FHNN ANNUAL REPORT
Being in our eighth year of service, nonprofit Friendship Heights Neighbors Network is proud to report that we have proven our value to the Friendship Heights community. Our mission is to offer volunteer-based services specifically tailored to the 30% of Friendship Heights who are seniors aging in place.
All of our members participate in an array of educational and cultural events and activities, either via Zoom or in person at their buildings. They also have the opportunity for social gatherings and the chance to join affinity groups that meet regularly. FHNN believes, and our members agree, that these programs build community and combat social isolation and loneliness. Last year we had 411 events with an attendance of 3,280.
For members in need of services, most of whom are no longer capable of driving, FHNN volunteers provide rides for medical and other appointments, grocery shopping, and other supportive services. Having neighbors volunteering their assistance builds bonds that are meaningful to both parties. Last year we had 383 service requests and provided over 421 hours of service.
What did it take to organize this? Lots of administrative and management time – in fact, a whopping 3,057 hours of administrative service. That included program planning and production, volunteer training, accounting, fundraising, and so much more – by volunteers serving as building representatives or Board members or in other roles.
We should also mention the important partnerships that we established this year with Suburban Hospital and The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. Together, we developed critical programs on such topics as end-of-life planning, Alzheimer’s disease, OTC hearing aids, and vision issues as we age. FHNN made these online programs free and open to everyone as part of our mission to support seniors.
We also want to thank our staff for their dedicated service that makes FHNN’s success possible: Beth Beisel for Communications and Development, George Feise for Operations, and Louise Smoak for Programs.
Finally, we want to express our special gratitude to all of you – our 149 members, 83 volunteers, 19 sponsors, over 100 donors, and 3 staff – for helping us not just survive, but thrive!
Constance Row, FHNN President
June 11, 2023