July 2017
Ready to Roll

Thrivent Delivers
Friendship and Flowers  

Baking cookies, wrapping flowers and packing gift bags was just the beginning of a very special afternoon. On June 27, fifteen employees from Thrivent participated in a volunteer service project with Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly.

Employee volunteers came together to deliver a little bit of joy, along with gift bags of fresh flowers and homemade cookies, to residents in Memory Care at Providence Place in South Minneapolis. Along with the special treats, volunteers shared friendly and caring conversation with the elders, including stories about family, trips they had taken and hobbies they enjoy. Lots of laughter could be heard and bright smiles seen on many faces - and not just because of the cookies! 
Here We Go

When the bingo game came out, the energy level rose even higher. Elders and volunteers alike were anxious to declare victory and shout, "bingo!" Many thanks to Thrivent and Christine Thompson for their partnership and ongoing support for our elders, and to Brett Collins for sharing information with us about Providence Place and the elders who live there. Together with partners like these and volunteers like you, we will end loneliness and isolation in our elder community.

If you would like to arrange a similar opportunity for your workplace or place of worship, please contact Ann Fosco.    
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Happy New Year!

July 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year for Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly. During fiscal year 2018, LBFE will be reaching out to new communities, sharing our story with potential volunteers and supporters. We know that the power of a visit from you, whether you are a Visiting Volunteer, Phone Companion or a Friendship and Flowers Visitor, can make an everlasting difference in an elder's life. In fact, one of our Elder Friends recently said, "My Visiting Volunteer helps me get through the day."   You can help us celebrate our new year by sharing your LBFE volunteer story!
  • Refer a friend to an LBFE Orientation. Help open doors to civic organizations, faith communities and retiree groups to which you belong.
  • Post your favorite LBFE moments and share posts from LBFE's Facebook page.
  • After every LBFE volunteer experience, access the Volunteer Engagement Report on our website, enter password  lbfe , report your time and share valuable information. All volunteers (Office Support, Bakers, Friendship and Flowers Visitors, Visiting Volunteers, Phone Companions, Drivers, etc.) should use this simple online system. Thank you for helping us monitor LBFE elders' well-being and ensure that together we deliver the best possible service.
Volunteer Satisfaction Survey

As the eyes and ears of LBFE in the community, your feedback on how we're doing is very important to us! Please take a few minutes to answer these 10 multiple choice questions and provide any additional comments. We will use your feedback to ensure we are providing you with the support you need to have the best volunteer experience possible. After all, if you feel supported your Elder Friend will too. Thank you!
Immediate Needs

Behind-the-Scenes with Friendship and Flowers:
If you love Excel spreadsheets this one is for you! Help coordinate all the logistics for deliveries to homebound elders. 

Match Coordinator : Be the go-between for new Visiting Volunteers and Elder Friends during the matching process. Use your sleuthing skills and figure out who belongs together. 

Elder Assessment Team: Outgoing and open-minded volunteers are wanted to meet with prospective Elder Friends in their home, apartment or facility. While enjoying conversation with the elder, you'll complete an LBFE in-take assessment form to determine program eligibility.

To learn more about these and other opportunities, contact Ann Fosco .
Fran and Nan
Selfie of the Month

By the smiles on their faces, you can see that Elder Friend Fran and Visiting Volunteer Nan had a great time at the Summer Sizzle Celebration! They feasted on barbeque ribs and chicken, enjoyed delicious cake prepared especially for the celebration, were serenaded by wonderful volunteer vocalists, and even hooked a new pair of socks in the "fishing pond." Fran, Nan and Fran's additional Visiting Volunteer Bob all left this very special celebration with full stomachs and full hearts.

What have you and your Elder Friend been up to? Send a quick email and attach your selfie.
Will you be the next Selfie of the Month?