COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ann Humphries gets help around the house and with car rides every week from a volunteer at The Friendship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping older adults lead healthy, independent, and active lives in their own homes and communities.
"This is a game changer," Humphries said.
Over time, Humphries' vision has diminished and a helping hand goes a long way for her.
"To teach us and to involve us. It's just a quality group and I love being a part of it," Humphries said.
She tells News 19 it's a highlight of her week.
"You just can get so isolated and I am an outgoing person. It's essential for me," Humphries said.
The Friendship is a non-profit based in Columbia that helps those older than 55 who live independently get some neighborly help.
"Coming out of the pandemic we're seeing that we can grow," Eleanor Stein, The Friendship services coordinator said.
Volunteers provide a drive to the grocery store or medical appointment, gardening, walking with members, or helping around the house or yard, maybe fixing a bird feeder.
"We've got applications on our waiting list for members, so we definitely need a couple, at least a volunteer for each new member that we bring onboard," Stein said.
Right now they're short on volunteers. Typically, they like to have three volunteers per member and right now, it's two volunteers per member.
Volunteers go through background checks, driving record checks and can help whenever is convenient with their schedule.
Dana Turner and Jane Blair are volunteers and founding members of the group.
They discovered the idea by looking through an AARP magazine reading about a "village" concept, so they brought it to Columbia eight years ago.
"For me, volunteering for The Friendship has been one of the most rewarding things that I've done in my lifetime. You get so much. We get more from the members than we give is my opinion," Turner said.
After all, everyone could use a neighborly hand and friend.
The Friendship's board of directors is considering fundraising to provide scholarships to those who can't afford the program in the future.
To learn more about volunteering, you can visit their website here, or their Facebook page here.