Who is that Buddy behind the curtain?

The excitement of new learning and growth blossoms with the start of each school year at Stonehill College, and this positive energy flows to the steps of HOPe as our members eagerly await to reconnect with a past Best Buddy or meet a new one. Each year, upwards of 50 Stonehill College students join the Best Buddies program and visit weekly to spend time with HOPe’s members. Many Stonehill Buddies will continue with the program all four years of their Stonehill education. A Stonehill graduate who served as a Best Buddy all four years recently shared her experiences:

“HOPe cultivates an incredibly special and safe space where children, adults, and volunteers can truly be themselves. Differences and unique traits are not only accepted but celebrated and embraced. The genuine happiness, laughter, and unfiltered fun that I was fortunate to be a part of is something that cannot be found in many places. While providing beneficial respite to families, I was incredibly impressed by the strong community that was built within the walls of this beautiful home.”

This year, our Best Buddies kickoff meeting was a huge success. The leadership team had the creative idea to hold a Reveal Party to introduce HOPe members to their Buddies. Each member stood behind a curtain, which was lifted following a crowd-supplied drumroll, to reveal their Stonehill Buddy for the year. It was a beautiful sunny day that included music and ice cream, making for a wonderful start to the Best Buddies season. We look forward to another year of enriching experiences and joyous memories for our Buddies and Members.

The Best Buddies program at Stonehill College is an integral part of the HOPe experience. The friendships formed have lasting effects on members and students alike — we are grateful to all our Stonehill Buddies and thank them for being part of this program!