The FriendShip Newsletter - June 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.
Volunteer Spotlight: Laurie Barnwell
*Laurie is pictured in the middle with fellow Board members, Norah Rogers and Carol Barnett
Laurie Barnwell is a retired bank executive who brings both heart and expertise to her role as a volunteer with The FriendShip. Originally from Springfield, Laurie spent 35 years living in Northern Virginia and working in Arlington, where she built a successful career in banking. In 2001, following the passing of her husband, she moved to Columbia to be closer to her two daughters, who now live just a mile apart, and soon after, her parents also relocated to the area.
Laurie officially joined The FriendShip after her parents passed away, inspired by her friend, Vera Tucker, who introduced her to the organization. Today, she plays a vital role as Secretary of the Board and is a member of the Executive Committee. She also volunteers regularly, providing rides to members, offering a friendly presence and listening ear along the way.
To Laurie, The FriendShip is more than just an organization, it’s a source of joy, purpose, and connection. “They wouldn’t be able to be so happy without The FriendShip,” she says of the members, but she’s quick to add that she’s learned just as much from them in return. What started as a way to give back has become something personally rewarding and deeply meaningful.
When she’s not volunteering, Laurie enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren, ages 13 to 18, watching them grow and thrive. She also escapes to Pawleys Island when she can, where she finds peace and fun by the ocean. A lifelong skier and runner, she stays active and sharp by playing bridge and mahjong.
Thank you, Laurie, for all the ways you serve and uplift others. Your kindness and energy are at the heart of The FriendShip!
(Thanks to Beatrice Maulfair for writing this month's volunteer spotlight.)
Program Recap: The Busy Month of May!
During the first week of May, we were joined by a medical student, John Eckenrode, to discuss the importance of advanced care planning. Thank you, John, for leading an educational discussion about why advance care planning is important and what options there are for legal documents. For more info, the National Institute on Aging has a helpful webpage on this topic.
In honor of warm spring weather, we took our May lunch out to Quinine Hill Park for a picnic. Spending time outdoors and with our great volunteers and members is the best time--especially when there are delicious sandwiches from The Other Store on hand!
Later in May, we had a great turnout for a presentation by Dr. Courtney Monroe, Associate Professor at USC's Arnold School of Public Health, who spoke about Using Technology to Stay Physically Active. In her remarks, she highlighted both how technology can be used to promote healthy aging as well as the importance of social support in staying active. She also shared information about her research that examines the effect of team-based physical activity promotion programs delivered entirely through technologies. Thank you, Courtney!
Weekend Volunteers Are Available
We want to remind our members that volunteers are often available to help out on weekends. Some of The FriendShip's dedicated volunteers are busy or working during the week and are actually more available to assist on Saturdays and Sundays. Whether you could use a ride, help with errands, or a friendly visit, don’t forget that weekends are an option!
As always, we request three days advance notice for all service requests, and please note that if you submit a request via email or voicemail after business hours, it will be received the next business day.
*The photos below show two recent volunteer services. Trey helped Jamie with changing outdoor lightbulbs, and Frank helped Alice with cleaning out a flower bed.
Thank You for a Successful Campaign!
The FriendShip had a highly successful Midlands Gives campaign this year. Thank you to everyone who donated and spread the word about this amazing day of giving. Together, we raised over $25,000 to support our work helping older adults lead independent, active lives! This was our biggest campaign yet!
One key to our success was the group of generous donors who contributed a pool of $12,500 in matching funds. These matching funds encouraged others to give and double their impact. We are so thrilled that we met our match and then some.
This year, over 80 donors contributed to the overall campaign. Every single gift makes a difference, and it means so much to see this broad support for our mission.
Another important part of our success was our Midlands Gives planning team volunteers who helped implement this year’s campaign—kudos to Sam Waldrep, Barbara Catoe, Delia Corrigan, and Scarlett Herbkersman! Many thanks, also, to our Services & Communications Assistant, McKenna Stovall, for her work on developing our social media posts and flyers to get the word out.
Just as we celebrate The FriendShip's success, we also celebrate the success of the overall Midlands Gives effort. This year, Midlands Gives raised over $3.7 million to support nonprofits throughout our region. We are grateful to be a part of this inspiring community-wide effort!
Upcoming Events-at-a-Glance
- Thursday, June 12 at 11:30 a.m. - Lunch at Tupelo Honey
- Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. - June Social Hour/Summer Soiree
- July dates TBA
You can find an events calendar on our website as well.
Lunch at Tupelo Honey (Thursday, June 12)
On Thursday, June 12 at 11:30 a.m., we will meet at Tupelo Honey to enjoy a delicious lunch at a new, attractive restaurant. The restaurant officially opened up in the Bull Street District in February, and it has been a hit so far! We are excited to try this Southern cuisine as a group. Try out their famous fried chicken or opt for their sandwich lunch combo. They have a well-rounded menu that won't disappoint!
Tupelo Honey is located at 2138 Pickens Street, 29201. There is a free parking garage adjacent to the restaurant and ample on-street parking nearby.
Please RSVP by noon on Tuesday, June 10 by emailing contact@thefriendship.org or calling 803-602-6434. As always, we are happy to provide rides to full members who need them.
Summer Soiree (Wednesday, June 25)
Join us on Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. for a Summer Soiree. As the season warms up and vacation plans unfold, let's take a moment to come together and celebrate! All members and volunteers are invited, and guests are welcome too.
We'll serve summertime treats and share summer memories about playing with neighbors, visiting family, vacations, or anything you did during your summers growing up. Our afternoon social hours are always a great way to relax, socialize, and get to know one another better.
We will meet in the Dining Room at St. John's and hope to see you there! Please RSVP by noon on Monday, June 23 by calling 803-602-6434 or emailing contact@thefriendship.org.
Discover New Ways to Get Involved
Are you interested in getting more involved with The FriendShip? There may be ways you don't even know about. We always need help planning fun programs, interviewing potential members and volunteers, making connections in the community, and more! If you would like to serve in one of these roles, or have another idea of how you could help, email us at contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434. We can introduce you to the right committee for you or help you brainstorm other ways to help our nonprofit.
Local Resource of Interest
On June 25-26, The Lourie Center is hosting Thrive Forward, a two-day event for adults 50+ with vendors, presentations, food, and more! Topics range from shoe support to mocktail making to preventing falls in the home. These are just a few examples of the engaging classes, tips, and interactive sessions you could join. Visit The Lourie Center's website to learn more or buy your ticket.
Thank You to Our Donors
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on community support to fulfill our mission. Generous donors are critical partners in our work to help older adults lead independent lives.
As noted above, over 80 donors contributed to The FriendShip via the online giving platform during our Midlands Gives campaign, and we are so grateful! We will recognize these generous donors in our Annual Report at the end of our fiscal year. In addition to the online campaign donations, we also received gifts during May from:
- Caroline Aughtry
- Carol Barnett
- Carolyn Brown
- George Cauthen
- Gina Forcelledo
- Jane Key in honor of Lee Rambo
- Betty Mandell
- Faye Mixon
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!
