CONWAY, Ark. (KTHV) - Conway High School held its annual "Best Buddies Walk" today.
The program helps special needs students connect and build lasting bonds with their peers.
The Caring Cats raised money for a great cause while celebrating with bake sales, a dance off, other fun activities and some all-star alumni.
“I enjoy the fact that we can be involved with the special needs students and it allows us to give them friends that they normally wouldn't have in some schools,” said Chris Andrews, a student at Conway High School.
He and other members of the community are celebrating the true meaning of friendship.
“The special needs child gets to feel like they have a connection and that they belong. We all need to belong, that's important,” said Beth Andrews.
Each special needs student at the school is paired with a primary peer buddy, along with multiple other buddies to help out.
Best Buddies is a national organization that creates opportunities for one to one friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"I have a special needs child that is in the program, but I also have a normally-abled child that is a buddy for another special needs child. So, I get to see both sides of it,” Beth said.
The annual Buddy Walk is an activity that helps engage the community. The school says benefits to both groups of students are endless
"The peer buddies are normally-abled students. They might sit with them at lunch, meet with them outside of school. One of the big things we did this year was help take them to prom,” said Beth.
The dance party featured actor and Conway High graduate Denton Hart. He stars in the television show "Riverdale" and participated in the "Caring Cats" program during his time at Conway High.