Community Magazine March 2019

Formerly Dr. M. Friedman’s Office Office hours: Monday & Tuesday 10-7 Wednesday & Thursday 10-3 Sunday 10-2 NEW! We have in house blood drawings every Tuesday and Wednesday Adar I - Adar II 5779 march 2019 35 “When interacting with the special children, know that they should be treated with love and care,” said twelve-year-old Caroline Palacci in her Bat Mitzvah speech to her peers. “Don’t be rough with the children, rather have fun with them, they love to dance and have a good time! There is no reason to feel awkward around the children, and I’m sure you will soon learn to love them just like I did,” continued Caroline, sounding wise beyond her years. A Program Dedicated to Fun When the children from The Center arrived at the event, the MCs made an announcement, and the children were welcomed in with music and applause. Once settled in, the children began visiting booth after booth, playing games, winning prizes, and eating snacks. Smiles, laughter, and fun were all around. Caroline and her friends enjoyed teaching the special children how to play certain games, cheering them on, and giving out prizes. There was a cotton candy booth and an ices cart where all the guests could grab something sweet while enjoying the fun. In the back of the room there was a photo booth where guests and volunteers alike could take a picture with a friend and then have it made into a pin, a magnet, or a keychain. Some of the other booths included a sand art station, a wax hand booth, and a build a bear table. Suffice it to say, everyone took home great souvenirs from the day. The surprises kept coming; a clown on stilts joined the fun and surprised everyone! All the guests and volunteers enjoyed a delicious dairy lunch along with all the sweet treats. Next up was dancing. Caroline's friends, side by side with the special children, created a tunnel by holding two hands in the air with a partner across from them. All together they created a tunnel with about 50 people, and Caroline made her entrance by running through it. The tables were pushed aside and themusicwas turned up. It was time for some good old-fashion dancing. The roomwas vibrating with joy and good vibes as the crowd melded into one pot of simha. The smile on Caroline's face could be seen from space. She truly had accomplished what she set out to do. Doing good for others is something we should all try to instill in our children from a young age. This way we can keep the cycle of hesed going throughout the generations! The Special Children’s Center is just one example of the many community organizations that can always use support from volunteers.