The FriendShip Newsletter - May 2025

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.

Member Spotlight: Ginny Huguley

Ginny standing with pink roses in a bud vase from our Valentines deliveries

Ginny Huguley was born and raised in Charleston. She worked with the Charleston County Department of Social Services for a time and then moved to Columbia when she got married. Here, she worked as a State Office Consultant in child welfare and put down roots, although she still has a deep fondness for her hometown of Charleston. After her husband retired, they took the opportunity to travel the world; they visited all seven continents! Today, she remains an active member of her church and enjoys reading books in her free time. Ginny also loves flower arranging and listening to music. Some of her past hobbies that she has now retired from include oil painting, knitting, and embroidery.

Ginny discovered The FriendShip by searching online for programs to help with transportation after she gave up driving. Ginny says The FriendShip "has been a fantastic service for me." She lives by herself and believes she could not manage without The FriendShip's help. As a self-reliant person, she disliked having to always reach out to friends and family to get where she needed to go, so being able to arrange rides through The FriendShip gives her more freedom and independence. She appreciates that volunteers never make her feel like she is imposing when they give her rides.

Ginny, you are always so gracious! Thank you for being an inspiring part of The FriendShip and enriching our community.

April Program Recap

To kick off April we hosted a social hour with a fun theme: “What’s College Like These Days?” Four students from USC shared their personal experiences and perspectives on modern college life, including topics such as housing, registering for classes, student organizations, and more. Our members and volunteers shared their own college stories as well. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the discussion so memorable!

On Sunday, April 27, we came together for our Annual Meeting & Volunteer Recognition Event. We were so proud to celebrate the outstanding contributions of our volunteers and reflect on what we've accomplished this past year. Many thanks to the event planning committee for doing such an amazing job bringing the "what floats your boat" theme alive with the decor and refreshments. People who attended said it was "stupendous" and "fantastic." There truly was a wonderful, positive energy in the room!

In addition to honoring our volunteers at the event, the Volunteer Committee also recognized the hard work of our volunteers this month by sending each of them a handwritten note of thanks during National Volunteer Week.

Members and volunteers around a round table listening to college students share thoughts at the social hour

Annual meeting planning committee dressed in white with red aprons and ties

Member and volunteer sitting at a table at the Annual Meeting

Decor on the food table at the Annual Meeting, including inflatable floats in the shape of doughnuts with sprinkles

Three members sitting at a table at the annual meeting with an ice cream float decoration in the middle of the table

Office Reminder

The FriendShip's office will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. Members, please keep this in mind when making requests for right before and right after the holiday weekend. Please submit any requests for May 23-28 by Wednesday, May 21 in order to give us time to match requests with volunteers.

Recent Outreach Presentation... We Can Speak to Your Group Too!

Volunteers, Ann and Delia, standing at a podium giving an outreach presentation

Room shot of people at round tables listening to presenters at a podium

Thank you to the Shepherd's Center of Columbia for inviting us to speak. It was a pleasure to share information about The FriendShip and connect with such a great group! Delia, Ann, and Allison did a terrific job leading the presentation. If you're a part of a Sunday School class, garden club, book club, or any other group that would enjoy learning about our mission and how to get involved, our Communications and Outreach team would love to follow up. Just reach out by emailing contact@thefriendship.org or calling 803-602-6434.

Donate to Our Village on May 6! Double Your Impact with Our Matching Funds

The FriendShip is built on the "village concept." Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to help us as we age. With supportive organizations and caring people to lend a helping hand, older adults can live independently and stay active in their communities.

When you donate to The FriendShip during Midlands Gives, you make the work of this amazing village possible. Don't just take it from us! Listen to what people say about what The FriendShip means to them:

From a member - The FriendShip "is enabling me to stay in my 'home sweet home' longer and to continue making beautiful new friendships.”
From a volunteer - "The FriendShip allows me to give back to the community in such a meaningful way. I am able to connect with older adults, and they share their wisdom and life stories."
From the son of a member - "The FriendShip has been a lifesaver for Mom... not only because of the services she gets, but also because of the wonderful interactions she has with the volunteers. For me, The FriendShip has been a godsend as well. It means so much to know that there are others helping her alongside me."

There are so many examples of the power that comes from community members connecting with and supporting one another. We could fill a whole newsletter with testimonials! Please contribute to our Midlands Gives campaign to help make sure our village continues to thrive.

Another great reason to give during Midlands Gives is that we have matching funds available so your gift will be doubled! Thanks to generous donors, we have the opportunity to earn $12,500 in matching funds this year. Donate online on May 6, and your gift will be doubled! Or, get a jumpstart and donate today. Early giving is open now. Spread the word!

Upcoming Events-at-a-Glance

Tuesday, May 6 - Midlands Gives Day! Donate and spread the word!
Friday, May 9 at 11:30 a.m. - Picnic at Quinine Hill Park
Tuesday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. - Using Technology to Stay Physically Active
Thursday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m. - "Graduation Memories" Social Hour
Thursday, June 12th at 11:30 a.m. - Lunch at Tupelo Honey

You can find an events calendar on our website as well.

Picnic at Quinine Hill Park (May 9)

Members, volunteers, and guests are invited to The FriendShip's picnic lunch at Quinine Hill Park on Friday, May 9 at 11:30 a.m. The park has nearby parking, a clear walking path, and plenty of picnic tables! In case of bad weather, we will meet at St. John's for an indoor lunch.

The Program Committee will be ordering an assortment of sandwiches and will provide fruit, dessert, and drinks. The cost will be $10, and payment can be given on the day of the picnic. If you prefer, you are welcome to bring a bagged lunch.

Please RSVP by May 7 at noon. For more information or to RSVP, email contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434. As always, we are happy to provide rides to full members who need them.

Using Technology to Stay Physically Active (May 20)

Image of small handheld weights to use when exercising

Join us on Tuesday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. John's Dining Room for an engaging program to be presented by Dr. Courtney Monroe, an Associate Professor at USC's Arnold School of Public Health and a faculty member in the Technology Center to Promote Healthy Lifestyles. Her area of expertise is using technology-based interventions to target physical activity for chronic disease prevention. Her work has been funded by the NIH, and she has earned recognition by USC for her research mentorship in science and technology.

Drawing on current research, she plans to discuss topics such as the value of social support for physical activity and the role technology can play in promoting physical activity. She will also share information about a nationwide study examining the effect of a team-based physical activity promotion program delivered entirely through technologies.

Come learn something new and get inspired to continue and boost your physical activity routine! Please RSVP by Friday, May 16 at noon by calling 803-602-6434 or emailing contact@thefriendship.org. We are happy to arrange rides for full members, as needed. Guests are welcome!

Social Hour: Graduation Memories (May 29)

image of hands holding up graduation caps

May is graduation season across the country, and at this month’s social hour, we will be sharing graduation memories and traditions. Join us on Thursday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. John's Dining Room to enjoy time together and reminisce about graduation ceremonies, parties, and more. Everyone is encouraged to bring a cap and gown photo of themselves—we can’t wait to see them! Please RSVP by calling 803-602-6434 or emailing contact@thefriendship.org.

Thank You to Our Donors

Gifts are crucial to our ability to help older adults lead independent lives. Thank you for April donations from:

Anonymous
Kathy Burgess
Carolyn McClam
Barbara Mullen
Rolfe Olsen
Norah Rogers
Martha Smith
Suzanne Way

If you would like to make a donation, you can mail a check to our office or donate on our website. Or, to take advantage of our Midlands Gives matching funds, make a donation on or before May 6 on the Midlands Gives online platform. Thank you for your support!