Two young men from the First Coast are headed to Tallahassee to speak with lawmakers. They're thanking them for supporting an organization that is making a difference in the lives of many students here in our community.
"Andrew, he's a great friend. He helps everyone out," Nathan Wozniak said.
"Well, Nathan, he's a cool kid," Andrew Waverly added.
They met through the "Best Buddies" organization, a program that creates one on one friendships between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Nathan got involved because of his brother, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.
"We like to eat lunch together, we text, we went to bowling the other week and that was really fun," Nathan said.
"The reason I like Best Buddies is because I have met a lot of friends," Andrew explained. "It teaches you to deal with people who have different abilities than we do."
These two buds are heading to Tallahassee, the state capital, to speak with legislators about the program.
"I can't wait to tell them all my ideas and I would like to thank them," Andrew said.
Priscilla Jones is the Jacksonville Area Director for Best Buddies.
"We just want them to know how much we appreciate their giving us it because it really allows us to put our mission into action," Jones explained.
Jones says throughout Northeast Florida, they have more than 2,300 members in the Best Buddies program in middle schools, high schools, and colleges and 400 of the one to one friendship matches.
"Their whole world is opened up to new possibilities, new experiences. The things their peers are doing and what they're interested in, getting to go bowling and to the movies all the things normal teenagers would want to do."
With the support of our state legislators, you might just see more of these Best Buddy pairs.
"It's just fun to see the smiles on their faces and help out," Nathan said.