Upcoming Barclay Friends Events
Sixth Annual Festival of Gardens
The Sixth Annual Festival of Gardens will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The private gardens toured this year will be in the neighborhood surrounding Barclay Friends in West Chester. A plant sale of uncommon plants will be held at Barclay Friends from 2-4 PM. Refreshments will be hosted and served by Barclay Friends family members. Tickets are not required for the plant sale and refreshments.
Tickets for the garden tour will be available in advance for $20 each or on the day of the event for $25 each. For additional information, please contact Shannon Heverin at 610-696-5211 extension 433. Shannon can also be reached by email at gardentour@bf.kendal.org. All proceeds from the Sixth Annual Festival of Gardens benefit the horticultural therapy program at Barclay Friends. You may also register or become a sponsor for the 6th Annual Festival of Gardens online. A preview of some of the gardens in the 6th Festival of Gardens are shown here. 
 
Resident Art Exhibit at the Exton Gallery
The 2010 Barclay Friends’ Resident Art Exhibit theme is “ Why Art is Necessary” to educate the public about what it looks like when seniors engage in the process of creating art and the many benefits our residents reap from this process. At the entrance to the art exhibit, there will be a large education board with a declaration about what our residents do in art classes at Barclay Friends and how the creation of art impacts them. As visitors move from section to section of the art exhibit, words like “Physical Benefits”, “Emotional Well-being”, “ Self Expression”, “Socialization”, and “Fine Motor” will be displayed among the resident art on display. Black and white photos of our residents will act as a visual story to the art display along with resident statements about their art creation experiences.
Barclay Friends’ residents are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase the art work they have created in their art classes as part of the Barclay Friends’ Cultivate the Arts program. The Art Exhibit will be held at the Chester County Art Association Gallery and Studio in the Exton Mall and will be open to the public from Saturday, November 6th through Tuesday, November 16th on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 7 PM. The Artists’ Opening will be held on Saturday, November 6th from 1-5 PM. The Gallery is located on the first floor of the Exton Mall between H&M and Boscov’s. We welcome families and friends to visit the gallery and to view our residents’ art work.
Recreation Calendars
The residents at Barclay Friends and their family members or friends are welcome to attend the recreation programs offered each month in the Woolman and Cotter buildings. To view the calendar for the residents in the Woolman building (residential living and assisted living), please open here. To view the calendar for the residents in the Cotter building (short-stay rehabilitation and nursing care), please open here.
Recent Barclay Friends Events
Horticultural Therapy Program Community Outreach
Barclay Friends' Horticultural Therapist and our Woolman Recreation Lead arranged for Barclay Friends to partnership with the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB) in the creation of four raised vegetable gardens in Sydney’s Garden at Barclay Friends in September 2010. The CCFB donated and helped to install the raised beds made of cypress wood (typically 12’ x 3’ x 16”) and donated the soil and the seeds. Each season Barclay Friends will plant the seeds, tend the vegetables, and deliver the harvested vegetables to the local food bank.
Once the beds are installed and the seeds planted, students from the Chester County Family Academy and their families can volunteer their time and labor tending the gardens in exchange for some of the harvest. Plans have also been developed to continue to engage the students with our residents for inter-generational programs in conjunction with this project. In addition, education programs will be provided to Barclay Friends residents and the Chester County Family Academy students and their family members on topics such as raised bed gardening, vegetable gardens, and other gardening topics by the Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. Please review the Chester County Food Bank website to learn more about their programs. To learn more about the Chester County Family Academy, please visit their website.
Barclay Friends 9th Annual Golf Classic
The 9th Annual Golf Classic was held on Monday, June 14th at Honeybrook Golf Club. Ninety-one golfers enjoyed the perfect weather and camaraderie on the links with their friends, family members, and co-workers. During the past nine years, the golf tournaments have raised well over $100,000 for the benefit of the Barclay Friends’ Caring Fund. The Caring Fund provides resident financial assistance as well as supports resident programs such as horticultural therapy and the creative arts. The Golf Classic is supported by a committee of dedicated volunteers who help plan and organize the event with the support of Barclay Friends staff. Barclay Friends is grateful for the generous support of the volunteers on the Golf Committee for this fund-raising event!
