WHO:

‍Friendship Retirement Community, in partnership with the Rescue Mission of Roanoke

‍WHAT:‍

A volunteer collaboration that is engaging Friendship residents with the Rescue Mission’s outreach, working to prepare meals for shelter guests, sort donated items, and decorate lunch bags.

‍WHEN:‍

Every 4^th Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (next volunteer day: Tuesday, July 25)

WHERE:‍

In the kitchen and donation center of the Rescue Mission, located at 402 4th Street, SE, Roanoke, VA 24013

‍WHY:‍

Friendship Retirement Community and the Rescue Mission of Roanoke are partnering by engaging seniors in a variety of volunteer activities. These include preparing meals, decorating paper bags for bagged lunches, and sorting donations that benefit the men, women, and children served by the Rescue Mission. Friendship has invited its residents to take part in this initiative to make a difference in the greater community.

Studies have shown that senior adults who volunteer in their community have better emotional health, higher physical activity, and greater physical health. In short, volunteering is a way of improving both health and society.

Eleven residents participated in the first on-site volunteer experience, held on June 27. It was a great success, with residents feeling energized by the difference they were able to make for those experiencing homelessness.

“Half of us prepared food in the kitchen, and half of us worked across the street in the building where they take donations, and we sorted shoes and hung up clothes,” explains resident Judy Bower. “It just made me very proud to live at Friendship.”

You are invited to come on-site for our next volunteer session, Tuesday, July 25 at 1:30 p.m. Please let us know if you’d like to line up interviews as part of your story.  

About Friendship

Friendship offers diverse senior living accommodations, award-winning care, new and innovative services as well as specialized rehab and therapy, to over 1,000 residents and patients.  The community opened its first building in 1966 and has grown to offer the full continuum of healthcare, including an adult day care center, home care services, pharmacy, salon, and Bistro ‘66, a full-service restaurant. Friendship is a world-class community where the needs of adults and rehabilitations patients of all ages are met within a caring community that inspires purpose in life. Visit friendship.us for more information.