by Georgia Afton
On a warm autumn morning, Kay, 85, welcomed intern Angela and me into her home. She had a card ready for us to mail to her Phone Companion, Tom, who has been seriously ill. Kay wanted to make sure he knew she was thinking of him and how much his friendship means to her.
As we chatted, Kay drew our attention to the Little Free Library in her front yard. A retired librarian and avid reader, she proudly shared that Friends & Co staff member Christina Fairbanks helped her get it years ago. It was the first Little Free Library in the neighborhood, and Kay still enjoys watching local children stop by to borrow books.
What made an impression on us was how Kay remembered Christina’s help after all these years. The library remains a small but lasting source of connection for both Kay and her neighbors.
The visit also led to a possible new connection. My friend, Beth, who lives just a block away and shares Kay’s love of reading, is interested in becoming her Visiting Companion.
This is just one of the hundreds if not thousands of stories of the people we serve.
