By Taylor Batterton – Staff Reporter

The Friends Forever Club meets once a month to make crafts, play games, and connect students throughout Jonathan Law.

The next meeting will be on March 12 from 2-3:15 p.m.. The meeting will have a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed craft, an activity, and a snack.

The Friends Forever Club stems from an international mission known as Best Buddies. Best Buddies consists of student peers and volunteers that create opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“My favorite part is being able to help create bonds and achieve goals with different people, whether we are making crafts or playing games,” junior club member Tucker Donegan said.  

Friends Forever used to be held combined with Foran High School and meetings used to be at Foran. Now Jonathan Law has their own club that began in September and meets once a month.  

The club is especially excited for its upcoming meeting because the February meeting was canceled due to snow.

“For the February meeting we were teaming up with the Natural Helpers Club,” Friends Forever Co-Advisor Mrs. Blude said. “It was going to be a Valentine’s Day activity, cookie decorating, and a scavenger hunt, but due to the snow, the meeting was canceled.”

The club usually makes a themed art project, participates in an activity, and has a snack. 

“The last meeting, in January, we had cupcakes and did painting on canvases,” Friends Forever Co-Advisor Mrs. Michaels said. “The craft that we did was a picture frame, they try to do different things.”

Friends Forever is always looking for new members.

“I enjoy and recommend the program because it’s a fun experience and I leave feeling like I did something to help my school community,” Donegan said. “It is something that benefits everyone involved and is a great way to be involved with the Law community.”

The Friends Forever club also participates in Unified Sports which began in February. Practices are at Jonathan Law right after school. The club participates in basketball, wiffle ball, track, and soccer tournaments with neighboring towns. 

Friends Forever also has an egg hunt and cornhole tournament at Bunnell High School planned for after school on March 27. 

There is also a Unified Prom scheduled for  May. 

“The Unified Prom is usually held at Foran, but it is at Jonathan Law this year,” Blude said. “We need as many peer helpers as possible to come and volunteer, but it’s a great night there’s dancing and we all have so much fun.”