Vanderbilt Best Buddies visit Natural Resources Department

Members of Vanderbilt University and their “Best Buddies” toured the CSKT NRD offices in Polson, did some solid waste clean up and posed with some of the NRD staff. (Courtesy photo)

POLSON — The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Natural Resources Department recently hosted the “Best Buddies” program from Vanderbilt University with campus location in Nashville, Tenn. for a chance to provide community service on an Indian Reservation.

The Best Buddies contacted NRD in the winter with an interest in visiting the Flathead Indian Reservation and participated in cleaning up the area known as Jette Hill where more than 600 pounds of garbage illegally dumped was found.

Marlene McDanal, the Tribal Solid Waste Specialist felt “honored to have this group help in cleaning up our lands.”

Jessica Solomon, a senior majoring in special education and pre med brought three pairs of best buddies to the reservation and participated in service projects at Mission Mountain Enterprises in Ronan, Salish Kootenai College, the Peoples Center, and the Tribal Natural Resources Department. Joshua, a buddy from Vanderbilt was buddies with Jay Cutler, former quarterback for Vanderbilt University and current Chicago Bears quarterback, but says having Jessica as a buddy is just as good.

The Best Buddies program pair’s students with developmentally disabled adults and are a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Currently, there is no program in Montana and interest is gaining at starting one at Salish Kootenai College. Forty-two states and six countries have best buddy programs. For more information visit the Internet site at www.bestbuddies.org. or visit the Vanderbilt University buddies program at http://inclusiveservice.blogspot.com/