After a really fun Saloon Night in March, Friends of the Soldiers Home volunteers participated in three additional events during the month — Happy Hour, Bowling Night and Jingo. At each activity, we had a fantastic time connecting with the wonderful veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. We also enjoyed seeing our fellow volunteers from the Nam Knights and Catholic University. April is young. To join us for some events this month — or in some other upcoming month — check out our calendar at friendsofsoldiers.org and express your interest in attending to Lori Lincoln at volunteerfriendsofsoldiers(at)gmail(dot)com.
Thank you Lori for these wonderful photos!
Once each week, Friends of the Soldiers Home organizes volunteers for the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington. On Thursday, Aug. 10 we played Happy Birthday Jingo and recognized the many birthdays being celebrated during the month. With the exception of one game, the lively crew at the back table took home all the money! Jingo always happens the second Thursday evening of each month. Our next game is Sept. 14 — mark it on your calendar and join us! Drop a line to 
Geography was the theme when Friends of the Soldiers Home volunteered for its monthly Jingo game this month. 
There was a feeling of nostalgia as Friends of the Soldiers Home volunteers gathered for their second event of 2017. That is because the first activity we ever volunteered at as an organization, way back in December 2011, was a Big Bucks Bingo event at the Soldiers Home. After that, we switched over to Jingo, not bingo, as one of the more-than-50 annual events at which we volunteer at the home. But here it was Jan. 12, 2017, and for the first time for us since that day in 2011, the game was Big Bucks Bingo! And we had a Blast at the event, which attracted a large crowd of residents and many winners. We will be back to Jingo next month at our regular second Thursday for that event, but this one-time diversion over to bingo was a great way to freshen up the routine.
It is always so rewarding to see the mix of people from the community who volunteer through Friends of the Soldiers Home. This month’s Jingo Night was characterized by many new volunteers and teens. There were teens Genesis, John and Khyra. There was Drew and Faerie and their kids. Faerie’s mom was visiting from Maine and she helped fold programs for the Veteran’s Day program. There was new volunteer Heather and her teen daughter Sabina. Thank you volunteers, you are the best! The men and women at the Home are the best, and you bring that to them.
(Cadets from the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy, who volunteered through Friends at the DCCX bike race, courtesy of In The Crosshairs and Bruce Buckley Photography.)
Note: Photo of cadets from the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy, who volunteered through Friends at the DCCX bike race, is courtesy of In The Crosshairs and Bruce Buckley Photography. All other photos of October events are by Reyn Anderson and John Hughes.
Friends of the Soldiers Home 