Suburbanite Bowl in Westmont was a whirlwind of strikes, spares, high-fives, and impromptu dance parties on the morning of December 1, when SEASPAR partnered with St. Francis Xavier School of La Grange for a special bowling event for participants.
Fifty-eight sixth-grade students and 25 chaperones from St. Francis Xavier teamed up with 90 adults participating in programs with SEASPAR, Little Friends of Downers Grove, and Lily Cache Special Recreation Association of Bolingbrook, for a few leisurely games of bowling. The students assisted participants with tasks from selecting balls to setting up ramps for players in wheelchairs to – most importantly – cheering on their new friends.
“I was so excited to have someone to bowl with,” said student Kathryn Adams. “It was really cool seeing all their happy faces.”
The bowling event is just one aspect of a nine-year partnership between SEASPAR and St. Francis Xavier. Each year since 2008, SEASPAR has visited the school for an Ability Awareness program for the sixth-grade class, educating the students about interacting with people with disabilities through activities such as wheelchair basketball and sign language practice.
In turn, the students, along with their parents and teachers, regularly volunteer at SEASPAR programs. This fall, St. Francis Xavier students assisted with not only the bowling event, but also SEASPAR’s Holiday Spectacular, Karate, Music Mania, Bingo, Glee Club, Alley Cats, Strikers, Power Soccer, and Turkey Shoot programs and events.
View event photos on Flickr or browse the gallery below!
