We are pleased to report that the 2009 fund-raising barbecue at The Salt Lick restaurant, in Driftwood, Texas, was a huge success! We had wonderful silent and live auction items and great attendance and support from the community.

We are eagerly anticipating the 2010 BBQ at The Salt Lick to be held Thursday, October 7, 2010. For information on becoming a sponsor or purchasing tickets for the event, please contact Patti Clark at 894-0756 or e-mail info@thefriendsfoundation.org.


Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Our Daily Bread Program
Butterflies are Free Program
KXAN "Make a Difference" Award
Philips Lifeline MediAlert Program
Books on Tape/Talking Books Program
American Red Cross of Central Texas 2009 Heroes of the Year


Certified Nursing Assistant Program
The Friends Foundation and the Hill Country Care Nursing Home administrator have worked together with Dripping Springs I.S.D. Superintendent and Community Education Director for D.S.I.S.D., to establish a community education course. The course is a complete training course for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA's). The course will be offered to high school seniors and citizens in the Dripping Springs area. Course participants will complete 29 hours of classroom instruction and then 50 hours of on-the-job training at Hill Country Care Nursing Home. Successful completion of the course will entitle a student to a CNA certification by the state of Texas. Classes will form when a sufficient number of students sign up for the course.

The Friends Foundation will absorb all costs so students can attend at no charge. In addition, students will be paid an hourly wage by Hill Country Care during the 50 on the job training hours. Classes will probably be in the evening hours. For more information, please call Tamara Moore at 512-858-5624.

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Our Daily Bread Program
In April 2006, The Friends Foundation began a hot meal service to home bound elderly in the greater Dripping Springs Community. We started with service to 2 clients in May 2006 and we now provide meal service to 30 clients. The Friends Foundation delivers meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The nutritious meals are prepared by Joyce Smith and her kitchen staff at Hill Country Care Rehab and Nursing Center and delivered by volunteers in the community. Donations are accepted for the program, but there is no charge for the meals. If you need meal service or know of someone who does or you would like to volunteer to deliver meals, please contact Patti Clark via phone at 894-0756 or e-mail at pandhclark@aol.com.

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Butterflies are Free Program
Hill Country Care has established a special program entitled "Butterflies are Free", underwritten by The Friends Foundation, for residents who are at or nearing the end of their lives. The sole purpose of this program is to provide comfort and dignity to those residents so that their end of life experience is pain free, is as comfortable as possible, and honors the wishes of the resident. This includes providing comfort to the family as well. Please contact Tamara Moore, the administrator of Hill Country Care, at 858-5624.

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KXAN "Make a Difference" Award
The Friends Foundation has just learned that its new home delivery meal program, Our Daily Bread, was nominated and selected to receive KXAN NBC Austin's Make a Difference Award. KXAN Community Advisory Board selected Our Daily Bread as the recipent of a generous grant as a part of the award. The grant of $2,500 will be used to support our program delivering hot meals to elderly shut-ins in our community. We are very honored to receive this award and recognition. Thank you, KXAN

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Philips Lifeline MediAlert Program
The Friends Foundation's research has indicated that a significant number of seniors in the area live alone, or under circumstances that could leave them unable to summon help by usual means. A fall or sudden medical condition can leave them unable to get to a phone. The medical alert buttons provide a method for reaching help by simply pushing a button on a communication device worn at all times as a necklace or clipped to clothing. It will provide peace of mind for the seniors as well as their family members. If you need the medical alert device or know of someone who does, please contact Patti Clark via phone at 512-894-0756 or e-mail at pandhclark@aol.com.

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Friends Foundation Fundraiser
The Friends Foundation is pleased to partner with Steve Cothen for the Sale of Reclaimed Eco-Friendly Firewood in the Dripping Springs area to help provide care and comfort to the elderly . "Our Daily Bread" is a hot, home  meal deliverly the Friends Foundation provides to the homebound elderly in the greater Dripping Springs area. 100 % of the proceeds are donated to supporting the elderly. Deliverly is available. Please call Steve Cothen to order firewood, 512-422-4298, and please thank him for his service to the community.
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Books on Tape/Talking Books Program
The Friends Foundation will be partnering with the Texas State Library to bring Book on Tape to home bound elderly in the greater Dripping Springs community. Many of our community's elderly are home bound and not able to visit the community or have failing eyesight is failing and not be able to read for pleasure as the once could. Our program will provide a cassette recorder loaned through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission with Books on Tape delivered to the home bound elderly.  

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American Red Cross of Central Texas 2009 Heroes of the Year Award
The American Red Cross has been a hero to so many people. It was quite an honor when the Friends Foundation received the American Red Cross of Central Texas 2009 Heroes of the Year Award. The Foundation was honored at an award ceremony on March 25, 2009 at Benihana,s Restaurant in Austin, Texas. Visit the Red Cross' website at: www.centex.redcross.org/events/heroes.php or watch the vedio on Channel 8 at http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/?SecID=278&ArID=234984. Thank you, American Red Cross of Central Texas.