While many holiday celebrations are virtual this year, Friendship Circle New Jersey – a Jewish organization that provides inclusive Jewish educational and recreational programming – will be taking a new spin on helping children with special needs celebrate the holidays with a Chanukah Fun Truck. With isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence being especially felt by this vulnerable population, the Chanukah Fun Truck will allow for safe, socially distanced and hands-on interactive celebrations.

Complete with a large dreidel display, crafts, VR games, an instant photo booth, holiday treats and prizes, the fun and educational truck will help children with special needs and their families celebrate the holiday. It will be making stops at the houses of many Friendship Circle families during Chanukah. 

On night one of Chanukah (12/10), the Chanukah Fun Truck will kick off the tour of home visits to children with special needs in Morristown. It will then lead a Menorah car parade through Morristown, Livingston and West Orange (traveling along Route 10).

Throughout the rest of the week, the Chanukah Fun Truck will be visiting over 100 homes and other locales for its celebrations, with more than 250 families expected to visit the truck during the eight-day holiday.

As one of the fastest growing Jewish organizations in New Jersey, Friendship Circle's wide array of innovative programming promotes a greater awareness and understanding of both the unique needs and the unique gifts of those with special needs, and encourages respect and empathy for those facing difficult challenges.

The children and families benefit from home visits, recreational group programming, winter and summer camps and athletic opportunities. Together with parents and siblings, children and teens with special needs celebrate the holidays with exciting, interactive programs that bring to life the spirit and richness of the Jewish traditions.  

Thursday, December 10 

3:30pm-4:30pm  – Friendship Circle will make house visits in Morristown. 

5:00pm The Chanukah Fun Truck joins the Chabad-Lubavitch Menorah Car parade, which leave from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown (226 Sussex Ave.) 

Thursday, December 10 - Thursday, December 17

Chanukah Fun Truck home visits to children with special needs.