Administration
Letter from Heidi
2022 Wine Down – Save the Date!
Mary Oakley Respite Stipend
Program
Monarch Butterfly Exploration
Gratitude Corner
|
|
|
It has been a journey from humble beginnings in a small church on Cota Street serving a few seniors, to expanding to a much larger and beautiful space in Montecito, and now serving several hundreds of seniors and family caregivers over the years.
We navigated the unexpected challenge of the past couple of years, managing through the pandemic. We have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever, recognizing, as we have countless times throughout the past 45 years, that our strength comes from the community and what we do!
So much of our success is thanks to you – board members, volunteers, foundations, businesses, our dedicated staff, and community supporters who have built a safety-net to support seniors and their family caregivers whereby some have experienced isolation, depression, and anxiety during these most challenging times.
I’m immensely proud and grateful to all of you… It really is “2 degrees of Separation” in Santa Barbara! In our community we all know someone who knows someone!
I am so pleased to welcome our next year that began July 1st with open arms along with the Center’s caring and compassionate team. The friendship and support we provide extends far beyond the walls of our Center.
With gratitude,
|
|
Please Join Us at the Wine Down!
Friendship Center is looking forward to our 10th Annual Wine Down to be held Thursday, September 8th, 2022, from 4 to 7pm outdoors at our Montecito Center’s courtyard. This delicious and delightful event brings us together to enjoy an evening of great local wines and beer, along with hearty hors d’oeuvres and live music, all for a good cause!
Your contributions raise funds for LEAP, our Life Enrichment Activity Program, providing music, movement and excursion programs for seniors with dementia, led by local entertainers and instructors, engaging our members in mind, body, and spirit.
If you would like to become a Sponsor, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Sophia at (805) 969-0859 x 21.
|
|
Please Inquire!
Mary Oakley Respite Stipends Available through Friendship Center
|
|
The Friendship Center is excited to announce a respite grant opportunity.
This grant is intended to help caregivers focus on self-care, take a break,
or just get away for a weekend.
If you provide services to a person with dementia, are a long term resident
of the Tri Counties, need help with funding respite services, and the care
recipient has, or is in the process of applying for, Medi-Cal then you may
qualify for this grant opportunity. The person must also be considered to
have low resources and/or be able to demonstrate challenges or barriers
to receiving care.
If you would like further information please contact the Friendship Center
at 805-969-0859.
You can also contact:
This grant has been made possible by funds generously provided by the
Mary Oakley Foundation.
|
|
Monarch Butterfly Exploration Project
|
|
The past few months have not just been blooming, but metamorphosing at Friendship Center! In March 2022, the Assistance League of Santa Barbara® teamed up with Friendship Center to transform our Sweet Pea Patio garden into an environment designed to raise and release monarch butterflies.
It was quite the process; from getting the proper enclosures, to selecting plants that bees and butterflies love, to getting ladybugs and caterpillars to get the ball rolling.
|
|
|
Yet, it was all worth it the first time that members gathered around, each being able to gently hold a newly hatched butterfly, and watch it flutter off into the Santa Barbara sky. We are now constantly watching caterpillars munch away, chrysalises form, and butterflies emerge!
|
|
|
|
Program Specialist Heather Conrad has a passion for monarchs, especially through how they impact senior citizens. “It’s so fun to see the members’ joy and excitement as they watch the lifecycle of the monarch take place,” Heather says. “It’s a hands-on experience; we let the members hold the monarch and say goodbye to it as we let it out in the world. It is a very empowering and encouraging experience for them.”
|
|
Heather leads a weekly group at Friendship Center known as the “Butterfly Brigade” where she teaches members fun facts about butterflies, tends to the garden, and goes on neighborhood walks to find monarchs in nature. As one member says: “Raising and releasing monarch butterflies is life affirming!”
|
|
We are grateful for the generosity of the Assistance League of Santa Barbara® for making this project happen.
|
|
Seeking fun, brain stimulation, and social CONNECTIONS?
Join the Connections Program!
|
|
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
|
|
Fresh flowers, kindness and support are the hallmarks of Friendship Center. Thanks to our care partner, Trader Joe’s on Milpas St., our center receives fresh bouquets of flowers every Wednesday for our members to take home. Creating fresh floral arrangements, smelling the flowers, using them to create artwork and just enjoying their beauty are some of the many ways Friendship Center enriches the lives of our members through this special relationship with Trader Joe’s.
|
|
Thank You Channel Islands Post Acute!
|
|
Channel Islands Post-Acute Care was kind enough to drop off 12 bright orange tote bags to honor our Veterans for Memorial Day. Filled with large print crossword books, coloring books, playing cards, pens, notepads and snacks, these orange tote bags brought great joy and pleasure to our Veterans. We appreciate the support of our care partners at Channel Islands for their kind donation of Tote Bags!
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
