WOODSTOCK — Downtown Woodstock’s Circle of Friends is expanding to provide people with disabilities more opportunities for work and social connection.

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Woodstock Police Department is again hosting Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday at Circle of Friends Coffee Shop. The men and women of the Woodstock Police Department will be having coffee at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at Friends Coffee Shop, 1 Innovation Way, located inside the Circuit at Chattahoochee Tech.

Communities are part of the glue that helps you feel connected. Diane Keen and her son, Haden, were involved at Hickory Flat United Methodist Church in Canton. Diane spent time in the church’s community garden and as a congregational health nurse. Haden was in the youth group. Despite Haden’s diagnosis in the autism spectrum, the youth pastor made sure he was able to participate and if needed, the support of an older adult was arranged.

Circle of Friends (COF) exists to transform environments of isolation into communities of inclusion by creating opportunities for connection, purpose and belonging in three ways:

1. Social engagement (visit circleoffriendsinc.org for bi-monthly meeting details)

2. Supportive employment

3. Affordable community housing

“These days the world needs a community like Mayberry,” said Stephen Taylor, executive director of COF. “A return to simpler times, where everyone is included, cares for each other and has their place.” Stephen, born profoundly deaf, understands the daily challenges of living with a disability. He has dedicated his life to bridging the gaps between the disabilities community, the church, and the world. Building a modern day Mayberry through COF, where people like Alex can flourish, fuels his passion to keep serving.