The FriendShip Newsletter - February 2021Office 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, you are welcome to call ahead or from the parking lot so that the person staffing the office can meet you curbside! Recent Program Recap & Look AheadLast month, The FriendShip was so fortunate that Will Brown, our volunteer and Board member, shared his knowledge and passion for birds with us during a Zoom session! Will presented information about winter birds and migration, and he also recommended some terrific books and electronic resources for bird lovers. To watch a recording of the program, click here. Also, if you'd like a list of the resources that Will shared, please contact the office. February Events-at-a-Glance
COVID-19 Vaccine InfoThe vaccine rollout is in full swing in South Carolina, and The FriendShip is excited that the vast majority of our members have already had their first doses of the vaccine or have appointments made. Beginning on Monday, February 8, people in South Carolina who are age 65 and older will be eligible to make appointments for the vaccine. For more information and to locate providers offering the vaccine, please visit the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's (SCDHEC) website at https://scdhec.gov/covid19. Also, SCDHEC has established a new phone line about the vaccine that is taking calls daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and that can be reached 866-365-8110. Members who need more information about making vaccine appointments or who need rides to their appointments are encouraged to contact The FriendShip office! As the vaccine rollout continues, The FriendShip asks that all members and volunteers continue to wear face masks during all services and to follow our other guidelines for operations during the pandemic. Office AnnouncementThe FriendShip office will be closed on Monday, February 15 in observance of Presidents' Day. We will be back for regular office hours (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, February 16. Calling all fans of "Antiques Roadshow" (February 11)If you enjoy antiquing, then you are in for a treat! Join The FriendShip for a special program with art historian John Bryan who will be talking with us about antiquing, appraising family heirlooms, and more on Thursday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. Guests are welcome! Please email contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434 to RSVP. The Zoom link and dial-in information will be sent out the morning of the program to all members and volunteers as well as to guests who have RSVPed. (Please note that we do not have the capacity to offer live captions during the program, but we can provide a recording with captions after the event.) Gaze at Gorillas! Observe Otters! Peek at Penguins! (February 19)Join The FriendShip for a trip to Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens on Friday, February 19. Admission will be free thanks to the zoo's "Free Fridays" program. Our members and volunteers had a great time last year at the zoo, so we are looking forward to another chance to explore all the exhibits there! We plan to visit in the early afternoon to try to take advantage of the afternoon sun (weather permitting!). The exact timing of our visit and the details about where to meet will be established once we register with the zoo. In case of cold or rainy weather, we will move the outing to Friday, February 26. Here are some important particulars:
* Please note that The FriendShip's guidelines for operating during the pandemic allow for outdoor, socially-distanced gatherings of no more than three people. So, depending on how many are interested in going, we will be setting up several small groups to walk around together. Face masks are required at the zoo. Afternoon Social Hour (February 23)The FriendShip's Afternoon Social Hours are a wonderful way to get to know other members and volunteers! We meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, and during the pandemic, we are socializing via Zoom. In January, we enjoyed sharing something about our favorite pieces of art; it was so fun to learn about new art forms, hear about and see handmade pieces, and share artworks/exhibits that have impacted us in various ways. This month, we will talk about what the best piece of advice our parents gave us was--and whether we listened to it! The social hour will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. More details to come! |