In late October, the finances of Hillsdale Buddies, a Hillsdale College GOAL Program, were running low for its weekly bowling initiative with special needs community members. The Hillsdale County Community Foundation, or HCCF, came to the program’s aid.
The Youth Advisory Council of the the HCCF awarded Hillsdale Buddies a $1,700 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Youth Advisory Fund in December, to help the program continue to serve the special needs community of Hillsdale County.
“I never really expected it, but helping with the Buddy Program has been one of the best parts of college,” junior Nainoa Johsens said.
According to its mission statement, the Buddy Program is committed to enhancing the lives of those with intellectual disabilities by providing social opportunities. Through its weekly Best Buddies Bowling program, local residents with special needs can join Hillsdale College students for bowling at Hillside Lanes.
Director of the Buddy Program senior Elly Guensche said the money from the grant will be used to pay for the games of bowling, which keeps the program cost-free for participants.
“We want to be able to pay for the games because we think it’s a great way of thanking them for coming as well as just being another way to serve them,” she said. “It makes it so everyone is able to come, and invite their friends, and never worry about if they need to pay for the bowling or not.”
The Buddy Program received a similar grant from the Youth Advisory Council — which is made of local students ages 12-21 — last year. Guensche said she and Johsens, co-leaders of the program in the fall, realized they could once again apply for the grant only a week before the November deadline. After submitting the written application, the council asked the program to make a presentation before the council.
“The factor that really moved the council was that they serve the disabled population, and there aren’t a lot of those opportunities in Hillsdale County,” HCCF President Sharon Bisher said. “Also, they saw the relationship the college students develop with these individuals and how important these relationships become to the individuals.”
For Guensche, this gratitude comes with excitement, as she looks forward to the opportunities it will provide for both participants and volunteers.
“It is such a joyous and loving atmosphere. For us, it is so meaningful that members of the community want to come spend their time with us,” she said. “For them, I think it is really meaningful to know that students want to spend time with them and keep them going…I think they can really see how deeply we care for them.”
Those interested in volunteering with the Hillsdale Buddies can contact Guensche for more information.
