The FriendShip Newsletter - April 2022
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.
Program Recap and A Look Ahead
The FriendShip enjoyed some great programs in March! At the beginning of the month, members and volunteers took in the sunshine during a Mardi Gras Walk at Saluda Riverwalk. Then, on March 16, we heard from storyteller Shelagh Montes who told stories about growing up in England during WWII. At our social hour at the end of the month, we marked Women's History Month by sharing stories about important women in our lives.
As shown in the photo above, we have been joined at a few recent events by UofSC students. Our Board member and volunteer, Will Brown, has been working on various projects with these students through a service learning class. It's been fun to introduce them to our work and to have their participation at programs when they've come to help get photographs.
All of our programs are fun opportunities to get "out and about" and to get to know one another better. Thank you to the Program Committee and everyone who participates! We look forward to more good times together at upcoming events!
April/May Events-at-a-Glance
- Friday, April 22 - Earth Day Visit to Congaree National Park (meet to carpool at 1:00 p.m.; visit park at 1:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, May 3 - Midlands Gives Day!
- Wednesday, May 4 - Flower Arranging Class
- Tuesday, May 24 - Picnic Lunch at Quinine Hill Park
Earth Day Visit to Congaree National Park (April 22)
Earth Day is a day to learn about and remember the importance of health and our environment. There is no better way to spend Earth Day than with other members and volunteers of The FriendShip at Congaree National Park. The only national park in South Carolina, Congaree National Park has something for everyone. The park is known for its giant hardwoods and towering pines and has one of the largest canopies in the world. It is a sanctuary for all types of plants and animals and a very tranquil place to experience nature. The boardwalk is wide and easy to walk on with spots for resting along the way. Walk as far, or as little, as you want. If you aren’t into walking the boardwalk, the park information center offers a movie and exhibits about the history and wildlife of the area.
Members, volunteers, and guests are welcome! Admission is free. We will meet on Friday, April 22 at St. John’s Episcopal Church at 1:00 p.m. to carpool, and plan to be at the park at 1:30 p.m. Call or email The FriendShip office by Wednesday, April 20 to RSVP and arrange for transportation, as needed.
Thank You to All of Our Amazing Volunteers
National Volunteer Week is April 17-23. During this week of special recognition, The FriendShip would like to express our appreciation to the dedicated men and women who volunteer their time and talents to our organization. Without volunteers, The FriendShip would not be able to fulfill our mission to help older adults lead healthy, independent, and active lives in their own homes and communities. We are grateful for the sacrifices you make to perform such duties as providing services for our members, participating in our programs, serving on committees and boards, and performing other needed behind-the-scene tasks. You are appreciated!
Last fall, The FriendShip conducted a successful volunteer recruitment campaign and added new volunteers to our ranks. Through our outreach efforts, we have determined that one of the best and most reliable ways of reaching new volunteers is when current volunteers and members share their personal experiences and stories with friends, neighbors, co-workers, and others. Our volunteers and members are the best ambassadors for our organization! Please continue to spread the word with your contacts and help us expand our reach as we continue to recruit volunteers.
Here's a link to our volunteer recruitment flyer that you can share: https://bit.ly/3iCRMx2. Or, call the office for hard copies!
Get Ready for a Huge One-Day Philanthropy Blitz on May 3!
The FriendShip is proud to once again participate in Midlands Gives, a one-day online giving event for nonprofits throughout our region sponsored by the Central Carolina Community Foundation. A successful Midlands Gives campaign is critical to our ability to raise the funds needed to fulfill our mission! Here's how you can help:
- Spread the word - Make sure your friends and family know that The FriendShip participates in this popular philanthropy event! Your targeted outreach to family and friends will make a big difference! If you are on Facebook, be sure to share our posts about the big day!
- Create a fundraiser page - You can create your own personalized fundraising page to encourage family and friends to support The FriendShip. It's fun, easy, and effective. To learn more, contact The FriendShip office or read more here.
- Donate - Donate on May 3! Or, get a jumpstart by clicking here to donate today; early giving is already open!
Help make this year's Midlands Gives campaign The FriendShip's best ever!
A Beautiful Day of Yard Work!
Thank you to Service in the Soda City for once again including The FriendShip in its Saturday of Service (SOS). The outstanding SOS volunteers helped our members on March 19 by cleaning gutters, blowing leaves, trimming and digging out overgrown bushes, window cleaning, and more. They augmented our volunteer capacity and made a big difference to our members! We are grateful for their kindness and hard work!
Community Resource of Interest: Delicious "Meals To Go"
One of the great benefits of our network is that we can share information about local resources and opportunities with one another! Here's a neat program that several of our members have found very helpful: "Triple T" from Shandon United Methodist Church (SUMC).
"Triple T" stands for Tim’s Tuesday/Thursday meals. These are "meals to go" that are prepared by SUMC's chef, Tim Scott, and are available for order by the broader community. A typical meal is BBQ pork, macaroni and cheese, green beans, a roll and dessert.
Meals are $8.00 each. They must be ordered and paid for online (see note below), and the deadline to order is Monday at 9:00 p.m. for that week. The meals can be picked up between 11:00 and noon on Tuesdays/Thursdays in the parking lot adjacent to SUMC. To receive the weekly email and link to order, send an email to scurran@shandon-umc.org, or call SUMC at 803-256-8383 and ask to be added to the "Triple T" email list.
* NOTE: If you are a member of The FriendShip who would like to purchase these meals but do not use the internet and/or need meals delivered, please call The FriendShip office. We are working to make arrangements for members who are interested.
