Today, Sunday, April 18, is the start of National Volunteer Week. The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond is powered by volunteers. We have a small staff of 2 full-time and 2 part-time employees. The rest of it runs on volunteer power. To celebrate and thank TSCOR’s many volunteers, we’ll be making a weeklong series of posts about what our volunteers do and the difference they make in our community. Happy National Volunteer Week, TSCOR volunteers!
This winter provided us with a case of cabin fever like no other (even snow in RVA doesn’t keep us housebound for so long). Thankfully spring has sprung and the travel committee has a blooming good reason for you to get out of the house. Find those sneakers and go with TSCOR on a guided walking tour of Shockoe Bottom! We’ll cover approximately twelve blocks – about 1.5 easy walking miles with no hills to climb. See Lumpkin’s Slave Jail, City Planation, Mason’s Hall, The Old Stone House and the Kanawha Canal Walk. As a special welcome back promotion, the tour is $15 for TSCOR members and non-members. So come on out, bring a friend and breathe some fresh spring air. See those friendly faces and interesting places in person!
A Walking Tour of Shockoe Bottom, Tuesday, May 11 at 10 am. See complete details here.
Register by Tuesday, May 4. Register and pay online here.
Spring doesn’t officially begin until Saturday, but we’ve already set our clocks up, the birds are singing and the daffodils are coming up, so what better way to help things along than by announcing the arrival of the spring Open University schedule?
Classes begin Monday, April 5. See the schedule here. Register online here.
And please take some time to share the Open University schedule with friends and family near and far. Let’s all spring forward together.
Hope you didn’t put those thinking caps too far out of reach, because OU starts this Monday, Jan. 18. To see the schedule visit tscor.org.
Lunch & Life begins the following week on Wednesday, Jan. 27, in order to allow everyone time to watch the presidential inauguration on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Monday is also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Perhaps it is fitting that OU begins in conjunction with this day as Dr. King valued education and believed in its importance for the individual and for society.
We hope to see you Monday at the OU!
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
We are sad to report that Erin Reibel, Lifelong Learning Coordinator for The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond, will be leaving us on Friday, Jan. 15 to accept a position with Union Presbyterian Seminary, where she will be leading innovation hubs for children’s spirituality research.
Erin would like all of you to know that she truly enjoyed her time working with everyone at TSCOR. And we would like Erin to know how much we value her contributions to Open University and Lunch & Life – especially during the pandemic. Our ability to continue these programs online is due in large part to her expertise, patience and perseverance.
Congratulations to Erin on her exciting new opportunity! We wish her all the best.
TSCOR wishes you all the joys of the season and good health and happiness throughout the coming year. “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie
“We’re all in this together.” Now where have you heard that recently? Well, from us, for starters – that was the first sentence of our annual appeal letter. And it rings true; clear as a bell. Especially now.
From free medical rides and grocery delivery for seniors to Friendly Callers; from Open University to Lunch & Life; from volunteers, clients, students, members, donors and supporters to staff, we’re all still here…together.
And that’s because our mission is just so appealing: “Older adults remaining active and independent through enrichment programs and volunteer service to their peers.”
So ring that bell and ring it loudly and with joy. See our Annual Report here. Make a donation here. Because we’re all in this together.
Enough with the difficult news. Enough with the bad news. Enough with the delayed packages. Here’s good news, before the holidays, delivered safely to your inbox. Read on and rejoice, fellow lifelong learners! See the Open University Winter 2021 schedule here. Register online here. And share this good news with family members and friends…there’s room for everyone on Zoom! See you at the OU!
TSCOR is one big family. A family comprised of volunteers – board members, committee members, instructors, speakers, drivers, friendly callers and grocery shoppers – as well as students, travelers, members, donors and supporters. We’re grateful to be able to call each and every one of you a part of the family and we’re thankful for the seat you occupy at the TSCOR table. May you and your family and friends – both near and far – have a beautiful Thanksgiving. 
“Smile! It’s Black Friday!”
“No it isn’t. It’s Monday before Thanksgiving.”
“Yes, I know, but this year the whole world is shopping online. Black Friday sales are already well under way.”
“Hold on. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet! It’s too soon to think about shopping! Didn’t we just discuss this in the newsletter?”
“It is not too soon! Stop dreaming about green bean casserole – there’s something very important you need to think about now.”
“Fine. I give. What’s so important?”
“That’s it exactly! That you GIVE!
“Give what? What are you talking about? I can’t think when I’m hungry!”
“I’m talking about how those hardworking Thanksgiving chefs aren’t solely focused on dinner – they’re also making gift lists and planning holiday shopping.”
“Say it ain’t so! If they’re not focused on the food, what’ll happen to the turkey!? The casseroles!? The pies!? What can I do?“
“Relax! There’s an easy fix – do some holiday shopping on AmazonSmile. It’s a program through Amazon that donates to your favorite charitable organization every time you shop – at no cost to you! (They donate 0.5% from every purchase!) It’s so easy! All you have to do is go to AmazonSmile, select The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond as the organization you want to receive donations, and shop! The chefs stay focused, Thanksgiving is saved, and your favorite local non-profit benefits – at one fell swoop. See? Easy-peasy.”
“Is it really that easy?”
“You bet your turkey sandwich it is!
“Phew! That was a close one! Boy, am I thankful for AmazonSmile!”
“Me, too! Which reminds me, we need to give ourselves something – a long walk! There’s a big meal coming up!”
“Okay, but…are you trying to tell me, ‘you get what you GIVE’ or ‘you get what you need?'”
“Who knows? That’s for another blog post to figure out…..”
…And while you’re on that Thanksgiving Zoom call, share this AmazonSmile info with your family and friends!
Happy Black Friday, everyone!!!
The Shepherd's Center Of Richmond 