Apex Newcomers & Friends Club has been a pillar in the community since its inception in 1997. Initially created to help residents new to Apex navigate their surroundings and provide them with a social network, the club has since expanded to promote interest in local, civic, cultural and service programs, and assist the community through charitable efforts.
A Storied History
“When the group began as the Apex Newcomers Club, it was made up of a younger group of people who welcomed and acquainted new people to town,” said club secretary Bette Foster. “Many were young mothers. As they went back into the workforce, the demographics of the club changed. They started activity groups within the club – gardening, crafts, luncheons, a Bolivia card group – that we still enjoy.”
While no original members remain today, the club has certainly stayed active through the years. After launching several successful fundraisers, it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and officially changed its name to the Apex Newcomers & Friends Club in 2010. The club’s goodwill continues to be far-reaching. The group provides food, household and monetary donations for the Western Wake Crisis Ministry and also donates funds to CAPA (Citizens Helping Police in Apex), Horse & Buddy therapeutic riding program in New Hill, and the Apex Chamber of Commerce Book Bag Bonanza. Apex Newcomers & Friends Club also supplies the Raleigh branch of the United Service Organization (USO) with personal care items and neck pillows sewn by its members for military personnel.
The Ronald McDonald House in Durham is another beneficiary. Club members collect metallic pull tabs that are used to support the daily operations of the facility through a robust recycling program. The group also supplies Read and Feed in Wake County with individual packets of books and snacks for preschoolers.
“As these organizations have needs, we are there to fill those needs,” said Cheryl Byrne, the club’s incoming president. “If another organization has a cause and we can manage it, we will really get behind that cause. There are people in our community who are not going to make it without our charitable help.”
“It runs through the veins of everyone in the club,” she added. “All through the year, we are doing charitable things as well as social things. It’s an honor and tradition that we are taking friendship but also giving to charity.”
Caring and Sharing
Apex, which is home to 72,000 people, has always enjoyed a tight-knit, small-town feel, yet the coronavirus pandemic has led many individuals to curb the social activities they would normally enjoy, leading to feelings of isolation. Those who are new to Apex without any family nearby often experience feelings of loneliness. That’s when Apex Newcomers & Friends Club can help.
“We are an instant source of connection,” said Byrne, explaining that the club’s current members – most of whom are female – enjoy a strong spirit of camaraderie. “I can reach out to any one of them and say ‘I need help’ and know someone will be there for me.”
President Marie Hughes, whose term ends in May, is committed to attracting new members, including those who already have or are planning to relocate to Apex. “We want people to join who want to be active in the community. We appreciate their ideas and contributions,” she said.
Becoming a “Friend”
Apex Newcomers & Friends Club maintains a website at apexnewcomers.org and a Facebook page. It hosts general meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month (September through May) at the C.C. Jones Building at 309 Holleman Street. Meetings often feature guests who speak about important matters pertaining to Apex. Recent ones include the town’s new police chief Jason Armstrong and Brandy Sandler of the Apex United Methodist Church Prom Shoppe. Mayor Jacques Gilbert is scheduled to address the group on February 9.
Prospective members are welcome to try two visits to any function before joining. The annual nonrefundable dues are $25 per year plus a donation of $2 at each general meeting to help defray the cost of hospitality and building use. Couples can join Apex Newcomers & Friends Club for the price of one. Each general meeting features a door prize, and individuals who bring a friend receive two entries into the drawing. The club’s monthly newsletters are available on the website.
While Apex Newcomers & Friends Club currently hosts its general meetings in the morning, it is open to the idea of hosting one monthly meeting or “meetup” in the evening, especially for those who work during the day. It encourages Apex residents to take part in the group’s social activities – including a book club, book and puzzle exchange, art, dinners and luncheons out, game night, special events and day trips – and worthwhile charitable causes that benefit the community. The club also hopes to reinstate its annual auction, which was sidelined by the pandemic.
In all, there’s something for everyone at Apex Newcomers & Friends Club, which plans to celebrate its silver anniversary with a community event/fundraiser in March or April.
“What I’m most proud of is our sense of community. We’re so supportive,” Byrne explained. “Charitable giving is amazing, but what makes the club possible is the connection everyone has with each other.”
Learn more at apexnewcomers.org or email info@apexnewcomers.org.
