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Fulfilling Hopes & Dreams at Friendship Community
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Each year Friendship Community takes time to recognize a few of the
important
people who make our community what it is.
These awards include
outstanding
volunteers, churches, staff members and individuals served by Friendship
Community. |
 2009 Gochnaeur Awardee Dave Rose (middle) received the 2009 Gochnaeur Award. This represents recognition of a staff member who represents the best practice of Friendship Community's vision and is chosen by fellow employees. Dave is part of the Sweetbriar Home team. Also pictured: Matt May & Courtney Maines |
 2009 Eshelman Awardee Kelly Forrey was given the Eshelman Award which honors employees who are advocates for persons with disabilities beyond their scope of employment at Friendship. Family members nominate for this award. She is pictured here (holding award) along with Courtney Maines, Charles Kahler & Milt Stoltzfus. |
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Employee Years of Service 25 Years - Margaret Gall 20 Years
10 Years 5 Years
2 Year
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  2009 Haverstick Awardees The Haverstick Award is given annually to individuals who have overcome obstacles, given back to the community and exceeded the expectations of others. The award was presented at the 2009 Anniversary Banquets to Charles Groff (below left) and Ron Reeser (below right)
Volunteer and Church of the Year Awardees
The Volunteer of the Year and Church of the Year Awards are presented at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held every April.2010 Volunteers-of-the-Year
It's A Family Affair! Pictured (left to right); Grace Stauffer, Clarence Stauffer, Irvin Enck (FC Director of Maintenance), Tyler Enck and Joyce Enck (FC Health Services Consultant). Lititz resident, Clarence Stauffer, and his grandson, Tyler Enck, were recently honored as 2010 Volunteers-of-the-Year at Friendship Community. It is truly a family affair when it comes to the Stauffer-Enck families and Friendship Community, a non-profit ministry providing residential and social services to adults who have developmental and intellectual disabilities in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties. It all started in the late 1980s, when Clarence met with Friendship’s then, second administrator, Charles Bauman, to discuss ways in which he could volunteer his carpentry skills to this ministry. For many years Clarence provided his services to several Friendship homes located in East Petersburg, Lititz, Millersville and Manheim. His work extended beyond carpentry and included plumbing, ceramic tile, painting, wall paper, aluminum, spouting, etc… In more recent years, Clarence has maintained and repaired lawn mowers and snow blowers for all of Friendship’s properties which currently total over 20. Eighty-nine year old Clarence has proven to be an all-around priceless handyman and continues to serve as a consultant to his son-in-law, Irvin Enck, Director of Maintenance at Friendship and father of Tyler. Joyce Enck, Clarence’s daughter and Tyler’s mother, has been employed at Friendship for over twenty-five years serving as a health services consultant. Clarence’s influence doesn’t end there, however. His servant’s heart and strong work ethic has certainly had an impact on his grandson, Tyler, a freshman at Ephrata High School. Starting at the age of four, Tyler would tag along with his dad helping to sweep floors or shovel snow at Friendship’s homes. Since then you will find Tyler working with volunteer groups helping to install decks, design landscaping and perform various other tasks. Tyler’s most significant contribution is Friendship’s benefit fest and auction held each May. He is an integral part of helping to make this day run smoothly for the one hundred thirty-five individuals living with disabilities and for whom these two day are all about. Most of Tyler’s work is behind the scenes - from maintenance duties to chicken barbecue tasks - Tyler is always willing and able to help out wherever he is needed. He has become a ‘favorite’ of fest stand holders and visitors alike! 2010 Church-of-the-Year
Neffsville Mennonite Church Neffsville Mennonite Church has been a long time partner with Friendship Community for providing opportunities for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In 1997, Friendship Community approached the Neffsville Mennonite Church regarding the possible use of its facility to host an activity night which was outgrowing its current site. The church graciously offered the use of its building and for the past 12 years has donated the use of its facilities and equipment for a Friendship Community activity night as well as the meeting place of the Friendship Community Family Support Fellowship meetings. Throughout the year, members of the church are also involved in Friendship activities: the Junior High Youth group hosts an annual activity for a December game night and several members help out Friendship by riding bicycle in the Dream Ride for Lancaster County. The church also is a faithful financial partner – several Sunday School classes share monthly financial gifts to the ministry of Friendship Community. At the end of the year the church matches these gifts – last year contributing a total of $2,600 to Friendship. The Neffsville Mennonite Church
also works to welcome and include people with disabilities in its
congregational life.
Currently
a group of six people with developmental and
intellectual disabilities, along with their caregivers, attend both
Sunday School and worship service.
The option of a special Sunday School class
is offered to this group. We are very grateful for this relationship and for the ministry of the Neffsville Mennonite Church to Friendship Community as well as the broader community. - Milt Stoltzfus |
