The FriendShip Newsletter - August 2020Office InformationContact Info: 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org Regular Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Note: Due to the small size of The FriendShip office and the need to maintain physical distancing, we would appreciate phone calls to the office, rather than in-person visits, for the time being. If you do need to stop by the office to pick up or drop off something, please note that someone is there during office hours on Monday through Thursday. (The office is staffed remotely on Fridays right now, as St. John's currently is closed on Fridays.) Fundraising Report: Announcing Our Winner!This past Spring, The FriendShip's Fundraising Committee launched a Big Green Egg Raffle but the drawing had to be postponed due to the pandemic. We are now pleased to report that the delay did not dampen the excitement about the raffle! The support from across our community was great: it was clear that folks were excited for the chance both to support The FriendShip AND up their grilling game! The drawing took place on July 31, and the winner is... Jane Blair! Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to everyone who supported the effort! The FriendShip raised over $2,500! Board UpdatesThe FriendShip's Board of Directors is pleased to announce its new officers who were elected at the July meeting of the Board:
Also, the immediate past president of the Board, Donna Ray, will continue one more year on the Board and serve as Chair of the Executive Committee. Thank you to these volunteers, as well as our other Board members and committee chairs and members, for taking on leadership roles to help steer The FriendShip! Local Youth Assisted Members with Outdoor ProjectsOn July 31 and August 1, volunteers from Service in the Soda City and St. John's Episcopal Church came out for a day of service to assist local non-profits. A terrific crew of young volunteers (supervised by an amazingly organized group of adults!) helped out members of The FriendShip by pressure washing a driveway and a utility shed, blowing pine needles/leaves, painting a railing, and mowing the grass. Thank you to these hard-working volunteers for braving the heat to offer a helping hand to our members. The work they accomplished was a big help and the kindness they displayed lifted our spirits! Sharing Resources & OpportunitiesMembers and volunteers of The FriendShip often learn about resources and opportunities they'd like to share with others in the network. Here are a few things (on various topics!) that may be of interest:
Backyard Birding in the City: Tips on Feeders & More! (Aug. 12)Join The FriendShip for "Backyard Birding in the City: Tips on Feeders & More" on Wednesday, August 12 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. via Zoom. Over the past 20 years, FriendShip volunteer Will Brown has developed a passion for birding, cultivating his knowledge of our feathered friends on trips around the world and in his own backyard in downtown Columbia. Will plans to share information about what foods will attract desirable birds and specifics about feeder types and placement, including strategies to address the perennial question of how to deal with the squirrels! Also, he will speak about birding apps and logs that can be used to record your birding experiences. Please feel free to send along additional questions/topics that you'd like to hear about during this program. RSVPs to the office are not required but are appreciated. The Zoom link and dial-in information have been sent out to all members and volunteers and will be emailed out again on the morning of the program. Getting to Know FriendShip Members & Volunteers (Aug. 25 & Sept. 22)You are invited to join in our next Afternoon Social Hour, which will take place on Tuesday, August 25 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. Whether or not you've been able to join in a social hour before, we hope to see you there! These programs offer a lovely chance to catch up with and get to know other members and volunteers. (More details and the Zoom information will be sent out to members and volunteers in advance.) Go ahead and mark your calendars for the September social hour which will be on Tuesday, September 22 at 2:00 p.m. Prepare to Vote & Save-the-Date (Sept. 8)Even though it is only August, the November election will be here before we know it! So, plan ahead to make sure you are prepared to vote, especially if you plan to vote absentee in the November election! The SC Election Commission website includes information on who is eligible to vote absentee, how to request and complete an absentee application, how/when to return your ballot, etc. Richland County residents can also call the Richland County Board of Voter Registration and Elections for information on absentee voting at 803-576-2240. The FriendShip's Program Committee has arranged for a special program on the upcoming election to be presented by a representative of the League of Women Voters via Zoom. More details are forthcoming but please go ahead and mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m. *Note to members and volunteers: Contact the office if you need assistance in getting an absentee ballot or if you are interested in assisting members who need a ballot, etc Ear Savers: Crochet Bands for Face MasksResearch continues to show how important it is to wear a mask that fits over both your nose and mouth to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Still, it can be hard to adjust to wearing a mask, and it can take some time to figure out what kind/size fits each of us best. One of our members has shared a neat trick to help people who find the elastic bands on face masks bothersome (particularly due to hearing aids): using "ear saver" crochet bands. These bands can be used at the back of your head to hook the elastic onto, instead of hooking the elastic around your ears. We have some at the office, if you'd like to try one. Thanks to Henriette Smith for this suggestion and to Ann Ruderman for her crochet skills! For more information on how to make sure your mask is fitting properly and other considerations related to wearing a face mask, please see the CDC website. Also, The FriendShip has more face masks (both the elastic kind and the tie-back version) at the office if you need another. |