For the past three years, Oak Harbor resident Christopher Strader has visited Nashville and had his photo taken with such singers as Andy Griggs and Billy Gilman.

He brought those photos Wednesday to a Circle of Friends meeting where a half dozen folks were cutting up some of their favorite pictures to put in scrapbooks.

“Country music is what I listen to all the time,” Strader said. “It’s my life.”

When not listening to county music, he is working at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Recycling Center.

Other people scrapbooking that night brought pictures of their pets, relatives, driving in a soapbox racer, or a recent trip to camp.

It was the first time the group has tried scrapbooking. They have spent recent Wednesday nights walking at City Beach Park but the weather is becoming too cold for that.

Circle of Friends formed a year ago when Valerie Hooton, director of the group, saw that disabled people on the island needed a better social outlet.

As a special education teacher at Oak Harbor High School, she noticed these students would make friends during the day but were seldom seen participating in after school activities.

She added that organizations such as Special Olympics provide a valuable activity, but don’t give the participants a chance to regularly socialize.

“We needed to have time so people can make friends,” Hooton said. Although originally focused on teenage students, the group quickly expanded to include adults.

In the year since forming, the group has held dances, taken people to Greenbank Farm and Island County Fair, and walked in the Fourth of July parade, among other activities.

“We go everywhere,” said Jason Mays, who is a high school junior. He was cutting out pictures of his cat, “Punkin,” for the scrapbook.

Hooton said they are planning a beach clean up and have adopted a pocket park to care for.

“It’s important that people with disabilities are part of the greater community,” Hooton said.

Circle of Friends got some help recently when a local hardware store offered supplies for a car wash and they were recently awarded a surplus van from Island Transit.

However, Circle of Friends can’t use the van. Hooton said money hasn’t been raised to pay insurance for the eight-passenger vehicle.

Circle of Friends relies entirely on fund-raising to pay for its activities. Hooton said members typically live on fixed incomes and that they often have less than $50 left over after all their monthly expenses are paid.

She said the group is looking for more people and is continuing to raise money in hopes of one day having their own place.

“Our dream is to have our own building,” Hooton said.

Circle of Friends will be seen next when the group visits Whidbey Island Kite Festival today.

Support the circle

For more information about Circle of Friends, contact Valerie Hooton at 675-0668.