Volunteer with Buddy Ball!

Buddy Ball will take place at the HP Middle School gym on Sat. mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m., starting Saturday Sept. 26, and continuing for the next seven Saturdays. The Buddies are kids age 6 and up who have one or more disabilities, such as Downs syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, etc. Each Buddy is paired up with a Pal, (a volunteer who is a teenager). Pals work one to one with Buddies on exercises, drills to improve their skills, and playing the game. This Fall the game is soccer. You do not have to be a good soccer player to be a good Pal, and it is more about the individual attention and encouragement you give your Buddy than about soccer.


The Buddies really blossom over the course of the 8 weeks. They feel great to have a teen as a friend and helper. Plus it is a lot of fun to do this with so many other teens. Last year we had about 30 teens coming out on Saturdays to be Pals. You get a free T-shirt, too, (and you get it at the beginning, not at the end).


Not many towns have Buddy Ball, and our program is not limited to HP residents, so kids with disabilities come from several surrounding towns. We need more Pals. If there is anyone in Youth Group who wants to explore what this is all about, please