The FriendShip Newsletter - December 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.
Member Spotlight: Betty Mandell
Did you know The FriendShip has a romance novelist as a member? Betty Mandell, retired USC professor and psychologist, has published three romance novels, has two more that will be published next year, and one draft ready to submit. “During COVID, I had lots of 'sit time' to write. I write, because I enjoy it.” Betty has been a member of The FriendShip since April of this year. Friends in her aerobics class encouraged her to join when she stopped driving. She will be 89 this upcoming January.
Betty is a health-conscious person, staying active by exercising, strength training, and folk dancing. She is engaged in her community through volunteering activities, a book club, and other varied interests including nature photography.
Betty says "Members and volunteers are interesting, lovely people. The volunteer drivers are always on time.” She continues, “I’m teased that if any car were to slow down just a little, I’d jump in.” She wishes she had more time to avail herself of the lunches out and programming, but her other volunteer activities keep her busy. “I highly recommend The FriendShip to anyone. I mostly use the driving, yet there is so much going on to take advantage of.” We are glad to have Betty as a member!
November Program Recap
The FriendShip had some wonderful programs to be thankful for in November! We kicked off the month with a great turnout for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants: Mr. Friendly's.
We also had a terrific turnout for the program with the Columbia Police Department's K-9 Unit. Everyone enjoyed learning about the training processes and duties of this unit as well as hearing some entertaining stories from the field. And, of course, we were thrilled to meet the police dog who came; he's featured in our group photo below. Thank you to the K-9 Unit for this presentation and for serving our community.
Our final program of the month was a Thanksgiving Celebration and Recipe Exchange on November 19, and it was just delightful! There were four kinds of pie and a cake making up a Thanksgiving dessert feast for our members, volunteers, and guests. Thank you to the bakers and to everyone who joined us for this celebration!
Upcoming Events-at-a-Glance
- Friday, December 6 at 11:30 a.m. - Dutch Treat Lunch at Miyo's
- Wednesday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. - Holiday Party & Sing-Along
January programs will be announced soon! You can find an events calendar on our website as well.
Lunch at Miyo's (December 6)
Enjoy Asian cuisine and the company of other FriendShip members and volunteers during our December Dutch Treat Lunch at Miyo's! We'll meet at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 6. Miyo's is located at 3250 Forest Drive, Suite B, 29204.
If you haven't already done so, please call 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to RSVP (or just stop on by). As always, rides can be arranged for Full Members, if needed.
Holiday Party & Sing-Along (December 18)
Don't miss our holiday festivities on Wednesday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m.! This year, we've invited a pianist to join us for a special holiday sing-along so this event promises to be a ton of fun. We'll have plenty of song sheets with all your favorite holiday tunes.
Volunteers, members, and guests are welcome to sing, enjoy refreshments, and take home some delicious Christmas cookies too! To RSVP, contact the office at contact@thefriendship.org or 803-602-6434. This program will take place in the Dining Room at St. John's.
Christmas Deliveries/Visits
We are in the process of coordinating holiday visits/deliveries around Christmas for members who would like them. Our members and volunteers always enjoy spreading holiday cheer across the network so please let us know if you'd like to participate!
One of our talented volunteers, Carol Barnett, has created a special package of "FriendShip Soup" to be distributed, and our volunteers are happy to stop by for a visit or just drop off the holiday treat during the week before Christmas (or the week after could work too, if preferred). Please let the office know if you would enjoy a visit/delivery or if you can volunteer for this project.
Donations/Memorial Gifts
The generosity of our donors is critical to our ability to fulfill our mission! We are grateful for November donations from:
- Anonymous
- Susan and Perrin Despertes in memory of Martha Bryan
- Pat Dukes
- Jill Ann Grote in honor of Jane Blair
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for a friend or family member?! Remember that donations can be made to The FriendShip in honor of a loved one! Those thoughtful contributions make the perfect gift!
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!
Office Hours During the Holidays/Reminder about Service Requests
The FriendShip's office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 through Friday, December 27. (Please note: Staff will monitor email/voicemail on a limited basis on Friday, December 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) We will also be closed on Wednesday, January 1. Members, please keep this schedule in mind when making requests for right before or after the holidays--and send in your requests as early as possible.
