Friendship Haven

Today, on this 159th anniversary of the first Juneteenth, we recognize and commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

Do you know the story of ? Learn more and join in the celebration with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture: nmaahc.si.edu/Juneteenth

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
- Luke 15:20

💚 Happy Father's Day from all of us at Friendship Haven. 💚

When Denise Halverson transitioned from her previous role to her current one as Director of Spiritual Care, she had a goal: Become a licensed chaplain.

We are proud to celebrate the fact that Denise has achieved her goal! She has earned an International Fellowship of Chaplains license. One more way that she helps our residents and team live full lives with , , and .

We're so proud of you, Denise!


Fort Dodge Messenger

Friendship Haven’s Halverson now licensed chaplain Denise Halverson, director of spiritual care at Friendship Haven, is now a licensed chaplain. She joined the staff in 2016 as the director of engagement. Less than one year ago, Halverson embraced a new role as the director of spiritual care. Earning an International Fellowship of Chaplains license....

Today's of the Friendship Haven Times is a note from our "Head Coach" CEO/President, Julie Thorson.

My husband, Tjeran, and I have a running joke where every year we talk about how fast the month of May is. We will look at our weekend schedules and often become a bit overwhelmed by all the activities. Graduation parties, cookouts, maybe a wedding, and of course the weather will finally be nice enough to play golf. And now, already, it’s over!

It’s our favorite time of the year. New beginnings and recognizing new chapters in life. These days I smile a lot when I read graduation cards. Congratulations of course is the most popular phrase, but other cards have encouraging phrases like “dream big” (one of my personal favorites), “you did it”, “the best is yet to come”. All hopeful phrases to prepare students for life after high school or college.

As you read through this issue of the Friendship Haven Times you will learn about many transitions in life. Certainly, milestones are worth celebrating. We believe in celebrating at Friendship Haven! Our guiding values are to respect, encourage, celebrate, and learn. We celebrate often around here. The next few pages will highlight some big accomplishments but it’s important to remember to celebrate every single day. Whether it’s a birthday or learning a new skill, there is always a reason to celebrate.

Practicing an attitude of gratitude is something we talk about often. Being grateful for small wins is an important mindset. Celebrating isn’t a one and done practice. To celebrate is to honor, appreciate, and recognize each other. We don’t need to wait for specific dates on the calendar to do any of these.

We congratulate and celebrate our residents, team members, and families 365 days of each year. Some days may have a bigger bang but each day we are here with each other calls for a celebration.

Thank you for being a part of the Friendship Haven family. We appreciate your curiosity, support, and encouragement. Enjoy this issue of The Friendship Haven Times and don’t wait for a date on the calendar to tell those who have made a difference in your life how much you appreciate them and how proud you are of them.

To sign up to receive the Friendship Haven Times, please click here: https://www.friendshiphaven.org/about-us/newsletter/

Happy !

That's right; we're celebrating! Miss Casey's Donut Delights will be outside the bird door entrance on the Friendship Haven campus with delights.

"Mmm... Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?!"

They saved the world.

On this, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we express our utmost gratitude.

They saved the world.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

For more information on the day the Allies landed in Europe, in defense of democracy and freedom, please visit The National WWII Museum's website:
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/d-day-allies-invade-europe

📷: "Troops and crewmen aboard a Coast Guard manned LCVP as it approaches a Normandy beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Photograph from the U.S. Coast Guard Collection in the U.S. National Archives."

We absolutely agree.

This June, during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, we celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Alzheimer’s community. Join us! alz.org/abam

At Friendship Haven, we’re all about celebrating. And what better time of year to celebrate our numerous graduations?

Every Sunday for the next three months, we’ll be hearing about all of the graduation stories that surround us every single day. Whether you’re graduating high school, graduating career-wise by becoming a Registered Nurse, or graduating from the fight of your life to go home to your family, Friendship Haven is full of inspirational stories about the celebration that happens once you’ve achieved your goals.

So sit back and enjoy this season’s Friendship Haven Times - and once you’re done, feel free to share with someone who might need some inspiration.

To sign up to receive the Friendship Haven Times, please click here: https://www.friendshiphaven.org/about-us/newsletter/

Congratulations to the 2024 graduates of Fort Dodge Senior High School!

We're happy to also share that several graduates were awarded scholarships from Friendship Haven, including the folks pictured here. We're proud of you all.

at Friendship Haven is vibrant and full of joy. Residents enjoy the colorful gardens, walking the campus, and fun outdoor activities. The sparkling pool is perfect for refreshing swims, while ice cream socials and visits from various groups create a lively atmosphere. With engaging activities and friendly neighbors, summer here is a blend of relaxation, recreation, and .

The June Update is in your inboxes today! 🕶☀️⛱

Didn't get it? Make sure you're signed up to receive it by filling out the brief form on our website here: https://www.friendshiphaven.org/about-us/newsletter/

To our team members, thank you for your commitment to excellence. We are so proud of all that you have accomplished. You make Friendship Haven an incredible place to work. Happy June work anniversary to all of you!

Every month, the ! Committee* and Life Enrichment host opportunities for all of us here at to have some fun. We encourage team members and residents to join in, take photos, and indulge in a little .

This month’s opportunities are:
🎟 Frontier Days Parade - Saturday, June 1 - Parade starts at 10 am
🍩 National Donut Day - Friday, June 7 - Miss Casey's Donut Delights will be here from 7 am to 12 noon at the bird door entrance
💈 Barbershop Quartet - Saturday, June 8 - We'll be bussing residents to St. Edmond Catholic School's auditorium at 3:15 pm
🌼 Garden Parties - Thursday, June 13 - From 3-4 pm, residents all over campus will enjoy fun in the sun
🇺🇸 Flag Day Bingo - Friday, June 14 - At 1:30 pm, we'll be celebrating with a rousing game of
🎺 Karl King Band Concerts - Sunday evenings in June & July - We'll be bussing residents to the Oleson Park Bandshell at 6:45 pm

*Yes, we have a FUN! Committee. If you'd like to join our team and have a little fun yourself, please apply at https://www.friendshiphaven.org/careers/

We're back up!
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

EDIT: We're back up! Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Frontier Communications phone lines are down, and we don't know how long they will be down.

During this time, in case of an emergency, please reach Friendship Haven at this cell phone number: 515.570.1961.

We will update as more information becomes available.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

It's festival time!

If you're visiting the Friendship Haven campus this weekend, you may notice a bit more activity to our west.

That's because our neighbors The Fort Museum and Frontier Village are hosting the annual Frontier Days!

We'll be joining in the fun tomorrow morning at the parade down Central Ave, so make sure to be on the lookout for us. Then afterwards, check out the festival.

To the Frontier Days visitors, welcome! If you like what you see to the east, let us know if you'd like to get a personalized tour of the campus. We'd love to show you around!

Who loves ?
(all of our hands are raised)
A week from today (Friday, June 7), Miss Casey's Donut Delights will be here from 7 am to 12 noon on the Friendship Haven campus to celebrate .