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Be someon’s best buddy
Sunday, October 19, 2008

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EVERYONE needs a friend but some people are especially in need of a buddy. Problem is, there aren‘t enough Best Buddies to go around in a program that nevertheless is being expanded.
The not-for-profit program, which made its way to Thunder Bay five years ago, involves student volunteers from colleges, universities and – starting this year – high schools who are matched with individuals from the community living with everything from physical disabilities to Down syndrome to speech impediments.
It‘s an important program that is suffering from a lack of volunteers.
Organizers at Confederation College and Lakehead University are having a difficult time recruiting new buddies.
No college students have come forward and only six from university ranks have signed up.
That doesn‘t fit with Thunder Bay‘s sterling reputation for volunteerism.
“We have a lot of people who would like a buddy but we’re just having a hard time getting people to volunteer,” said Erika Kurm, who runs Best Buddies at Confederation College.
Kurm and Lakehead‘s Scott Tiffin say Best Buddies partner Community Living Thunder Bay has at least 30 people with disabilities on a waiting list for a partner.
Once paired up, buddies meet when it is convenient for both. Kurm said they can hang out, go for a coffee, go shopping, watch movies or do an activity like bowling.
“Basically they can do whatever they want to do,” she said.
“It doesn’t even feel like volunteering, it’s just like having another friend and it is a lot of fun,” added Tiffin.
Kurm said that ultimately, the important thing is that the disabled buddy gets something out of the experience.
And while that‘s important, the volunteer experience also provides able bodied people with a new sense of worth and understanding of the less fortunate. In the end, it will be easier to deal with both lives‘ challenges and problems.
With good time management for studies and family, students can and should consider getting involved in this program. The rewards will last a lifetime for every Best Buddy involved.
To volunteer, e-mail: Kurm at erikakurm@gmail.com or Tiffin at stiffin@lakeheadu.ca.
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