Family Friends...

The purpose of Family Friends:

To create special long lasting friendships. Family Friends is a program that matches volunteers to children with disabilities and their families. The volunteers offer support to families by caring, becoming a mentor, listening, and providing practical assistance to meet the demands of daily living.

The volunteers are people who love children and want an ongoing relationship with a child and family. They become a special part of the family. It is the kind of attention and caring that is unique to grandparents and Family Friends!

Want to see more? click here to view the Family Friends video

Who Benefits?

We all do!

The family gains from the emotional support provided by the volunteers. Their visits often give the family members a break from caring for their child with special needs all the while knowing that the child is in good hands. They have time to get tasks completed or simply time to relax from the steady and hectic pace of their everyday lives.

The Volunteers offer their special skills, wisdom, support, and life experiences. They gain a sense of pride knowing that they are making an impact on the families life in a huge way.

The Community is strengthened by volunteers providing supportive services that would otherwise prove too costly. Families who have no options available to them, now have a place to turn.

A little more information about Family Friends:

Family Friends began in 1986, with a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This grant established Family Friends at The National Council on Aging (NCOA), and in eight cities across the country. With the support of the Administration on Aging Between 1991 and 2002, Family Friends has grown to 38 projects nationally.

Family to Family Network is pleased to start a loving and supportive program like Family Friends. They visit their child once a week for a couple of fun hours. The families get the help and support they need, while the volunteer can be proud that they are forever changing someone’s life!

Family friends Quotes:

Many families and volunteers have been brought together through our Family Friends Program! Their experiences are heart felt and touching. Here are a few quotes from them about what the partnership has meant and how it has changed their lives.

“ Betty has been a wonderful asset to our whole family” says Steffanie (family)

“ We clicked from the beginning and right away I became their adopted grandmother” says Marty (Volunteer)

“ It is a very rewarding way to be of help to a family and a child. And at the same time put a little something back in God’s world in order to help repay for the many miracles that I’ve received in my life” says Betty (Volunteer)

“ Austin has opened up a whole new world for me because he is a bright little boy with a big heart and his mother has taught me a great deal as well” says Mary Ann (Volunteer)

“ We look forward to our visit with Ocie as much as we look forward to having ice cream!” says Cynthia (family)

“ Mary Ann is wonderful with our son and she is such a great help to the family”, says Belinda (family)

“We have only been in Family Friends for a few weeks, but we have already established a bond with our “Friend”. We call her Grandma Marty! For me, there is NOTHING nicer thank to have someone older and wiser pat me on the back and support me. For the kids, after just loosing their grandfather who lived with us, they wanted to know where they could get another grandparent? And…low and behold, who called, but Family Friends with “Grandma Marty!” What a Godsend! Thank you F2F!” says Carol Sue (family)

If you are interested in becoming a special volunteer, or if you have a child with a disability Click here for more information and click here and see our video.

Click here to obtain our Family Friends Volunteer Initial Intake form

Click here to obtain our Family Friends Family Intake form

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