The FriendShip Newsletter - September 2024
Office Information
Contact Info: 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org
Regular Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Volunteer Spotlight: Anne Cushman
Anne Cushman has been a volunteer since March of 2023. She learned of The FriendShip from a neighbor, then found that other neighbors are members. Anne likes to travel, most recently to New York, Florida, Washington, and New Mexico, but when she is in town, she helps as much as she can with various groups. She frequently provides transportation for FriendShip members, and she also delivers Meals on Wheels every day for Senior Resources. Anne maintains friendships with people she's gotten to know over the years by participating in various activities, a book club, and evenings out.
Anne is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida and earned a masters of social work and law degree from USC. She has one daughter and two grandsons, the younger of whom attends Furman as a freshman. Anne and her husband, Jay Bender, also have a little white pup, named “Tini,” as in martini. Anne says “All the members and volunteers I meet are really nice, really interesting people. I’m happy to volunteer as much as I can.”
Thank you, Anne, for being such a kind, attentive, and dedicated volunteer!
August Program Recap
August with The FriendShip was a lot of fun! DiPrato's is certainly a fan-favorite and having lunch there was a great way to kick off the month. We enjoyed the food and the opportunity to spend time together.
In the middle of the month, we visited FoodShare South Carolina, a nonprofit that works to expand access to and consumption of nutritious food. Our very own member/volunteer who works for FoodShare, Gordon Schell, provided an informative tour of the facility, including the teaching kitchen, and shared an overview of their programs, such as their fresh fruit/veggie boxes. It was wonderful to hear how the organization has grown over the years. Check out the FoodShare website for more info.
During August, we also hosted the Falls Prevention Project Thank You Session to wrap up our work on this initiative. Volunteers and participants in the project were invited to hear from Erin Jeffords, the occupational therapist who headed up the project, one last time as she summarized her findings and provided some additional falls prevention education.
During this "back to school" season, members and volunteers enjoyed reminiscing about school days at our August social hour at the end of the month. We had a good time sharing memories about one-room schoolhouses, favorite teachers, and old dress codes!
Help Us Reach More People
Help Connect Us to Local Groups
On August 28, we were delighted to have the opportunity to share information about The FriendShip with the Community of Hope at Trinity Cathedral. Two volunteers, Delia Corrigan (from our outreach team) and Presley Hogue (from our Volunteer Committee), gave a brief presentation on The FriendShip and how to get involved.
You can help The FriendShip connect with other local groups! Call on us to present who we are and what we do at the next gathering of your neighborhood association, Sunday School class, book club, or other civic or social group. Spread the word. We can also place a brief paragraph in your newsletter. To reach our Communications & Outreach Committee with ideas, send a message to contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434, and the office will pass on the info.
Join Our Outreach Team
We’re recruiting folks to be part of our outreach team. We have all the promotional materials: brochures, business cards, "Ask Me" buttons, PowerPoint slides, and a pop-up poster. We travel in pairs so you won’t be by yourself! If you are willing to be part of our outreach team, send an email to contact@thefriendship.org. One of the Communications & Outreach Committee members will call right back.
September Events-at-a-Glance
- Friday, September 6 at 11:30 a.m. - Dutch Treat Lunch at Chicken Salad Chick
- Tuesday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. - Presentation by the League of Women Voters
- Thursday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m. - Afternoon Social Hour
You can find an events calendar on our website as well.
Lunch at Chicken Salad Chick (September 6)
Please join us on Friday, September 6 at 11:30 a.m. for our next Dutch Treat Lunch at Chicken Salad Chick in Trenholm Plaza (4840 Forest Drive, 29206). Their menu offers a variety of flavored chicken salads and sandwiches along with sides. As always, these lunches are a great opportunity to socialize with other volunteers and members. Guests are welcome!
To RSVP, contact the office at contact@thefriendship.org or 803-602-6434 to let us know if you plan to attend.
Presentation by the League of Women Voters (September 17)
As we are in the midst of the Fall election season, The FriendShip is pleased to host a presentation by the League of Women Voters of South Carolina on Tuesday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. The League is a nonpartisan organization that "encourages informed and active participation in government."
Christine Hait, Board President of the Columbia Area Chapter of the League, will join us to provide an overview of the organization. She will share information about Vote411, which is a comprehensive resource that voters can use to find details such as where they should vote and what will be on their ballots. Vote411 is scheduled to "go live" on the same day as our program, and one of our Program Committee members will help demonstrate how voters can use their addresses to access candidate data online.
This program is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Dining Room at St. John's. Please RSVP by noon on Monday, September 16 by emailing contact@thefriendship.org or calling at 803-602-6434. Guests are welcome!
September Social Hour (September 26)
Save the date for our next social hour, which will be held on Thursday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m. More details are forthcoming! As always, these events are a great way to get to know other members, volunteers, and guests!
Please call 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to RSVP.
Resources of Interest
Members and volunteers of The FriendShip often learn about resources and opportunities they'd like to share with others in the network. Below is a listing of some resources that you might find helpful:
- The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program offers an equipment reuse service, as well as device demonstrations, device loans, and much more. To learn more about what they offer and how they could support you/your loved ones, check out the SCATP website or call 803-935-5263.
- The Lourie Lectures provide "engaging lifelong learning, educational presentations, and discourse for adults over 50." The Fall Series will begin in October. Check out the Lourie Center website for details.
- The Shepherd's Center is also starting up their fall classes! Sign up to enjoy various classes on a range of interesting topics! Check out the Shepherd's Center website for more info.
Thank You to Our Donors
The generosity of our donors is critical to our ability to fulfill our mission! We are grateful for August donations from:
- Emily Derrick
If you would like to make a donation, you can always mail a check to our office or donate on our website. Thank you for your support!
