The Home with a Heart

Since opening in July of 2010, the Home with a Heart has become a bustling resource and activity center for individuals with disabilities and those that care and advocate for them. For many of our members, our programs offer them the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives by fulfilling the essential need for belonging and socialization. Once completed, the Home with a Heart will be a fully handicapped accessible and licensed two-floor, 14,000 square foot facility that will eventually operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thanks to our successful capital campaign and our strong circle of support, the Home with a Heart has enabled Friendship Home to expand our programs and services.

The Home currently provides daily and weekly services, including:

• Five of our six Friendship Club groups; three for adults, one for individuals age 16-21 and our newest club for middle school age children age 11-15. During Club meetings, members organize their schedules, prepare meals, participate in activities, share their thoughts and feelings with the guidance of our trained staff and volunteers, and participate in community service projects. A sixth adult club operates at our satellite location in Quincy.

• Our Bridges to Work Career Program, which was launched in April 2010 with a goal of serving 10 individuals. Operating five days per week currently, the program now serves over 20 individuals, who are all working toward or are currently employed in the community. Among their many accomplishments, Bridges to Work members have launched their own catering service and offer weekly Café Day lunches for the community, featuring delicious home cooked meals.

• Our Travel Club programs which meet at our site in Norwell and offers weekly excursions and seasonal overnight travel opportunities. Since the program began, each offering has been filled to capacity and additional outings have been scheduled to meet the demand.

• A campus style atmosphere for our vocational and enrichment program which includes a computer lab, exercise and cooking classes and fully accessible 500 square foot training kitchen.

• Family support offerings including training and group sessions where families can receive support from each other and our professional staff team.