Partnering with you for the future, a newsletter for all stakeholders. Missy Blankenship, Editor

1. Volume 1, Issue 1 Winter 2005/Spring 2006
Message from the President
Welcome to the first edition of Friendship’s newsletter!
We are excited to introduce our inaugural issue and hope that you will find it
informative and useful. You will discover that we have many exciting things going on
in rehabilitative services and our commercial division.
We are very proud of how far we have come since our humble beginnings in a
chicken hatchery over forty years ago! The support we have received from the local
community has enabled us to serve more people with disabilities and progress from
a sheltered workshop to a diverse not-for-profit business providing jobs for persons
with disabilities in mail services, packaging, light manufacturing, and more.
If there is a feature you would like to see in our newsletter, please contact us at 540-
434-9586 or News@Friendship-Industries.com. We look forward to your input.
Dave Flick, President
Katrina, Friendship: One Man’s Story
Accompanying a party of six from The Lake Charles is located near the Gulf of
Brethren Church’s Shenandoah Mexico. The hot weather was a bonus in
District Response Unit, our own “clean- December, “It was 85 degrees during
up expert” Warren Cooper traveled to the day and we went swimming after
Lake Charles, Louisiana for two weeks work”.
to help Hurricane Katrina victims clear
Warren is not finished with his Hurricane
brush and split wood.
story yet. He hopes to return for another
Many homes were destroyed by the two week clean-up effort soon.
hurricane. Warren found the
We are all very proud of Warren, his work
widespread damage hard to believe.
ethic, and the way he extends Friendship
Many local families lived in temporary
to those in need. Way to go, Warren!
FEMA trailers while working to rebuild
homes and community. Warren stayed By Laura Wine, Customer Service Rep
in a church parsonage during his visit. LauraWine@Friendship-Industries.com
People everywhere were warm and
appreciative of the volunteers.
Volunteering is hard work, but Warren
is not one to shy away from working
hard. Warren reported long workdays
but managed a little time for fun, too.
When asked about his favorite part,
he replied, “The Cajun food, meeting
nice people and holding a baby
alligator.”

2. Page 2
Commercial Operations News
As with many previous years, 2006 As for now, we are training clients
begins at a very slow pace. Most of and production staff in preparation
our customers are experiencing the for work on the horizon.
same slow periods in this time frame.
Charlie Meadows By Gina Miller, Production Supervisor
We are blessed with many clamshell GinaMiller@Friendship-Industries.com
Supported Employment packaging orders. We have several
Success Story new projects expected to begin late
February and run through the spring.
After nearly 18 years, Charlie
Meadows will begin a new job Manufacturing orders remain steady
in the community. Charlie which creates work for people on an
began working at Friendship in on-going basis. A new cutting table
July 1988 and has worked on has been purchased and set up for
end caps, palletizing, our new federal government contract.
polybagging, handwork, disk There are still some “bugs” to work
and CD packaging, bottles and out before it’s put into full production.
material handling. Recently
Charlie has provided cleaning
assistance and been respon-
sible for the office shredding.
“I like earning a paycheck and
I’ve got more confidence in
Rehabilitative Services News
myself now. Friendship taught
me that companies need
What We Do In Supported Employment
people to be reliable,
dependable, and to accurately
follow directions.”
While Charlie is excited about
his new position as a
Sally Kiser receives her 5-Year
merchandise sorter in a
Service Award from Hardee’s.
Harrisonburg retail store, he
will miss his friends and has
this advice, “just keep going
and work hard towards your
goal and you’ll get it.”
Supported Employment specializes in employer and recruitment services,
bringing dedicated employees Rehab Engineering solutions, and
together with progressive businesses. sensitivity training to staff, all at no
Friendship has been providing fee to the employer.
Supported Employment Services to
For more information about
Shenandoah Valley employers since
Supported Employment Services,
1988.
call Friendship at (540) 434-9536
Friendship’s Job Coaches work one- or visit our website at
on-one with persons with disabilities www.Friendship-Industries.com.
through the job application process,
interview process, and with job By Patricia Craft, HR Manager
HumanResources@Friendship-Industries.com
training, follow-up and support.
The Job Coach also respects the
employer’s bottom line, providing

3. Page 3
Development & Public Relations News
About Us LionShop & Share Program
Friendship Industries develops and
at (540) 434-9137 and providing
maintains employment and training
your name and card number or
opportunities for persons with
visiting the Food Lion website at
disabilities in integrated work
www.foodlion.com. Click on
environments.
“LionShop and Share” in the blue
Founded in 1964, Friendship is an Friendship Industries has enrolled box on the left, then select
Employment Services Organization, in Food Lion’s LionShop & Share “Register MVP Cards”.
a combination of a business program. This is an easy,
Remember to shop Food Lion and
enterprise and not-for-profit convenient way to support
scan your MVP card. This program
organization. We train persons Friendship! Each time you use your
doesn’t interfere with your MVP
with disabilities to place them in MVP card at Food Lion, a portion of
discounts and no MVP product has
jobs within the community. your total grocery purchase will be
to be purchased to participate.
donated to Friendship.
Friendship also trains and employs
Thank You!
people without disabilities to work Please help us by linking your MVP
side-by-side within our commercial card and shopping at Food Lion. By Missy Stover, Director of Development
operations as a unified, Link your MVP card by calling Missy MissyStover@Friendship-Industries.com
consolidated workforce. Stover in the Development Office
Yes, I would like to support Friendship’s mission of providing
employment and training opportunities to disabled persons with a
gift of ___$25 ___$50 ___$100 _____other.
Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone # ____________________ Email ______________________
Employer _____________________ Job Title
My employer will match my gift!

4. NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 161
HARRISONBURG, VA
North Pointe Corporate Center
801 Friendship Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540.434-9586
800.777.9586 Toll Free
ContactUs@Friendship-Industries.com
eb
the W com
tries.
on
We’re us
-Ind
dship
rien
ww.F
w
Putting Friendship to work for you!
To receive this newsletter via email and help us save valuable resources,
please call (540) 434-9586 or email us at News@Friendship-Industries.com.
Friendship Industries develops and maintains
employment and training opportunities
for persons with disabilities
in integrated work environments.