“They were very shy in the beginning, but soon they all became friends”

Elizabeth Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church is providing youth with autism a place to make friends and be themselves. Common Table brings them together with young adult volunteers to have fun, in an atmosphere of God’s love.

Jeremy Sauvé, St. Paul’s youth pastor, says the program is about building “confidence, friendships, and belonging.”

“I’ve seen kids who were scared, shy, and non-communicative come and bloom. They find a place they belong with peers who love and respect them, in spite of the significant challenges they face.”

Common Table began in the winter of 2013, founded by Sauvé and two colleagues: Kerrie Kirkwood, a professional therapist, and John Anderson, a life and social skills coach. The program runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.

Youth come for a potluck dinner, then break off into two groups. One group plays board games for the first half, while the other group participates in planned activities. The activities include everything from indoor sports to pumpkin carving and a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt. Both the planned activities and the board games help participants interact and befriend their peers.

“They were very shy in the beginning, but soon they all became friends,” says Kirkwood, who serves as Common Table’s onsite therapist. “They have started opening up and showing themselves.”

Kirkwood asserts that all the kids coming out have faced bullying. It’s one of the challenges they must overcome, but she sees them growing, gaining confidence, and flourishing in the group setting.

“They have surpassed my expectations,” Kirkwood confirms with a nod.

The youth have not only made new friends with each other, but also with the youth group at St. Paul’s. Members of the church’s youth group volunteer at Common Table, connecting with and befriending the teens.

“They come with understanding, compassion, and empathy,” Sauvé says. “They genuinely love the kids who are attending our program. Some formed friendships that have spilled outside the regular program. Common Table is a program that is not only for those with autism; it is a program for all of us.”

Sauvé first started Common Table as a way to end “the bystander effect”—a documented phenomenon where the more bystanders present, the less likely someone will intervene to help a marginalized person.

At first, he says, it was just trial and error, but Common Table has grown into a vital ministry that participants anticipate throughout the month.

Sauvé says there are countless ways to embrace Ottawa’s youth and show them compassion, through similar communities. He hopes the program inspires others to reach out to vulnerable youth across the city.

“Take your time. Pray. Have vision. Communicate your vision to key people who will support and journey alongside you. Do not give up,” he says. “Above all, trust that God is ultimately more invested and in charge of His kingdom than you. Trust in Him.”