Women's Club of Farmingdale Donates $1,000 to Farmingdale Library

Women’s Club of Farmingdale Donates

$1,000 to Farmingdale Library “Triple P Program”

On Monday, October 23, 2023, Women’s Club of Farmingdale (WCF) President Barbara Hoerner, WCF 2nd VP Margaret Barrett, and Women’s Club member and Library Trustee Lorraine Stanton met with Library Director Christa Lucarelli to present a $1,000 donation to the Library’s Triple P Program.

Triple P – Peer Pal Program – was established in September 2015 (replacing the previous “At My Fun Place” Program) and meets weekly on Monday evenings from September-May. This recreational program pairs individuals with special needs with neurotypical teen volunteers for an hour of fun activities such as music therapy, game playing, arts & crafts, therapy dogs, cooking lessons, karaoke, video game playing, physical fitness, live performances and more all designed to encourage teamwork, socialization, and acceptance. Participants are paired with “buddies” that are close in age, in the same grade level, or share similar interests and who can guide them happily and successfully through the activities in a loosely structured environment. The buddy pairs remain together throughout the program year to allow relationships and skills to develop that can transcend the boundaries of the library and carry over into school and social settings. Many students and “buddies” choose to remain paired up together year after year for the duration of their time in the program. As the individuals with special needs get older, many ask to participate as a buddy to help provide a younger child with an experience they will always remember. Each year the program culminates with an end-of-the-year party which features a video recording highlighting the year’s activities.

During Triple P program sessions, parents are provided an hour of respite in which they share information and resources with each other. They provide comfort and understanding having experienced many of the same feelings, issues, and experiences. This networking is an invaluable advantage to the program and one that is not easily obtained in other settings.

At the teen level, a video game club is also run on a weekly basis and promotes teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. The participants play games in small groups and rotate from game system to game system while supervised by a librarian and teen volunteers who help encourage socialization and model appropriate game play.

Each spring a dance is held to provide a “prom-like” experience complete with a DJ and dancing, refreshments, limousine rides, and a photographer to capture all the special moments. The attendees are encouraged to dress up for a night where they are the center of attention. For more information about the dance or any of the programs please contact Director Christa Lucarelli at 516-249-9090 or clucarelli@farmingdalelibrary.org.

The Women’s Club of Farmingdale, a local philanthropic organization, is always interested in welcoming new members. For more information, please email: lodaromanelli@gmail.com. #IAMGFWC

submitted by Maria Ortolani, WCF Publicity Chair