Best Buddies program introduced

Shelby Darnell

Ellie Moloney [left], President of the Best Buddies program, talks to other students about the program during lunch and gathers a list of people who are interested throughout the day.
Lafayette has initiated a chapter of the Best Buddies Program. It is being sponsored by special education teacher Zackary Sutter and junior Ellie Moloney, who is serving as president of the group.

“I try to plan the events and get all the details set up for all the events we’re gonna have and right now we’re just trying to get the word out to students about what it is,” Moloney said.

Moloney and other club members ran a booth during lunch the weeks before finals. They answered questions about the club and gathered a list of students interested in taking part.

According to Moloney students are paired with a buddy, they are held responsible for developing relationships with their buddy through texting them, hanging out with them or sitting with them at lunch.

Outside of the relationship between students and their buddies, the club also hosts group activities. All members will get together for these events and they will take place through the whole year.

“We’ll have movie nights or game nights or just go play games on the field so that we’re all together and hanging out,” Moloney said.

The goal of the program is to positively impact all those involved in the club and allow group members to come together for positive experiences and events.

“When I was in elementary school I had a friend that was a student with disabilities and he was so fun to hang out with, and it’d be nice to give other people that experience,” Moloney said.