What is Buddy Break?
Buddy Break is a FREE Parents’ Day Out/respite program where kids with all types of special needs (VIP kids) have FUN while their parents get a BREAK. At Buddy Break, VIP kids and their siblings make new friends, play games, do crafts, hear children’s stories, enjoy music, and more! Buddy Break is a free respite program where kids with special needs (VIPs) and their siblings make friends, play games, enjoy crafts, music, activities, and more! Buddy Break provides a wonderful opportunity for the caregivers of these children to receive a break from their ongoing responsibilities for three hours once a month on a Saturday morning, from September through May.
Why Buddy Break?
Giving families of kids with special needs a break
- One out of 10 kids under the age of 14 has some kind of special need. You probably know someone with a VIP kid!
- The weight and stress of raising a child with special needs can be overwhelming.
- Mental Health Treatment of stress is 2-3x higher for parents of VIP kids versus parents of typical kids.
- The divorce rate is high (up to 80%) for couples with a child with special needs.
- Families may experience extreme isolation, depression, loneliness, and fatigue.
- Opportunities to get a break are rare, yet desperately needed to survive.
To be a Buddy Break Volunteer you must be 14 years of age or older, have a loving heart, open arms, and a willingness to learn (no previous experience with VIP kids is necessary).
If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Kim Morrill at 321.720.6017 or email buddybreak@fbcmi.com.