On March 1, Quaker House of Fayetteville, N.C., welcomed Wayne Finegar as executive director. Finegar has been attending annual gatherings with Southeastern Yearly Meeting, Piedmont Friends Yearly Meeting and Fellowship, Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA), North Carolina Yearly Meeting–Conservative, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Palmetto Friends Fellowship, and North Carolina Fellowship of Friends.
The conflict in Ukraine has been the genesis of recent efforts, including sponsorship of rallies in Fayetteville in opposition to the war and in support of all victims of the conflict. Additionally, Quaker House has hosted online discussions and led a workshop at SAYMA for Friends who are discerning their understanding of the peace testimony in light of the conflict.
The GI Rights Hotline connects counselors with active-duty personnel calling from across the world. The number of calls has increased as active-duty members of the military re-consider their service with the Ukraine war. There continue to be conversations about how some might use COVID-19 vaccination refusal as a means of obtaining discharge.
With more and more people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, Quaker House’s free Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Moral Injury, and Post-Traumatic Stress Counseling Program has been able to return to in-person sessions for those who want it. The continued use of teletherapy that began with the pandemic shut down allows Quaker House’s licensed clinical social worker to have increased flexibility in scheduling.
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