Administration
Letter from Heidi
Mary Oakley Respite Stipend
Program
Veteran’s Pinning Ceremony
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Holidays and Happenings
Gratitude Corner
|
|
|
“Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy, and celebration. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.” –Papyrus
There is something about this time of year! The sense of renewal and newfound purpose. In the Center’s courtyard the purple agapanthus are about to bloom, humming birds are playfully enjoying a sip of water from our fountains, and the sky is a magnificent blue surrounded by beautiful oak trees. We even have caterpillars developing into shiny chrysalises, soon to be monarch butterflies, in our butterfly garden. Spring has sprung! Has our perception changed since we’ve been caught up in this pandemic and all its craziness? Perhaps? I know mine has! I actually “look up” more and see things that I’ve never seen before; the intricacies of a flower petal, a fat squirrel scurrying in the trees, the huge eucalyptus trees with their pungent smell that touch the sky. It’s pretty magical! So as we approach the end of our year on June 30th… Together let’s take a long deep breath and actually smell the flowers and look at our beautiful mother nature breathe in the new life of spring and opportunity. And like the hummingbird “carry our hope for love, joy and celebration” for all that we endured and accomplished to keep our services vital, and relevant for our families, friends, and our community.
With gratitude,
|
|
In progress! Friendship Center is creating a program in which members can raise and release Monarch Butterflies. As one member said, “Raising and releasing butterflies is life affirming!” We thank the Assistance League of Santa Barbara for their generous help with this project.
|
|
Mary Oakley Respite Stipends Now Available through Friendship Center
|
|
Friendship Center’s Respite Grant assists individuals by awarding reimbursement funds to be used towards the cost of caregiver respite, including in-home care and/or overnight stays at senior living communities. To qualify, caregivers must:
- Provide care for someone with a diagnosis of dementia
- Be considered low resource (includes financial, lack of familial support, and other hardships to receiving care)
- Have or are in the process of acquiring a Medi-Cal number for care recipient
- Be a long term (6+ years) resident of the tri-counties (Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura)
This grant has been made possible by funds generously provided by the Mary Oakley Foundation.
|
|
Friendship Center and VNA Host Special Veterans Pinning Ceremony
|
|
Friendship Center in collaboration with VNA Health were proud to host a very special Veterans Pinning Ceremony on Thursday April 7th. This event honored and recognized 14 veterans, 11 of whom are currently members at the Center. Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy were all represented by our veterans who fought in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. We are proud to honor our veterans!
Click below to read the rest of the article:
|
|
Robert receiving a handmade quilt from VNA CEO Kiernan Shah
|
|
“Everybody was doing something for the War Effort in those days and I wanted to help out too . . . I am very happy with the many VA benefits that I have received, and best of all, the VA pays for me to attend the Friendship Center where I have made some very good friends and is a great place to be.” – Robert Antonini, Private First Class, Infantry Army, WWII Veteran
|
|
Thank You to All of Our Volunteers!
|
|
We are so thankful for all of the volunteers that dedicate their time and talents to serve our Friendship Center seniors! This May we had a small luncheon to show our appreciation for our volunteers. From providing musical entertainment, companionship, bike rides, handyman work, floral arranging, to delivering our yummy lunches, there are so many things that would not be possible without our volunteers!
|
|
Our Members and Staff are . . .
|
|
. . . A Bunch of Party Animals!
|
|
Be a Part of Connections Class!
|
|
Enjoy mentally and socially engaging activities, music, group discussions, and light exercise. Connections provides an opportunity to learn and practice techniques designed to enhance memory, brain health, and physical and mental well-being while making new friends!
When?
Tuesdays from 9-12pm
Where?
All Saint’s Parish House Fireside Room, across the street from Friendship Center.
Cost?
$60 for only Connections Class, includes a light snack
$100 for full day at Friendship Center including lunch
|
|
COVID-19 Updates and Reminders
|
|
Given the current surges in the state of California, Friendship Center is still requiring all staff, members, and visitors to a wear face mask regardless of vaccination status, especially when indoors. Friendship Center encourages everyone to continue with the necessary precautions that have been working to keep our members, family caregivers, and staff safe.
- Wear a face mask correctly, covering both your nose and mouth
- Wash your hands frequently
- Use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the day
- Avoid large gatherings or groups of people you don’t know
- Socially distance when appropriate
- Get a first or second booster shot
Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
If you’ve not ordered any kits previously, you may enter up to two (2) additional orders (2 boxes each). All you need to do is go to the website & fill out your mailing information!
|
|
Virtual Walking Tour of Friendship Center Enables Off-Site Visits
Join Heidi Holly, Executive Director and Kim Larsen, Family Services Manager as they walk through each of our Montecito facility’s recreational areas.
For more information about enrolling, please contact Family Services Manager Kim Larsen at: kim@friendshipcentersb.org or (805) 969-0859, ext. 15.
|
|
Live entertainment and rich musical selections are part of the weekly activities at Friendship Center. Volunteer musicians Agris and Rob (left) play wonderful American Folk songs on their guitars, and while Les Conrad (right) weaves classics tunes into a musical tale. Thank you, Agris, Rob, and Les Conrad!
|
|
Link Friendship Center to Your Ralphs Community Rewards Program, and they will donate a percentage of your purchases to Friendship Center. The more supporters that shop, the higher the amount that is donated each year!
|
|
Make Friendship Center Your Amazon Charity and Donate While You Shop! Amazon will donate .05% of your purchase to Friendship Center at no extra cost to you.
|
|
CCL Licensing: #421701581
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
