Belonging in the Sukkah
Sukkot, the seven-day Jewish harvest festival, is a sacred time devoted to gratitude, community and connection. Each year, Friendship Circle brings those values to life by constructing a large Sukkah right outside LifeTown. A sukkah is a temporary shelter with a roof of plant material, such as branches or bamboo. At LifeTown, the sukkah is a beautiful symbol of the inclusion and belonging that Friendship Circle fosters through its programs for children, teens and adults with special needs.
Throughout the week, people of all ages and abilities were welcomed into the sukkah to share meals and spend time together.
“It was so nice to see everyone coming together for a meal and to just have a good time,” said Friendship Circle Program Director Ann Ferreira.
On September 29, adult volunteers gathered in the sukkah for Coffee Club. They talked about their holiday plans and shared stories from their time volunteering at the Shoppes. It was a morning filled with the kind of connection that makes a community feel like family.
That evening, Friendship Circle’s youngest participants gathered for a junior Sukkot dinner. They learned about holiday traditions and delighted in a bubble show.
On September 30, LifeTown Moms gathered in the Sukkah for a festive brunch. Guests created custom sweatshirts courtesy of Patch Therapy, an organization dedicated to spreading positivity through decorative patches.
“Sweatshirt decorating was hands down, my favorite mom’s activity,” said Mindy Lazaroff. “It was beautiful to see the theme of Sukkot intertwined in an otherwise secular activity and it was very special to get together with other moms during my favorite holiday.”
The celebration continued that evening as Friendship Circle adult participants gathered to catch up over dinner and play a spirited game of bingo.
“The adult Sukkah dinner event is one of my favorite events,” said Ferreira. “We had a very diverse crowd of regular participants and participants who we don’t see very often. It was so beautiful to see all of the participants take part in the mitzvah of shaking the Lulav and Etrog.”
On October 1, it was the teen volunteers’ turn to celebrate. They filled the Sukkah for a sushi dinner. A colorful candy bar provided sweet treats while teens played games, winning exciting prizes, including Starbucks gift cards.
“It was so fun getting to hang out with other volunteers who I see all the time, but don’t usually have the chance to talk to,” said teen volunteer, Hanna Wilner.
Around the tables in the sukkah, familiar faces became friends. At LifeTown, everyone has a place at the table and there is always more room for joy, friendship and belonging.
