Winnipeg's St. Amant centre wants to help other organizations and families look at creating a PALS program.

PALS stands for Partnership through Activities, Learning, and Sharing. It's a program at St. Amant that tries to foster one-on-one friendships between the people St. Amant serves and volunteers.

Manager of volunteer services Tracy Laluk says it's similar to online dating. People fill out a questionnaire, get matched, and go on a sort of "blind date," which sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't.

"Our goal is to help foster those friendships into more of a natural relationship, so we're there at the very beginning and then we kind of branch off a little bit, so they can start forming their own relationship," she says.

Laluk says the long-term goal is to have at least two "pals" for each person supported.

"Recognizing that individuals do move on for whatever reason, whether it be school or other commitments. So their 'pal' can rely on their second 'pal' to offer support, recognizing that sometimes change is hard and we want them to have the support where needed."

According to St. Amant, the program has made 60 matches so far, and 6 people are on a waitlist. Those interested in joining the PALS program can sign up online or contact St. Amant's volunteer department.

Laluk says St. Amant is willing to share and help others grow a similar program. She says St. Amant will have a chance to present PALS at its Canadian Conference on Developmental Disabilities and Autism in October.