The FriendShip Newsletter - April 2018Office InformationContact 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. (Call or stop by to chat!) Heartfelt THANKS to All Volunteers during National Volunteer Week!National Volunteer Week will be celebrated this year from April 16-21. The FriendShip is so fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated group of volunteers who bring their talents and compassion to help older adults stay independent in their own homes. In many ways, our volunteers are the heart of our organization, from serving in leadership roles, to providing services and helping run the office. To honor these volunteers and the huge impact they make, we have gathered some heartfelt expressions of gratitude from our members to share:
One of our members said that the work of our volunteers made her think of a biblical verse about how it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35); The FriendShip volunteers bring this spirit to their work and inspire us along the way.On behalf of everyone at The FriendShip, THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers! Our lives are improved and enriched by your service. * Volunteers, please contact Eleanor if you'd be willing to share a quote and/or photo on our Facebook page about what volunteering at The FriendShip means to you during National Volunteer Week! A Bonanza of Giving... Midlands Gives is Coming up on May 1!As many of you know, The FriendShip participates in Midlands Gives, and this year's giving day is coming up on Tuesday, May 1, 2018... So, we are gearing up! For those of you who might not be familiar with it, Midlands Gives is a 24-hour online giving event hosted by the Central Carolina Community Foundation that raises "money and awareness for local nonprofits in 11 Midlands
counties." The FriendShip is proud to be participating in this event for the third year in a row. We have had some great participation in Midlands Gives in the past by our Board, members, volunteers, and other community supporters, and we are excited for this year's event! Instructions and FAQs about Champion Pages can be found on the Midlands Gives website at https://www.midlandsgives.org/champion. (And, Eleanor would be happy to help anyone who is interested in creating one!) Help Wanted!The FriendShip has developed a Preferred Provider list of businesses for which licenses, insurance, and references have been screened. Members have access to this list as a part of their member benefits. If you have hired a provider that you would like to recommend to the Preferred Provider Committee for consideration, please email contact@thefriendship.org. Please note that providers are asked to complete an application process and must be licensed, insured, and bonded; all applications must be approved by the Board. Events Schedule at a GlanceThe FriendShip has some great programs coming up! Details are provided throughout the newsletter, and here's an overview schedule to help you mark your calendar!
April Afternoon Social Hour (Note Date/Time Change!)On Monday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m., all members and volunteers are invited for an afternoon social hour at the home of a member/volunteer who lives in the Rosewood neighborhood. Come on by for a chance to catch up with FriendShip friends in an easy-going atmosphere. Guests are welcome! Please RSVP by Friday, April 20 at noon; exact location details will be provided when you RSVP. May Dutch Treat LunchThe April Dutch treat lunch outing at Mr. Bunky's was a lot of fun! So, we hope you are ready to work up your appetite once again for our next lunch, which will be at Applebee's on Friday, May 4. All members and volunteers (and their guests) are welcome! Participants are invited to either meet at 11:15 a.m. at St. John's to carpool together or can meet the group at 11:30 a.m. at the restaurant at 4505 Devine Street. Please call the office at 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to let us know if you are coming and if you need or can give a ride. RSVPs are appreciated by noon on Wednesday, May 2. The FriendShip's Annual Meeting on May 8The FriendShip will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 8, and we are delighted to announce that Dr. Margaret Matthews, geriatrician from the Senior Primary Care Practice, will join us as the featured speaker that night. All members and volunteers are encouraged to attend--and feel free to invite guests who are interested in learning more about The FriendShip. The event will be held at St. John's. Please plan to come by for a reception between 5:00-6:00 p.m., and the meeting will be from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Additional details are forthcoming. Tour of the USC Special Collections LibraryThe FriendShip is arranging a special tour of USC's Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library for Wednesday, May 16! The tour will include a look at the library's latest exhibit on American novelist John Dos Passos, a viewing of materials donated by one of our very own FriendShip members (including one collection on JFK and another of personal family papers), and more!
Calling all Social Media Mavens!If you are on Facebook, be sure to like and share The FriendShip's Facebook page! We are trying to increase our reach on social media, and you can help make that happen! Every time you like and share a post, your friends will see it, and you will instantly be our social media marketing hero! Improving Arts Access for Older Adults in ColumbiaThe City of Columbia and One Columbia for Arts and History are collaborating on a process to develop a cultural plan for the Columbia area. This effort, known as AMPLIFY, seeks to broaden public participation in the arts and cultural activities. Please take a few moment to help ensure that the needs and perspectives of seniors in our community are a part of this dynamic process by completing AMPLIFY's brief online survey. You also can find more information and access the survey at https://amplifycolumbia.com/. Feel free to share the survey link with friends as well! |