Organization: FRIENDSHIP CENTER INC
Mission: INTERGENERATIONAL DAY CARE FOR AGES 2 1/2 TO 6 YEARS.
Activities: THE FRIENDSHIP CENTER IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT INCORPORATES SENIOR CITIZENS FROM HEATH VILLAGE, AN ADJACENT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, INTO ITS CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. SENIOR VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE CENTER'S PROFESSIONAL STAFF BY TEACHING BIBLE STORIES AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES, CONDUCTING NATURE WALKS, PROVIDING MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT, READING STORIES, AND SUPERVISING CRAFT AND WOODWORKING PROJECTS. CHILDREN ALSO INTERACT WITH SENIORS THROUGH A PEN PAL PROGRAM, AT SPECIAL EVENTS AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, AND DURING MONTHLY VISITS TO THE HEATH VILLAGE HEALTHCARE CENTER. OTHER PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ART, COMPUTERS, DANCE, FIELD TRIPS, SCIENCE/NATURE, SOCCER, SWIM LESSONS, AND MORE. THE FACILITY ALSO UTILIZES AN INTERACTIVE WHITE BOARD WHICH INCORPORATES TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LESSON PLANS. THE PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY AGE APPROPRIATE AND ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER SELF-CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE COMPETENCE IN SELF-HELP SKILLS, AND DEVELOP THOSE LANGUAGE ABILITIES AND INNER CONTROLS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE FACILITY STRESSES THE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND DISCOVERY TO PREPARE THE CHILD FOR THE MANY AND VARIED LEARNING SITUATIONS HE OR SHE WILL ENCOUNTER THROUGHOUT LIFE, ATTACHING EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020, THE FACILITY SERVED 96 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER CAMP COMBINED, AND PROVIDED $1,808 IN SCHOLARSHIPS. THERE WERE 25 SENIORS FROM THE HEATH VILLAGE COMMUNITY WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PEN PAL PROGRAM, EACH PARTNERED WITH ONE STUDENT. VISITS WITH HEATH VILLAGE RESIDENTS INCLUDED A HALLOWEEN PARADE AND SING-ALONG, CHRISTMAS CAROLING, AND PEN PAL PARTIES. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2019, 17 STUDENTS TOOK A TRIP TO A LOCAL ART STUDIO AND TOOK A CLASS IN WHICH THEY EACH PAINTED THEIR OWN CANVAS PAINTING. RIZZO'S REPTILES VISITED THE FACILITY LATER THAT SUMMER, SHARING THEIR ANIMALS IN PERSON AS WELL AS MANY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THEM. STUDENTS ALSO TOOK A TRIP IN THE FALL FOR PUMPKIN PICKING AT A LOCAL FARM, AND LATER IN THE SPRING ENJOYED A LESSON ON MAPLE SUGARING ON THE HEATH VILLAGE GROUNDS.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Youth Development