Buddy Club Newsletter - May

MAY EDITION

WELCOME TO THE BUDDY CLUB

This program is designed to meet the needs of individuals with developmental/cognitive disabilities. Join us for arts, crafts, fitness, movies, computers & video games. Access our Wellness Center, enjoy our pool or take a walk in the park! We meet every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-2:30pm.

Only $2 Drop in fee required or just $20 per month.

MAY ACTIVITIES May 1 Aqua-fit & Thank you cardmaking May 3 Aqua-fit & Elvis movie and popcorn May 7 Yoga & Arts and crafts May 8 Aqua-fit & Wii bowling Tournament May 10 Aqua-fit & Movie and popcorn May 14 Yoga & Basketball May 15 Aqua-fit & Kickball May 17 Aqua-fit & Buddy Bingo May 18 Arc Spring Formal May 21 Yoga, Science Activity & Sign Language May 22 Auqa-fit & Buddy Bites May 24 Aqua-fit & Memorial Day/Birthday Party May 28 Closed May 29 Aqua-fit & Do what you wanna do! (bring something from home to do) May 31 Aqua fit & Buddy Bingo

BUDDY NEWS WE HAVE NEW BUDDIES! Cathy and Tracey are new to the club. Welcome!

Party Time X 2!

The Buddy Club had another busy month that ended with a big Easter/Birthday party. We enjoyed sub sandwiches, red velvet cake, ice cream, brownies and salad. The party was followed by an egg hunt that was great fun. Mary, David, Lauran and Yvonne enjoyed their special day at the Buddy Club.

The Buddies were treated to a surprise party! The nurses who were doing our Tuesday Topics had their last class for the semester on Tuesday March 24--so they provided lunch and lots of good fellowship for the Buddies. We will miss them and wish them luck in their careers. The next class will start in August and the Tuesday Topics will resume then.

It's vacation time: Chad is going to Myrtle Beach.

Randi and her family will be in WV visiting family.

Mary is visiting her sister in Arizona.

Way to go Special Olympic bowlers--Randi, John and Michela all three won ribbons at the recent Regional Tournament held here in Manassas on April 14.

Laney who already works for the community center will be helping out with the Buddy Club while the Postens are on vacation. She already knows many of the Buddies and spends time with them before her MP3 shift starts. Everyone please give Laney a great big Buddy welcome!!

A great big Buddy Thank You to the Wellington area Walgreens, Centerville Rd. Food Lion, and Rt. 28 Subway for their generous donations.

MAY EDITION

MORE BUDDY NEWS Save the dates!

On June 1st Take One Drama will present their Spring Variety Show at 7pm at the Manassas Park Middle School.

On June 9 from 11-1 the Buddy Club will host an open house. We will invite graduating students and their families to come and see what we do. I will be asking the Buddies to help greet folks and conduct tours. It would be great if parents could also come and share what the Buddy Club has meant to them and their family members.

On June 16 the 1st Annual Car Show and Fun for Kids Charity Day sponsored by Halls Auto Care will be held. The Halls are splitting the proceeds with several groups with the Buddy Club being one of them. Fliers will be sent home with all the information.

The Buddy Club and the Manassas Park Parks and Recreation were honored in March for their contribution to individuals who have intellectual disabilities. We can all be proud of what we are doing because if not for the Buddies there would be no Buddy Club. Exciting news: We started the Buddy Club in October with four individuals and we now have fifteen members!

MAY BUDDY BIRTHDAYS Name: Payton

Birthday: May 11th

City of Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation 99 Adams Street Manassas Park, Va 20111 Phone – 703.335.8872 www.manassasparkcommunitycenter.com

BUDDY OF THE MONTH Lauran Rice is 30 years old but says she feels 26. She lives in Manassas with her parents and son Payton. Payton is the love of her life and the Buddies love it when he comes to visit and consider him their mascot. We will celebrate his birthday this month. She has a younger brother Jesse who is a chef in Miami. She loves animals and has a dog walking/care business.

Lauran graduated from Osbourn High School in 2001 in the City of Manassas. She misses school and all the activities. She loved track and swimming. She enjoys scrapbooking and is working on her son's baby book. She loves collecting movies and sea glass which she finds at her beach house.

Lauran loves the people in the Buddy Club because they are kind and respectful. She is a great asset to the club and is always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. She is exceptional when it comes to sorting and organizing all our Buddy stuff.

Thank you Lauran for all your help. You do a great job!