On a Sunday afternoon in June, about 30 members of the Friendship Circle family met up at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Volunteers and their special friends and family enjoyed being together. To begin the afternoon, everyone joined together for songs and prayer. Adding to the excitement, this event welcomed Friendship Circle alumni currently in college to reconnect with their friends.

 

Friendship Circle families and their friends spread out throughout the zoo to see the animals and exhibitions. Friends took photos together, talked to the animals and enjoyed the sunny day. 

 

Friendship Circle Director Malya Shmotkin said, “Beardsley Zoo is always a favorite and a great way to round out the year. It was a fun and special morning for everyone!”

 

The mission of the Friendship Circle is to bridge the gap between special needs and typical youth through shared experience, empower special needs youth with the skills they need to live a productive and independent adult life, give parents and families much-needed respite, and nurture a sense of awareness and communal responsibility in teens.

 

For more information about becoming involved with the Friendship Circle, please contact Director Malya Shmotkin at malya@friendshipct.com