Category: Team Members

Friendship Community 5K Run, Walk & Wheel for Capabilities

Thank you for your interest in this 5K and for supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism!

WHO: You! Runners, walkers, and wheelers of all ages. Gather your family, friends and co-workers. A great run for a great cause!

WHAT: The Friendship Community 5K Run, Walk & Wheel for Capabilities. Friendship Community is a Christian ministry cultivating capabilities of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties of south central Pennsylvania since 1972.

WHEN: Saturday, May 8, 2021• 7:00 a.m. – Check-In/Day of Registration begins• 8:00 a.m. – 5K Run, Walk & Wheel begins• 9:00 a.m. (approx.) – Award Presentation immediately following 5K

WHERE: Friendship Community – Corporate Office, 1149 East Oregon Road Lititz, PA 17543. Free Parking. The course will loop through Landis Homes and finish back at the starting line. Off busy public roads, ¼ mile - grass, 1 mile - packed fine gravel, remaining route – paved. Course Map . Alternate optional 1 mile paved course for walkers/wheelers.

WHY: FREE t-shirt (if reg. by 4/16, after that while supplies last), FREE Parking, Low Entry Fee, Safe Course - off busy roads, benefits Individuals with Intellectual Disability & Autism, and a LOT of fun!

Donations and Stretches and Prizes, Oh My!

Over the past few weeks, you have met some of the Individuals supported by Friendship Community and you have read their inspirational stories.

Now you are ready to make a difference in their lives. But how do you do that? What happens next?

First things first. To make a donation, watch this video (https://www.extragive.org/info/how-to-donate-videos) for step by step instructions. Also, set your alarm clock! Friday, November 20 is just around the corner!

Then what happens to your gift? Your donation amount will be added to an overall “stretch pool”, a “pool” of funds from the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF), presenting event sponsors Rodgers & Associates and the High Foundation and other community supporters. Friendship Community will receive a pro-rated portion of said pool (*based on how much money is raised in total donations). For example, if Friendship Community receives 10% of the total donations raised by all organizations participating in the ExtraGive, then we will receive 10% of the stretch pool on top of the original amount raised.

Also, when you make a gift during specific hours, Friendship Community can win additional prizes and awards! You, as the donor, don’t need to do anything beyond giving your financial support; members from LCCF and GiveGab (the online giving platform) will randomly choose organizations like Friendship Community throughout the 24 hours for prizes in a variety of categories. You can even divide your gift into smaller amounts throughout the day for more opportunities to win more prizes! Check out the specific hours and prize amounts here: https://www.extragive.org/prizes.

If you have any questions about your donations, do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the Development Team. You can email (development@friendshipcommunity.net) or call (717-656-2466).

Remember, when you give extra, EXTRAORDINARY things happen!

Thank you for your support of Friendship Community!

~Becky

Tonight, they’re eating baked chicken, peas and sweet potatoes for dinner. Smells good, doesn’t it? But, what may seem to be a simple dinner is actually the culmination of in-depth conversations and decision-making processes. See for Ed, Don and the other Individuals at Ed’s home, this dinner really started a week ago, if not longer.

The housemates sat down together at the kitchen table and planned out their breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the week. With the help of Don, they talked about nutritiously-balanced meals and healthy snack options. They looked through the grocery store circulars and created their shopping list. Prior to COVID-19, they would go grocery shopping together as a unit. What is often a mundane task for some is actually a learning opportunity and social outing for others.

With your gift of $227, you can provide Ed and his housemates not only a week’s worth of groceries, but more importantly, crucial opportunities to learn valuable life skills and be accepted as responsible members of the greater community.

Jen is a Heart Artist who has been crafting beautifully delicate jewelry and painting sophisticated landscapes since 2015. She is a detail-oriented painter and enjoys mixing her own colors to accomplish the perfect hue.

Jen is also very social in the Studio and will charismatically greet fellow artists with kind words and a gentle smile. She has sold many pieces in the Gallery during her tenure and feels an extreme sense of pride as a professional artist when each creation is wrapped up and transported to its new home.

With your gift of $186, you can provide Jen and other Heart Artists with essential art supplies and materials needed to continue expressing their capabilities while promoting financial responsibility and encouraging self-worth, free expression and collaboration.

When these four Individuals moved into their residential home, they became part of Friendship Community – a close-knit team of family, friends and Team Members ready to uphold and promote each Individual’s basic human needs as well as every-day values. Friendship Community’s four Pillars of Culture – Communication, Collaboration, Competency and Respect – are used to ensure Individuals’ rights (including health and safety), stability and partnerships are being routinely met.

As an essential, life-sustaining, non-profit organization, Friendship Community strives for a comfortable home environment, but must adhere to both federal and state rules and regulations. For example, in addition to attending job-specific trainings and required in-services, Team Members must also be certified in First Aid and CPR every 2 years.

With your gift of $91, you can provide that mandatory training to certify two Team Members in both First Aid and CPR therefore allowing Friendship Community to continue its high standards of quality care and services.