This was supposed to be the year that the St. Joe’s chapter of Best Buddies International was going to take off. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the group, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, had to adjust their plans.

In 2018, St. Joe’s formed a chapter of Best Buddies, an international volunteer organization that offers “one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” according to its website. 

“Our chapter is made to foster friendships,” said Kerriann Howley ’22, public relations chair of the St. Joe’s chapter. 

But the St. Joe’s group was largely inactive when they started in 2018. Student leaders tried again last fall to get the chapter going, signing up 90 interested students to the group’s email list. 

The St. Joe’s buddies come from various group homes and day cares in Philadelphia, according to Megan Piasecki ’22, secretary of the St. Joe’s chapter. 

“They choose to join our chapter because they want to socialize with us, just like we choose to socialize with them,” Piasecki said.

But the pandemic made connecting with those buddies a challenge.  

“In a perfect world, without COVID, we would pair them up one-on-one, and they would do one-on-one meetings with just one person from St. Joe’s,” Piasecki said. “They could go on Starbucks dates, or something like that.” 

Small group activities would be a possibility, too. 

“The idea is that everyone’s kind of paired up with a buddy, so you do go out and do bowling or you go out to eat and meet once a month or so,” said chapter member Lily Bowditch ’23.

About 20 to 40 St. Joe’s students attended meetings this year, in addition to several buddies. They have met three times via Zoom. The final meeting for the year will be held April 28. 

“They are more casual,” Bowditch said in reference to the meetings. “We talk a lot about the inclusivity aspect, but mostly it’s just having fun hanging out and doing activities together. We play a bunch of games. Everyone kind of comes up with something to play at the meeting, so it’s lighthearted.”

In addition to the Zoom meetings, the club also held two fundraisers, one at Chipotle Mexican Grill and one at Panera Bread.

“The money from the fundraisers are allocated towards chapter dues,” Howley said. “Those are sent to Best Buddies who use it for programming.” 

Once the pandemic is over, the group has big plans for the chapter. 

“The biggest thing that I would love to see is if it could become a bigger club because it not only helps the buddies but it helps St Joe’s students as well,” Piasecki said. “It’s a two-way street of socializing.”