Family Spring Fling at Barclay Friends
The Barclay Friends’ Family Spring Fling held on Saturday, March 20th was a huge success as evidenced by the smiles and laughter from residents, families and staff! All attending enjoyed the exceptional musical talents of The Hagans Family Singers. The Dog Parade was also a highlight of the day for all and we sincerely thank the families and staff who brought their dogs for this event. Twenty dogs of all sizes and  breeds were in the parade for the pleasure of all to see and pet! Children were provided with numerous arts and crafts activities and the two balloon men made exciting balloon creations for children of all ages. With the pleasure of sampling popcorn, ice cream Belgium waffle sundaes, warm pretzels, and cookies, the day was complete!
Red Cross Blood Drive
The Wellness Committee at Barclay Friends sponsored a blood drive on March 1st from 1-7 PM with the Red Cross. The Red Cross brought their mobile donor vehicle to Barclay Friends for the blood drive and over 40 staff and members of the community donated blood. The Wellness Committee at Barclay Friends wishes to thank to all the volunteers for their participation!
Everyday, people suffering from cancer, sickle cell disease, and life-threatening injuries are in need of blood. Giving blood is one of the easiest and most important ways you can help people in your community. Our local hospitals order an average of 2,000 products each and every day. For the Red Cross, meeting the daily demand for blood while maintaining their ability to respond to an unexpected emergency is a constant challenge.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Two groups of volunteers came to Barclay Friends on Monday, January 18, 2010 to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Nine men and women employed by Vanguard in Malvern, Pennsylvania came to Barclay Friends to interact with our residents. They helped to reorganize the library, share computer skills and tips with interested residents, and brought numerous board games to share with our residents.
An inter-faith group of seven volunteers from West Chester Area religious organizations presented a memorable program for our residents.The program began with a sing-along of hymns. Then three residents, two staff members, and the seven volunteers each read a paragraph aloud from Martin Luther King’s April 3, 1969 speech titled “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top”. At the conclusion of the program, everyone joined hands and together sang “We Shall OverCome.”
Our residents, staff, and administrative personnel thank these groups for volunteering at Barclay Friends. If you are a member of a group that would like to volunteer at Barclay Friends, please contact Barclay Friends at 610-696-5211 and ask to speak to the Volunteer Coordinator.
11th Annual African Violet Show 
Barclay Friends' 11th Annual African Violet Show was held on February 11th. Twenty residents attended the display of African Violets submitted by eight residents. The program was designed to stimulate the senses and minds of the residents and the cultivation and variation of the African Violets on display was discussed. Paula, Barclay Friends' Horticultural Therapist, also demonstrated the care of African Violets including the propagation of the plants from leaf cuttings and division.
State Senator Andy Dinniman Presents State Certificates of Recognition to Barclay Friends' Residents
State Senator Andy Dinniman presented Senate Certificates of Recognition to honor all Barclay Friends’ residents who had reached the wonderful age of 90 years or older and to all residents who were veterans. Senator Dinniman personally greeted each resident as he presented his or her certificate of honor and had the opportunity to speak further with the residents after the presentation ceremony. Our residents thoroughly
enjoyed the event and the recognition for their achievements!
West Chester Friends School Students and Residents Enjoy Flower Arranging Program Together
The fourth grade class from the West Chester Friends School recently joined the residents of Barclay Friends in making flower arrangements during a floral arrangement program enjoyed by all in attendance. The children and residents worked together to make the floral arrangements from natural seed pods and cones along with a Dove of Peace made of beeswax. The arrangements were placed in vases to decorate the tables in the dining rooms and each child took an arrangement home with them as a gift from the residents.
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