An unlikely friendship that formed at the East Side YMCA will now take their story to New Orleans to be told at a national conference.
YMCA volunteer Jake Alderton and club member Chad Gorniak have developed a unique and special bond. Jake is deaf and in order to communicate better, Chad taught himself sign language.
Belle Valley Fire Department issues open letter to township supervisors
Their companionship came at a time when Chad was facing hardship, being a widowed dad and Navy veteran and Jake greeted him while working out.
The duo now teaches basic sign language classes at the Y so other members can communicate with them.
Remote Area Medical hosting free clinic this weekend in Erie
“Once I became an employee, we started teaching the class, teaching the class together,” Gorniak said. “Once you’re next to Jake, you have to go into his world and you forget about your problems and he has his issues obviously with being deaf, but he’s still happy.”…