“ Be with the Buddies” is an idea emerged from the intentional efforts by the Good Shepherd Episcopal Indian Church, Stafford to create opportunities for children from the community to come together and spend time in fun and friendship. This was an effort to help the children to adjust with the “new normal” and reposition themselves from isolation and loneliness caused by Covid 19 Pandemic. All Saints Episcopal Church opened their doors for the children accompanied by their parents to be together every Saturday afternoon for a few hours, meeting with their friends and making new friends. The joyful noises of the children and their new energy to be with their buddies have excited their parents and the volunteers of Good Shepherd. The volunteers have prepared some organized fun filled activity for the children so that they will be engaged in group activities, learning from each other, and supporting one another. As a few weeks gone by, we saw the consistency in attendance, increasing number of participants and the enthusiasm of the parents to bring their children every Saturday afternoon. Good Shepherd volunteers spent time together in exploring possibilities of making it as an ongoing program that would help in the wholistic development of the children in their growth. As a result of collective thoughts and prayers “Be with the Buddies” have taken the shape of learning music and learn to play keyboard!!
