Commentary: Working together for old friends and loved ones

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The Old Friends Club, a respite program for those with memory loss and their caregivers, has found its initial Vashon home at the Presbyterian Church — and I wanted to share a bit about why we, as a church, have said yes to this program.

To collaborate with our community to meet shared needs, we’ve learned a lot about listening. Last summer, we were approached by a group of Vashon residents looking for a home for what they hoped would be the community’s first respite program. It didn’t take us long to join their efforts and begin to think and dream about how this might be realized.

Vashon is a community with a median age of 55, and most services for persons with memory loss and their caregivers are located off island. The need for support here was, and is, clear. We joined in dreaming and thinking and problem solving. The church has space and, more importantly, we love our community. So we said yes.

This fall, through the combined efforts of our church, the Vashon Care Network and the Vashon Senior Center, we will together launch a chapter of the Old Friends Club. This program has several chapters scattered throughout Western Washington, many with waiting lists. It will take place at the church on Wednesdays, starting on September 17, for five hours each week.

As we joined these efforts, we recognized the gift of partnership and of the constructive collaboration possible when human beings come together simply to do good. Bit by bit, pieces began to fall into place. At the right moment, the right people came forward to lead the program. When we wondered how we could afford it all, the money began to appear, much to the credit of the community.

The old model of church ministry had been to create programming and present it to the community. This is not only an outdated model but one that indicates a congregation not listening to its community. This community has said they need a respite program, and we are saying yes, we will help, and we will host.

Over the next month, our two experienced, passionate new co-coordinators, Monica Mann and Nancy Schoenfeld, will set the foundation for the Vashon Old Friends Club, a place of fun and friendship for adults with memory loss and a healthy break for their caregivers. Our prayers are that the space we create together will alleviate some of the challenges of caring for loved ones in cognitive decline.

As we move into fall, we will update the larger community about this program. If you are a caregiver of someone with cognitive challenges and want to learn more, please submit a Program Interest Form available on the Vashon Care Network website at vashonscarenetwork.org.

Volunteers are a key element of program success. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Lauretta Hyde at laurettahyde721@gmail.com.

Vashon is a strong community. We are delighted to say yes to this program and invite you to be a part of it.

Rev. Leigh Weber is the pastor of Vashon Presbyterian Church.