By Dawn Pearson
They may be separated by 9,267 miles, 15 time zones and wide-open oceans, but The Arc of Greater Boone County isn’t letting that stop them from a blossoming friendship with The Arc Disability Services in Cairns, Australia.
The Boone County nonprofit first contacted their friends across the world when they saw that both groups had put together a video participants made to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. Since first reaching out last year, the new friends have enjoyed exchanging emails, learning each other’s interests and comparing Indiana to Australia.
“We have also mailed packages to one another with gifts that would be of interest. We exchanged T-shirts, so they are wearing some from The Arc of Greater Boone County and some of our folks have ARC Disability Services T-shirts,” said Marcia Clutter, who handles community relations at The Arc of Greater Boone County. “They sent us a wooden box that they had made, and we sent them a Christmas ornament made by our Arc Artisans.”
Clutter said the Australian organization is much larger than the one here, and one huge difference is that they are located very near the beach, which makes the Boone Country Arc staff and program participants very envious.
Boone County clients involved in the long distance friendship include Zionsville residents Stephanie Burdine and Kim Milas, as well as Brad Lanpher, Steve Sonderman and Henry Applewhite. They’ve enjoyed learning about the animals native to Queensland – especially the fish – and the weather.
“Recently our group sent photos of themselves in our first snow storm of the year,” Clutter said. “This was exciting to the Australians, most of whom had never seen snow. And we found out that right now they are awaiting a monsoon to cool them down, because it is 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit there right now.”
A group from the Arc in Australia said that they have also enjoyed learning about the many differences between Indiana and their hometown.
“We like the new friendship because we like to see pictures of our new friends and the surrounds,” they wrote in a group email. “It makes us think about the things are the same for all of us and which are different. For example we all go an Arc, but here in Cairns it is sunny and hot and in America it is snowing and cold like a freezer.”
The Australian group is fundraising to try to come to the National Arc Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis in early October.
“We all hope that we’ll be able to meet in person and to give them a tour of our agency,” Clutter stated.
ABOUT THE ARC
The Arc of Greater Boone County offers programs that assist with employment, education and community memberships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more about the local Arc at www.thearcgbc.org and visit the Australian group’s website at www.arcinc.org.au.
SEE THE VIDEOS
Watch The Arc of Greater Boone County’s video at http://youtu.be/vhjoRJuZPz4 and see The Arc Disability Services video at http://youtu.be/qK8G2vCaewQ.
