A Community of Friends

The potted plants on the porch of the West End Branch Library, Charenton Road, Baldwin, received a makeover Tuesday afternoon from Community of Friends, a local support group for individuals with disabilities.
The pots were attentively planted and infused with vibrance from COF members, as well as library staff, caretakers and volunteers.
The planting venture lasted 30 minutes or so. However, there was a second phase to the visit… the butterfly release.
Once planting was completed, participants and lookers-on made their way to the back yard of the library, where locally raised butterflies, donated by Susan Todd, were released into the yard and up into the afternoon air.
According to Debbie Box, manager of the library branch, COF gets together every month at the library.
“It started very small (the group),” Box said, “making microwaved mac ‘n’ cheese, looking at the computers… to try to integrate them and give them a chance to participate. They come in the summer, too. They like to participate in the summer reading program, which is great.”
Jennifer Collins-Lanceslin, executive director and founder of COF, said, “It’s beautiful, and we’re hoping other organizations and businesses will come out to give them (COF participants) more exposure.
“This is great. What the library has done is beautiful. But, we want to go beyond our limits. This is a way we want them to be ‘well-a-part’ of their community, because this is their community. We want every opportunity, whatever they can be a part of, with their interests and their abilities, we want them to have that opportunity.”
She urged community support for COF, saying, “This is a community, and these individuals are part of it. They need love, respect and opportunities to socialize with people, make new friends and have new experiences.”
Having begun as an intermittent project, COF now intends to meet once a month, year-round, with next month’s meeting including activities for a fun/learning day at the library.
Box said Collins-Lanceslin formed the group about a year ago. “She came to us with this fabulous idea.”
At the time, most participants were preparing to graduate high school.
Since then, the library and COF have worked hand in hand to provide local consideration for those with disabilities.
“Thanks to West End,” Collins-Lanceslin said. “They have provided everything. This staff has just been beautiful.”
According to Collins-Lanceslin, COF operates through donations and grant funding from the state, and they are always looking for volunteers.
She closed with, “What I do for Community of Friends is, I plan activities for them to be visible in the community, where they can use their abilities and use their skills to feel like a part of our community, because they are, and we should embrace their abilities and talents, regardless of their differences.
“They are beautiful and they are loved and we want to spread that and bring them in, to be a part of our community.
“Everybody has something to offer. Give it. Even if it’s not much, give what you have.”
To contact Community of Friends, call Jennifer Collins-Lanceslin at (337) 940-7044 and (337) 346-1006 or email at www.community-of-friends.org and communityoffriends2014@yahoo.com.