newfriends

 

For people with special needs, developing friendships can often be tough. In response to this, teens from St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West St. Paul, MN have developed a friendship group called New Friends. This friendship group aims to create an atmosphere where everyone who attends can hang out and develop friendships in an atmosphere of 100% love and acceptance. At a New Friends event, young people, with and without special needs, join together to enjoy various activities like games, music, crafts, and snacks. The focus is on having fun and developing new friendships in a safe, judgment-free environment

 

New Friends focuses on meeting each individual where they are in terms of their interests and abilities. The purpose is to build relationships by focusing on our abilities, rather than our disabilities while creating a fun-filled atmosphere where everyone can feel safe, relaxed, and happy.  New Friends currently meets on scheduled Sunday afternoons in the St. Croix Lutheran gymnasium.  First-time attendees will be asked to register on the day of the event.  Parents may either drop off their child or stay for the get-together, depending on the comfort level of the parent and child.  Please see home page for monthly event information.