Annette, I think you need to explain a little more about your climate there, where you guys live. I know now is far too late to be feeding sugar syrup, the bees are going into winter cluster and cannot process the syrup to a state where it does not cause too much moisture in the hive. The only option with us now for any kind of emergency feeding is white sugar or fondant. We can't feed liquid, that is just a bad thing. I think that you may not have that long winter clustering happening, your climate is very mild? I am correct? I am wrong? Anyways, I would go with what Michael has said, probably a fondant might work best. When you feed sugar (grandulated) to the colony, it can be placed anywhere in the hive. Look at Michael Bush's site, he even dumps tons of sugar right into the colony, if I am not mistaken, lots of it. Check it out, only takes a moment, hold on, I'll do that link to that part for you, hold on.....
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#drysugar . Go this page of Michael's, it is good.
What I have also done in the past, is place newspaper along the top of the frames, and then put granulated white sugar on it, we use Rogers up here, a common household product. The sugar also acts as a wick in that moisture is drawn from the hive into the sugar. KathyP also talks about it. Hoping all works out well with your pal and the bees. Keep us informed of what is going on. Beautiful days, to love, share, with greatest of health. Cindi