By Tanya Buresh-Werby, Assistant Director of FCVA
When Sarah Rees first attended Disability Inclusion Day with her family, she knew she wanted to learn more about Friendship Circle. After visiting the website, one program immediately stood out to her: Friends@Home.
Friends@Home is Friendship Circle's signature friendship program, pairing two teen volunteers with a child, teen, or young adult with a disability to meet consistently throughout the school year in the participant's home.
By meeting in a familiar environment, friendships can develop naturally through shared interests, activities, and meaningful time together.
As the mother of Jadon and Sam, Sarah could immediately see how valuable those friendships could be.
With Jadon's significant autism and developmental delays and Sam's preference for reading and independent activities, opportunities to build friendships outside of school were limited. Sarah hoped the boys might find companions who shared their interests. What she found was much more than that.
Cady and Lauren quickly became a welcomed part of the family's routine. Whether they were jumping on the trampoline, learning new board games, playing basketball, visiting the library, attending birthday parties, or heading out for trivia night, the girls consistently showed up with enthusiasm, patience, and genuine care.
"They proved to be good friends, good conversationalists, and great sources of energy in the late afternoon," Sarah shared.
Over time, the friendships helped both boys grow in different ways. Through games, conversations, and shared experiences, they practiced turn taking, perspective taking, and the give and take that comes with building relationships.
For Sam, the visits quickly became a highlight of his week. He loved trying new games that required multiple players, and Cady and Lauren willingly learned new rules alongside him. The friendships gave him opportunities to build confidence, practice sportsmanship, and gain valuable experience navigating social interactions.
For Jadon, friendship looked a little different. After long days at school and therapy, he often needed time to recharge and sometimes preferred to observe before joining in. Yet he consistently found his way back to the group, especially when it was time for the trampoline.
One moment in particular stood out to Sarah. While driving one day, Jadon noticed his cousin sitting alone waiting to be picked up from school and quietly said, "He is lonely."
"It was the first time Jadon had used that word," Sarah recalled. "It gave me a little window into the fact that, although Jadon often wants to play alone, he was starting to realize that it's good to be with other people too."
The friendships were meaningful not only for Jadon and Sam, but for Cady and Lauren as well.
"Friends at Home is important to our community because it brings people together while allowing people to have the extra comfort of being at home,"
Lauren shared. "Since starting, I have loved the connections with the kids and am so grateful to be part of the opportunity."
For Cady, the experience offered a unique opportunity to build relationships in a setting where she could truly get to know the boys and their family.
"My experience with Friends@Home was very meaningful because it allowed me to really connect with the boys in a different way," she said. "Being in their home helped me get to know them beyond just activities and conversations. It was also helpful to see how they interact with their families and siblings. It gave me a greater perspective and helped me better understand who they are."
As Cady and Lauren balanced school, sports, jobs, and the many commitments that come with senior year, they continued to make time for their visits with Jadon and Sam.
"I have been very touched by their willingness to spend time with our family," Sarah said. "Putting us in the mix with their jobs, school, and sports commitments was certainly a sacrifice on their part. Their gift of time and kindness has meant so much to all of us."
What began as a search for friendship became exactly what Friends@Home is designed to create: meaningful relationships built on trust, understanding, laughter, and genuine connection. Through their friendship, Jadon, Sam, Cady, and Lauren shared experiences, supported one another, and built meaningful connections. Together, they gained not only companions for the activities they enjoy, but friendships that helped each of them grow, feel valued, and experience a true sense of belonging.
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As we wrap up another incredible program year, we celebrate the impact made possible by our entire Friendship Circle community.
This year, we welcomed 115 new families, engaged 202 unique Birthday Circle attendees, established 9 program partnerships and 47 community partnerships, launched 5 new programs, and benefited from 590 hours of service from teen and adult volunteers. We also created 8 new Friends@Home matches, helping more individuals experience the joy of friendship and connection.
None of this would be possible without the support of our families, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community partners. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us build a community where friendship, inclusion, and belonging continue to thrive.
We are grateful for another amazing year and look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
Visit FCVA.org to learn more about how Friendship Circle facilitates friendships and social opportunities for people with and without disabilities via their free programs enriching lives and building an inclusive community one friendship at a time.