The FriendShip Newsletter - January 2026
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.
Thank you to our members, volunteers, and other supporters who made 2025 such a fantastic year at The FriendShip. Your kindness and spirit are a source of inspiration and strength to our network and community. As we kick off 2026, we are grateful to be able to look forward to another year with all of you!
Staff Spotlight: Eleanor Stein
Eleanor is pictured above with Board member Sam Waldrep at The FriendShip's 2025 Annual Meeting.
This month the spotlight is on someone who needs no introduction, Eleanor Stein, who has accepted an internal promotion from Services Coordinator to Executive Director.
Eleanor, born in Cartersville, Georgia, headed to the colder climate of Illinois to attend Northwestern University. There she met her fellow classmate and future husband Brian Glavey. Professionally, Eleanor’s background has been in the fields of aging, the arts, and non-profit administration. Eight years ago, Eleanor replied to an email about an opening at The FriendShip, and she became the second services coordinator at The FriendShip.
Eleanor has used her expertise, creativity, care, and people skills to strengthen The FriendShip in both subtle and obvious ways. She describes the organization as “a community within a community” and works hard to promote the programs, lunches, and details for the services The FriendShip provides each month. Eleanor knows each member and volunteer personally, and she is always ready to graciously answer questions and offer help. She loves connecting people and often says things like “You’ll enjoy meeting her” and “She also likes yoga” as she pairs volunteers and members. She is excited about her new position and the growth and direction of The FriendShip.
Eleanor and Brian have two daughters and a cat, and she enjoys visiting her parents in Georgia. She sees firsthand how helpful neighborly assistance and organizations like The FriendShip can be. When Eleanor attends a FriendShip social, program, or lunch, she often thinks “I can’t believe I'm so fortunate to be able to spend time with such amazing people as a part of my job.”
Thank you, Eleanor, for all that you do for The FriendShip!
(Thank you to Delia Corrigan for writing this blurb.)
December Recap: Holiday Fun!
December was full and fun! Thanks to everyone who made time to come out and enjoy a FriendShip program during the busy holiday season.
Our Dutch Treat Lunch was at Casa Linda. The Mexican food was delicious and the serving sizes were generous! Members and volunteers enjoyed getting to know one another better and sharing plans for the holidays.
We had a wonderful time at our Holiday Social Hour held at the home of FriendShip member, volunteer, and Board member Sam Waldrep. We loved the opportunity to visit together in such a festive atmosphere and had a great time admiring his gorgeous Christmas decorations--he had three Christmas trees, each more beautiful than the last!
A Treat for our Members: Holiday Deliveries/Visits
Another highlight from December was our Holiday Delivery Project. Our talented Board member Carol Barnett put together beautiful packages of cookies and tea for members. We are grateful to Carol for her hard work on this project and to the volunteers who delivered the gifts. It was clear that members and volunteers alike enjoyed the chance to connect with one another and spread holiday cheer during these visits/deliveries!
Upcoming Events-at-a-Glance
- Thursday, January 8 at 11:30 a.m. - Brunch at Eggs Up Grill on Devine
- Thursday, January 22 at 2:00 p.m. - A Passion for Beekeeping
- Tuesday, January 27 at 2:00 p.m. - Social Hour at Ally & Eloise
- Thursday, February 5 at 11:30 a.m. - Lunch at Railroad BBQ
- Thursday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m. - The Heart Healthy Way
- Friday, February 20 - Free Fridays at the Zoo (exact time TBD; rain date is February 27)
Please mark your calendar for these activities. You can find an events calendar on our website as well.
Dutch Treat Brunch at Eggs Up Grill (Thursday, Jan. 8)
We are looking forward to our first outing of the new year! Please join us on Thursday, January 8 at 11:30 a.m. at Eggs Up Grill (Devine Street location). The restaurant features classic breakfast and brunch items like fluffy pancakes and delicious omelets, as well as an assortment of sandwiches and salads. Don't miss this chance to catch up with FriendShip friends after the busy holiday season.
If you haven't already done so, please RSVP to the office at 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org. The restaurant is located at 2930 Devine Street, 29205.
A Passion for Beekeeping (Thursday, Jan. 22)
Join us on Thursday, January 22 to hear from Susan Owen about the art and science of beekeeping. Susan wanted to spend more productive time at their family farm once her husband started spending more time there, and what began as an inquiry into beekeeping has become a passion. Over this past holiday season many area Columbians enjoyed honey from her "Bookman Bees" and in this program so will we.
Members, volunteers, and guests are welcome to join us to learn about what it takes to be a beekeeper and about the miraculous creation of honey. We will meet in the Dining Room at St. John's on Thursday, January 22 at 2:00 p.m. As always, we are happy to provide rides to Full Members, as needed. Please RSVP to the office by noon on Tuesday, January 20.
Social Hour at Ally & Eloise (Tuesday, Jan. 27)
You are invited to sample something sweet with FriendShip friends during our January Social Hour at Ally and Eloise Bakeshop. This local bakery offers a variety of homemade goodies, including cake by the slice, dessert bars, cookies, and more. We will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27 to enjoy a nice afternoon pick-me-up and good company!
Please call 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to RSVP by noon on Monday, January 26.
Office Hours Reminder for January
The FriendShip's office will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Members, please keep this in mind when making requests for right before and right after the holiday weekend. Please submit any requests for January 17-21 by Thursday, January 15, in order to give us time to match requests with volunteers.
Stay Up to Date on Vaccines
Unfortunately, this flu season has been a busy one. So, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about staying up to date on your flu vaccine, as well as any other vaccines that you might need. Protect yourself so you can stay active and to help keep your loved ones healthy as well!
Resource of Interest
If you live in the Forest Acres area, this resource may be of interest to you! The Forest Acres Police Department offers a program called Contact Care. When you enroll in Contact Care, you will receive a special phone number to call each morning. If they don't hear from you by a certain time, they will send a police officer to ensure your safety. To learn more or sign up, call the Forest Acres Police Department's Crime Prevention Division at 803-782-9444.
Thank You to Our Donors
The generosity of our donors is critical to our ability to fulfill our mission! We are grateful for December donations from:
- Bill & Trish Eccles
- Jill Grote in honor of Jane Blair
- Ginny Huguley in honor of Eleanor Stein
- Mike & Lauren McCauley
- Liz Melendez in memory of her parents, Bill & Jo Ann Wyatt
- Joy Tucker
If you would like to make a donation, you can mail a check to our office or donate on our website. Thank you for your support!
