Friendship Manor Needs Funds - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Friendship Manor Needs Funds

By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com

Friendship Manor has been serving Rock Island seniors for nearly 35 years.  And now, the non-profit's leaders are going public with a campaign to raise money.

"We decided to launch our campaign publicly to kind of ask the community to give us a nice push down the homeward side of the hill," said Jeff Condit, the development director at Friendship Manor.

Leaders at Friendship Manor said the campaign is necessary at this point in time.

That's because the baby boomer generation is coming to retirement age in droves.

"We're just at an odd time in our society where we've got lots of seniors coming our way with lots of needs and not enough resources to take care of them," said Condit.

The plan is divided into seven projects, dealing with different aspects of the center that need improvement.

One of the projects focuses on helping seniors with memory problems, which staff said is the biggest issue for seniors today.

"We're doing our best to try to slow down memory loss, recover it if possible, and then protect and just care for them when that need arises," said Condit.

Other parts of the plan include expanding adult day care and finishing a long overdue roofing project.

A lot of money is still needed, but staff is confident folks will step up to the plate.

"We like to think we're a jewel here in this corner of Rock Island, and we're hoping the community sees us as that jewel and says yes, our community is better with Friendship Manor there, whether I need their services or not, but I just might need them some day," said Condit.