Everyone was flying high with happiness at a Sibling Session on March 3, where Teen Huddle volunteers brought siblings of children on the autistic spectrum out to the annual Sugar Land Kite Festival. They helped the kids construct kites to fly on their own and created chalk art masterpieces. It was a day filled with sky-high excitement and tons of great memories.

Teen Huddle is an auxiliary group of 20 teen volunteers who hold sessions once a month to help local families living with autism. In these sessions, they provide parent respite and a space for siblings to be themselves.

“Hope For Three has given my daughter an outlet to be a young girl during Sibling Session Days and she does not have to worry about being a big sister and look out for her little brother.”  Says Laura Guerrero, mother of three including two on the spectrum.  “My daughter truly enjoys her time with the ‘buddies.’ She feels unique and wonderful because this is her time to socialize and be her silly wonderful amazing self.”

Teen Huddle member Yasmin says that “I have learned that the smallest actions have a big impact on people’s lives.”  She recalls a challenge during one of her outings, “I was once paired up with a girl who was crying when her mom left. She didn’t want to play at all, but after I sat down and spent some time talking to her.  By the end of the day, she was chasing me around the playground and having the time of her life! Giving her a super fun day when she started out sad is my one of my favorite memories. Watching the kids open up and talk about their passions is such a rewarding experience.”

To learn more about this and other amazing community programs, visit hopeforthree.org or call 281-245-0640