Our People

Our Volunteers

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Young People

Our volunteers consist of young people ages 10 to 21 who are compassionate and show an interest in working with people of all ages and abilities. Younger people may be accepted if they show an interest and a level of maturity, and older people will also be accepted if they are good matches. At Friend in Need we believe no one should be forced to "age out" and actually encourage young people to continue spending time with their "clients" once they become adults. Some of the strongest friendships are ones that begin when one person is a youth and continue to one's adult years, and it does not need to be that both people are young. Parents, both of the young volunteers and of the disabled adults, are also more than welcome to participate, help out, and see what we are all about.​

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Our "clients"

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The developmentally disabled

We welcome a wide variety of developmentally disabled people. They include people with relatively mild conditions such as Level 1 Autism as well as more profound versions of Autism or Down Syndrome. Our clients can range in age anywhere from 13 to old age. Developmental disability lasts a lifetime so no one ever ages out. Those with mild disabilities are also welcome to serve as volunteers for people who may be in more need.

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Isolated elderly

While some old people have a good group of children and grandchildren who regularly spend time with them, many do not. Many old people live alone at home and are unable to go out and see others. Many also live in retirement/ care homes with staff members who are only there for the money. Many elderly people are neglected by their families, and many also never had children or grandchildren and are never going to have them. Friend in Need members can be like the grandchildren these elderly people never had, and this will be a good volunteer opportunity for the younger members of Friend in Need. 

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Other people who face exclusion

We welcome people who have various conditions that have caused them to face exclusion when they were youth or which causes them to face exclusion now. Homeless people are to be included in our program if we can verify they are not violent or otherwise dangerous.