By Daniel Szemple
The Friendship Center is a safe, loving, inclusive community that promotes the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of adults marginalized by poverty and various mental health challenges and the well-being of all those who come to participate, to volunteer, to work, and to learn. Acting as an outreach of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church at 737 Woodland Avenue, the Friendship Center is currently serving 85 participants per program day, serving over 300 meals a week, clothing 35 people a week through our clothes closet, as well as hosting nearly a dozen recovery programs. Between the diverse selection of activities including art, gardening, yoga, bingo, and bread baking, participants manage to stay very busy year round.
In October, the Friendship Center participated in the national Mental Health Awareness Week sponsored by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). This included a four-mile NAMI Walk in Piedmont Park. The Friendship Center also participated in the Candlelight Vigil on the Decatur Square to bring attention to mental health issues within the community. In November, Friendship Center participants will celebrate the holiday season with art, community, and a Thanksgiving celebration.
While the Friendship Center is supported by a network of sister Episcopal parishes and community partnerships, Holy Comforter’s clergy (one priest and two deacons), a handful of interns, a small support staff, and more than 70 volunteers, they also ask for your support. Program days for the Friendship Center are held at Holy Comforter Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Worship services are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and Sunday mornings from 10:30am to 11:30am. All are welcome!
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