The FriendShip Newsletter - Nov./Dec. 2019

Office Information

Contact Info: 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org

Regular Hours: The office is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Eleanor's Hours: Eleanor staffs the office on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. 

Fun 4th Birthday Party for The FriendShip!

Members, volunteers, and other supporters got together on October 20 to celebrate the 4th birthday of The FriendShip! It was fun to be together, enjoy cupcakes, and flex our trivia muscles! Many thanks to everyone who helped ensure a fun celebration of this milestone, from those who baked and served cupcakes to those who provided rides to our members. Special kudos to our planning committee, Dana Turner, Ann Humphries, and Jeanette Bodie!

Thank you to all "Saturday of Service" volunteers!

Last month, The FriendShip was so fortunate to augment our volunteer ranks with the help of volunteers from St. John's Servant Ministry. On October 5, they held a "Saturday of Service" and provided assistance to nonprofits throughout the city. A crew of hard-working, caring volunteers came out (with lots of yard tools and a riding lawnmower!) to serve four of our members by blowing leaves, cutting down trees, trimming hedges, raking, cleaning siding and more! The work they did and their kindness made a huge difference to our members! The FriendShip is so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful partnership opportunity!

Walking Wednesdays Continue in Nov. & Dec.

Get your steps in with The FriendShip's Weekly Walking Group! The group meets at the gym at Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 2:30 on Wednesdays. You are welcome to join in anytime—and participants can walk as slowly or as fast as they feel comfortable. Please note that you'll need to join the gym to participate; call The FriendShip for details as gym registration requirements have recently changed. Here are details on the upcoming schedule:

• November 20 – meet at 2:30 p.m.
• November 27 – no meeting due to Thanksgiving
• December 4 – meet at 2:30 p.m.
• December 11 – meet at 2:30 p.m.
• December 18 – meet at 2:30 p.m.
• December 25 – no meeting due to Christmas

Note to all current and future walkers: In the coming month, the group will decide about plans for the new year (i.e., schedule, location). If you want to join in with the group but have not been able to yet, please let The FriendShip office know if you have any preferences or requests related to plans in the new year.

Office Closures for the Holidays

The FriendShip office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving. The office will also be closed on Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas.

Special request to members: Please try to submit service requests for the week of December 2 as early the week before as possible.

Holiday Shopping on Amazon? Make Sure Your Purchases Support The FriendShip!

Believe it or not, the holidays are around the corner! If you shop for holiday supplies and gifts online, remember that there's an easy way to support The FriendShip when you shop on Amazon. Click here to designate The FriendShip as your favorite charitable organization and Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to us when you shop! Spread the word to your family and friends who shop online so they can also designate The FriendShip!

Important reminder: Once you've registered, you do have to be sure to shop at smile.amazon.com (and not just at amazon.com). Feel free to contact The FriendShip office if you need assistance in getting this set up!

Join Us for Upcoming Programs!

November/December Events-at-a-Glance

• Wednesdays - Weekly Walking Group meets at the gym at Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 2:30 p.m. (Note additional schedule details in this newsletter.)
• Thursday, Nov. 21 - History of the S.C. State Fair from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 4 - Dutch Treat Lunch at Backstreets at 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 17 - Holiday Social Hour from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

History of the S.C. State Fair on Thursday, November 21

Check out The FriendShip's upcoming program that's all about the history of the S.C. State Fair! Dr. Rodger Stroup, who is a former director of the S.C. Department of Archives and History, was commissioned by the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society of South Carolina (i.e., the organization that runs the S.C. State Fair) to write a book on the history of the fair. The book, entitled Meet Me at the Rocket, was recently published by the University of South Carolina Press and traces the history of the fair from its founding on Elmwood in 1869. Dr. Stroup will share his extensive knowledge on this subject with The FriendShip on Thursday, November 21 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. He plans to have copies of the book available for purchase ($29.99; cash or check only). Guests are welcome!

The program will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church in the Lower Level of Heyward Hall. RSVPs would be appreciated by Tuesday, November 19 at noon. Email contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434 to RSVP. As always, The FriendShip is happy to arrange a ride for any member who needs one.

Dutch Treat Lunch at Backstreets Grill on Wednesday, December 4

You are invited to join members and volunteers of The FriendShip on Wednesday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. for a Dutch treat lunch at Backstreets Grill, a "Modern-American restaurant" that opened this summer on Devine Street. Please RSVP by noon on Monday, December 1. You can call the office at 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to let us know if you are able to come and if you can offer a ride. Guests are welcome! (Please note that there is not a private dining room; we will be in the general dining area.)

Holiday Social Hour on Tuesday, December 17 

Join with FriendShip friends for a holiday social hour on Tuesday, December 17 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Member/volunteer Ruth Smith will host our holiday gathering, and we will make decorations together and sing carols. Light refreshments will be served. More details to come!

A note on scheduling for November and December: The social hours are usually held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. However, due to the holidays, there are changes to that schedule as follows: 1) There will not be a social hour during November due to Thanksgiving; and 2) The social hour in December will be on the third Tuesday of the month (December 17).

Village to Village Network is Coming to Charlotte

The FriendShip is a member of the national Village to Village Network (VTVN), which helps "comunities establish and manage their own Villages." Through the network, we have the opportunity to learn from and with others across the country (and world) who are working to help older adults lead vibrant lives. We are excited to share that the VTVN conference next year will be on October 4, 2020 in Charlotte, NC! Mark you calendars!

You Could Save Taxes by Donating to The FriendShip Directly from Your IRA!

As we approach the end of the calendar year, here’s some information that may be of interest on how you might save taxes by donating to The FriendShip directly from your IRA. After reaching age 70 ½, people with IRAs are required to take an annual withdrawal, called a Required Minimum Distribution.  If you are in the fortunate position of not needing your distribution for living expenses, you can avoid income tax on your required withdrawal by donating your money directly to a qualifying charity that is a 501(c)3 organization—like The FriendShip. 

The FriendShip has received these kinds of charitable contributions, called Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), from donors in the past—and the gifts make a huge difference in our ability to achieve our mission! For more information about how you can make such a gift, please consult your financial/tax advisor. QCDs must be made by December 31 each year in order to exclude the amount from your taxable income.

(Please note that funds must be transferred directly from your IRA to the eligible charity in order to qualify for the tax break. If you withdraw the money from your IRA and later donate it, it won't qualify as a tax-free QCD. Your financial/tax advisor can walk you through this process.)