends’- as they call the participants with special needs – favorite activities because it is not so structured and it is a time to just relax. They walk three laps around the inside of Bayshore Mall conversing with their friends or volunteers and then enjoy a snack along with discussion about their weekend.

“My favorite part is walking around with friends,” Georgiy Verkhovykh said. “Sydney, Aaron, and Michael are my friends.”

Georgiy’s favorite part of Friendship Circle is sports night and he just recently was hired to work at McDonald’s. “He doesn’t want to work; he only wants to have fun,” Georgiy’s mom Inessa said. They have been a part of Friendship Circle since it began in Wisconsin about 15 years ago.

Georgiy is part of another one of FC’s programs, called Friends at Home. This is a program designed for friends to gain social skills and enjoy the company of friends in the comfort of their own homes. One or two volunteers, usually teenagers, go to a friend’s house once a week to hang out and play.

“We have seen kids who have been at the lowest point in their lives transform into confident, happy kids. That’s the power of friendship,” Stein said.

Stein and her husband Levi just recently started a young adult division. A lot of young adults do not want to be labeled as special needs but they have extreme loneliness and social anxiety; they will be home for weeks at a time. According to Stein, the program is called SQUAD, because the participants in this group will feel labeled if it is called Friendship Circle.

Some of the young adults attend school and some have a job. They like to be called young professionals. “We’ve seen some of our friends,who don’t encounter anyone for weeks, coming out and seeing the light of day, ”Stein said.

Ami Kramer, 37, has been having a blast at Friendship Circle for eight years in Milwaukee and three years in Chicago. “Art night and drum circle night has really high attendance,” Holli Kramer, Ami’s mom said. Ami is in a day program Monday through Friday and horseback rides on Monday and Wednesdays.

Each friend lives their separate lives during the day whether that means working at Walgreens, going to school, being a Crossing Guard, or getting visits from their friends at home. But they all come together at Friendship Circle to play games, draw, converse, dance and laugh.

“I’m always here,” Michael Young said. “You guys can’t get rid of me.”

Many adults were coming two hours early to events because they were always so excited to be with their friends. Leah and Levi decided to start a program called Friendship Bakery. Located at the corner of Kenwood and Lake Drive, the adults learn new bakery skills as well as valuable skills for employment. Each friend has individual goals in which a social worker and volunteer will help them achieve.

Friendship Bakery has been very successful with their 12 bakers. From cupcakes, to challah, to cookies and more, their delicious creations are sold in Sendik’s and can be ordered online. They even cater Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

“What’s amazing about Milwaukee is they have been so supportive the whole time. It’s all about the community that made Friendship Bakery flourish so fast,” Leah said. Dina, the pastry chef, gives the bakers so much confidence and is very patient with each and every participant. A few bakers have now moved onto real jobs which is one of the main goals of Friendship Bakery.

“Friendship is for everyone and we want everyone to have friendship, starting in Wisconsin and reaching out to the world”