FRIENDS - Down syndrome support group of the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia

10/03/2026

🧑🏽‍🍳 FRIENDS is excited to announce we are partnering with Jeremiah Cafe to offer another fun and interactive cooking class for our teens and adults! 👩🏻‍🍳

📆 Saturday, November 14
⏱️3:00 pm
📍603 W Walnut Street, Johnson City

Don’t miss out on this chance to build new skills and confidence in the kitchen!!! 🍽️

Link to register:
https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/qzhlso1dwx?fbclid=IwVERDUAUuOh9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUPmOEpoQ1UUDpGvWCXf3mBYogeC6DHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5lxLicqGbzwNfTZpqd5DcgmS4qMSfX15md-R5t1Obyoh2d61FHfq1H1kMxqA_aem_pgaLVXPCTK9iJTV2XAlcig

🥄 FRIENDS Cooking Class with Jeremiah Cafe 🥄 📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026 📍 Jeremiah Cafe – 603 W Walnut St, Johnson City, TN 37604 We’re excited to partner with Jeremiah Cafe to bring another fun and interactive cooking class for our teens and adults! 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 Partici...

09/28/2026

Deadline is October 4!

https://charity.pledgeit.org/FRIENDSBW2026

09/22/2026

THIS JUST IN!

We are so thankful for all of the teams who have already registered, started fundraising, and are helping make this year’s FRIENDS Buddy Walk such a success!

Teams that raise $1,500 by October 4 will receive a FREE team banner!

If your team reaches $1,500, please email [email protected] with all of the photos and wording you would like included on your banner. You can create a banner to see along the walk or a team banner that could be used for your team to carry on Buddy Walk day!

And we have even more exciting news…

WE’RE HALFWAY THERE!

We have just $20,000 more to go to reach our community fundraising goal!

Every registration, donation, share, and fundraiser gets us one step closer. Thank you to every team that has already gotten started. We can’t wait to see all of your team banners at the 2026 FRIENDS Buddy Walk on October 24!

09/22/2026

OCTOBER 4 DEADLINE!
Buddy Walk is getting closer, and we have an important deadline coming up!
October 4 is the deadline for ALL THREE:

Buddy Walk T-Shirts — Register by October 4 to guarantee your shirt in your preferred size.

Sponsorships/Banners — Submit your team banner or all sponsorship information by October 4.

Route Signs — Submit your route sign information by October 4.

If you’ve been waiting to register, order your banner, or get your route sign submitted, now is the time!

We can’t wait to see all of our families, teams, friends, and supporters come together for the 2026 FRIENDS Buddy Walk on October 24!

09/20/2026

🚨 NEW AUCTION ITEMS JUST ADDED! 🚨

We’ve added even more goodies to our online auction, and there is something for everyone!

New items include the Dreamy Pastels Servailer Bowl Set, Rum Lovers Gift Basket, Painkiller Cocktail Basket, and Ch*****ne Mimosa Basket. Plus, don’t forget about the amazing items already up for grabs, including a two-night stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, a photography session, Scentsy baskets, and more!

Every bid helps support FRIENDS and our 2026 Buddy Walk, so bid, share, and help us spread the word!

Check out all the auction items and place your bids here:
FRIENDS Online Auction – https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/vtu3q0fy23/auction

More items may be added, so keep checking back! 💙💛

09/19/2026

We’re just over a month away from the FRIENDS Buddy Walk! Let’s work together to make this the best Buddy Walk yet. We’re thrilled to have Kandi Pickard, CEO of NDSS, and her son, Mason, as our 2026 Grand Marshals! Register today! Create your team!

https://charity.pledgeit.org/FRIENDSBW2026

09/15/2026

💙💛Join Us for the 2026 FRIENDS Buddy Walk! 💛💙
It's time to celebrate inclusion, friendship, and our amazing Down syndrome community! We invite families, friends, schools, businesses, and community members to join us for the 2026 FRIENDS Buddy Walk®.
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
There are so many ways to get involved:
💙 Register your child
🚶 Register to walk
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Create or join a team
❤️ Sponsor a team or become an event sponsor
🎉 Invite your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors!
Every step we take helps promote acceptance, inclusion, and opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome. Together, we can make a difference while enjoying a day filled with community, fun, and celebration!
✨ Register today:
🔗 https://charity.pledgeit.org/FRIENDSBW2026
We can't wait to celebrate with you.

09/11/2026

Scentsy Fall & Holiday Fragrance Basket
Bring the cozy scents of fall and the holidays into your home with this Scentsy fragrance basket.

This basket includes:
Christmas Cookie Room Spray
Golden Garland Hand Soap
Apple Harvest Dreams Fragrance Flower
Golden Crest Scentsy Air Warmer
Sleigh Ride Scentsy Pod
Polar Bear Hug Scentsy Pod
Apple Harvest Dreams Scentsy Pod
Autumn Hearth Scentsy Pod

A wonderful collection of seasonal fragrances perfect for filling your home with warm, inviting scents throughout the fall and holiday season. This would also make a great gift for any Scentsy lover.

Place bid: https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/vtu3q0fy23/auction/1k9gknp2mh

09/09/2026

⛳️Tots to Twelve at Fizzy Fairways is coming up soon!! Sunday, September 20th at 1:15pm!

We’d love for you to join FRIENDS for a day of mini golf, arcade games, and bubble play!

📅 Sunday, September 20th
⏱️1:15-3:15
📍Fizzy Fairways, Kingsport, TN

Lunch is included, so be sure to bring your appetite! 🍕🍦

Link to register: https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/er4rhjgt6k?fbclid=IwVERDUATGaIdwZG9mAWZkaWQWUKtwtQhQ5i77vCJkq0uGFFhTz7bLOGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4SGMDs6_5zqDMXH7T2ZD4Wz7tBIHJtGvs0ZtAaJGpqilCvWstAtpzij67QhA_aem_Fjrb2NQlJB7xCahhoC6_uw

Join us for some fun at Fizzy Fairways!! We’ll be playing mini golf, arcade games, and have some fun with bubbles! There will be pizza and ice cream for dessert. Come, pull up a chair and find welcome and friendship with the other families in our community! When: Saturday, August 15th Where: 117 S...

09/09/2026

Join us for our next Mom’s Night Out. You don’t want to miss out on the fun! Monday, Sept 21 6-8pm at Tennessee Hills Brewstillery in Johnson City. Dinner will be served. Please reserve your spot for an accurate head count.

Where: Tennessee Hills Brewstillery in Johnson City When: Monday, September 21st from 6-8pm. What: Join us for an evening of fun, a light dinner, and laughs while connecting with other moms in our community and getting creative with our very own hat bar.