Davidson College students Nitya Rao and Billy powers (right) build relationships through activities with Lake Norman-area special needs children like Chelley Philippe (left). The Buddy System meets Saturday mornings in Davidson. (Courtesy of Jeni Cooper/Angels in Need)
Davidson College a cappella groups will be singing for a cause Feb. 12, at 4 p.m. in the Duke Family Performance Hall.
Donations will be accepted at the door of the free Buddy Benefit concert for Angels in Need, a local organization serving children with special needs and their families.
The Davidson College Buddy System and Kappa Sigma Fraternity employ male-a cappella group Generals, female group Delilah’s and co-ed group Androgyny to raise money for the local program.
The Generals’ repertoire includes “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “If I Ever Fall in Love” and “Come Sail Away.” The Delilah’s range from “MmBop” to “Suddenly I See” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” Androgyny’s repertoire also starts with early Jackson 5 songs and stays up to date with covers of the most recent Lady Gaga singles.
Jeni Cooper and her family started Angels In Need after adopting their first daughter, Ana, from Romania in 2002, and then Natia from the Republic of Georgia three years later.
Cooper started serving poverty-stricken, orphaned, abandoned and disabled children in her daughters’ home countries after witnessing the need first hand there. Angels in Need expanded to serve local children with disabilities.
Davidson College students work with Angels in Need on the Buddy System, a weekly program connecting college students and special-needs children.
The group, led by college juniors Lucia Stacey and John David Ike, meets Saturdays for an hour and 15 minutes at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Students pair up with their buddies to color, practice spelling and counting, dance, play and sometimes venture to the Soda Shop or Ben and Jerry’s.
“We assess the needs to each of the children and inform our volunteers of what activities to perform with each individual child,” Ike said. “For instance, we try to engage some of our non-verbal kids through use of an iPad and through music.”
Special-needs children get a chance to build relationships and expand social skills, but Cooper thinks the college students get just as much out of it.
“It’s really been heartwarming to see those friendships develop,” Cooper said.
Student volunteers grow an understanding of the struggles special-needs children experience, but also the progress they can make.
“Throughout my time getting to know (my buddy) Dylan, I’ve seen him not only grow physically, but make social leaps when it comes to interacting with others, as well as his ability to communicate effectively,” Ike said.
While Cooper says it’s hard to plan for special-needs children, the young buddies are slated to participate in the Buddy Benefit.
“We hope to bring the kids on stage for the last song to sing with the a cappella groups,” Stacey said. “We also hope to have the children help us introduce some of the speakers and a cappella groups. As this benefit is in honor of the children, and we want them to be a big part of it.”
Donations will help fund summer camp scholarships Angels in Need awards to special-needs children around Lake Norman.
Want to go?
Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m.
Duke Family Performance Hall, Davidson College
Donations accepted.
To learn more about Angels in Need or put your child on the Buddy System waiting list, visit www.AnglesInNeed.org or email info@AngelsInNeed.org.
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