Show r r v t I I Weddings 22 Crossword 23 The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday February 6 1994 r- riT I fDD - Jeff Christensen and Larry Spencer Text: Nancy Bodily Photos: Diane Bush 1 J — ’’ ' V "j J - - :t - v’ i “fc v jt iveii y 'v aj 71 v4ii--- - - - : ' ' ' ' ' ’ - t ’ - i J'J ' i' ' " - ''i'' " ‘'r ' &'1- ' ' --m- -' - ' £a r':' JE - V ' - V - to V “ - ' t - ' v - Wvr ' y : - £s ‘ i c- - :J' s- ' r V - - KB - v V- -- C ’ ' J M - r - ' v JT ' r !': fs i ’ V £ jis 2' '?' ’z 1' s v ' ' - : - ' tA - - t — - ’jS '4 s r ' wwart- - - - Tv WN??1 5£ - - TrT-- v- ’' - rap- !?'- - ' V (4 - eA - d :k - 1 is yfc - : “ £ v - - ' ia-ijf- s JV ' kSl ' - : - '::ia" v n V f t I V- v ?i ? t - - &Tr- L ) i f :VW 7- - 4V ' '‘T V vV r X - - Larry helps Jeff keep score - Jeff and Larry play basketbal at the Edith Bowen School when they can! find an indoor court jy There is always time for a laugh at dinner Friends far I a rry doesn’t like to bowl At least it's not Land's favorite thing to do But he goes bowling every once in a while with his friend Jeff because Jeff plays basketbal every once in a while with Larry and Larry loves to play basketball Jeffery Christensen and Larry Spencer met through Best Buddies an international program connected to Utah State University through a volunteer program called VOICE They have been working toward a friendship ever since mentally disabled Logan resident likely signed up Lany a USU student who for the program for social diversion Jeff an migrated to Cache Valley from Taylorsville was seeking his own diversion Generously Jeff decided volunteering was a great form of stress relief and and upon exploring ways to vent that energy he came across Best Buddies signed up The program pairs volunteers with mentally disabled adults asking that the two get together once a week for some form of activity Alina Nackos is director of Best BudJics and offers some insight into the reasons people might volunteer their lime "I love the program because I love the people that are in iL They are really free kind of childlike people that you can have fun with” she said adding “I think they are often overlooked kind of caged up and kept away from society" Interaction with mentally disabled adults can be delightful They often have refreshingly different attitude Nackos said However the program b nnt always made up of shiny happy people Larry and Jeff have their bad days just lAe anyone else Sometime though a bad cxprricncc for a menially disabled adult reouires a Inik tiptoeing seem lo be enjoying 1 do have to be cartful with Larry’s feeling When we’re together and he dent I himself we just quit and try it another day” Jeff said With a voice that could lighten even the worst day Best Buddies participant Guy Johnson shared why he likes spending time with his buddy Daniel Alix “I like to talk to him and have someone to lease Guy goes on to recall with childlike and walked around delight the time they went lo a video arcade played just talking and having a good time It is the opportunity for just such simple pleasures that brings volunteers into the program and usually keeps them there “Sometimes when I’m tired or I have homework to do it’s hard for me to call the group home and set something up But once we get together 1 start to relax and the stress that I had goes away“ Jeff said Although he was disillusioned at first because Larry didn’t immediately warm up to him Jeff said they are able to enjoy each other s company these day perhaps with one exception “Larry's a womanizer When there are women around he s more into trying to impress them than me When there aren’t women around skee-bal- L he’s more in tune w ith me” For volunteer tuning into the program’s benefits is easy Best Buddies offers students a glimpse back to life’s simple pleasures as seen through the eyes of a child But what benefits are in store for the disabled? ”1 think the program is good for both the college students and the people with disabilitie The college students see more of a person with disabilities and they begin lo understand more It helps the people with disabilities becauvc they learn to relate to society by becomirf more a part of wxirfy plus it helps them get out of their daily routine” For Larry and Jeff the program offers an occasional round of Inp with a fncod |