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Bensalem Lions donate to BCABVI

May 17, 2013 By
BCABVI

 

Bensalem Lions have generously donated $2,000 for a steam table to be used for client food services at Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. BCABVI provides a nutritious lunch for all clients who participate in their support groups and center-based activities.

Pictured from left are Anne Marie Hyer (Executive Director of BCABVI), Marc Winokur (Bensalem Lion), Karen Eleuteri (Food Services Manager and Activities Coordinator of BCABVI), and Ken Moore (Bensalem Lion and BCABVI Board Member).

The Bensalem Lions generate much of their funding from their weekly participation and sales at the flea market on Saturdays, re-opening in May at the Armstrong Middle School in Bensalem.

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Filed Under: Southampton Spirit News Tagged With: , , ,

KTP FUND donates to Contact

April 24, 2013 By

The Keith Thomas Perrymore Fund (KTP Fund) recently donated $8,000 to Contact Greater Philadelphia to help in providing training to Crisis Line volunteers. The KTP Fund was established to keep alive the memory and spirit of Keith Perrymore, a 27-year-old who died tragically in the fall of 2002.

The KTP Fund seeks to financially assist local organizations dedicated to providing research, education and raising community awareness on a variety of issues, including suicide.

Contact is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide those in distress with free, compassionate, and confidential listening while offering a connection to resources and referral services in order to provide them with the tools and encouragement to re-take control of their lives.

Contact provides free and confidential telephone-based crisis and suicide hotline services to all in need, including assessment of suicidal lethality and dispatching life-saving intervention, where appropriate.

[Read more...]

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Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP

March 15, 2013 By
Brandi Hellyer

 

by June Portnoy

Brandi Hellyer, 12, of Langhorne, recently collected and then donated 10 boxes of crafts to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). 

The donation was the culmination of Brandi’s Third Annual Craft Drive for CHOP, a fundraiser established three years ago by Brandi and her mother, Wendy, after Brandi underwent a serious surgical procedure at CHOP.

Brandi suffers from cholesteatoma, a chronic condition consisting of abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum.  After undergoing mastoid surgery to remove a skin cyst from her ear, Brandi developed a brain infection, which required emergency surgery.

“The doctor at CHOP gave Brandi a 50% chance of surviving from the surgery,” said Brandi’s mother, describing the severity of this procedure. 

Fortunately, the surgery, which took over three hours to complete, was successful.  Despite the relief of surviving the surgery, Brandi was terrified during her recovery at CHOP. 

“Whenever a team of doctors came into her room to evaluate her progress, she began screaming,” said Brandi’s mother.

The doctors wanted her to get out of bed and walk around the unit, but she was too frightened to leave her room.

It was thanks to Andrea Brandt, a Child Life Specialist working on Brandi’s Pediatric ICU Unit, that Brandi began to relax.  Andrea asked Brandi what she could do to help her become more comfortable during her hospital stay.

Brandi’s first request was a weaving loom, which Andrea immediately located and brought to Brandi, so they could weave together.  After that, Andrea searched for any craft she could find for Brandi, such as paints, beads and friendship bracelets.  

“Doing crafts with Andrea was a great distraction for me,” said Brandi.  “It took my mind off of being in the hospital and helped me feel more comfortable.”

Andrea and Brandi did crafts together in Brandi’s room for about five days until she was ready to leave her room and go into the playroom.

“Once there, I was able to choose more crafts and that made my stay at the hospital even more enjoyable,” said Brandi.

When Brandi finally returned home, she and her mother talked about doing something to help the children at CHOP.  They both agreed that they wanted to establish a craft fundraiser for CHOP.

“Now that I knew firsthand what these kids in the hospital were going through, I wanted to help them feel better by giving them crafts so they would feel less nervous,” said Brandi.

Brandi and her mother approached Principal Stephanie Miguelez and Guidance Counselor Carrie Lenahan at Pearl Buck Elementary School, where Brandi attended fourth grade at the time.  They proposed holding their fundraiser at the school, and the school administrators were very receptive of their idea.

Carrie created flyers to distribute throughout Pearl Buck asking students to donate crafts for CHOP.

“Every day Mrs. Lenahan asked me to help organize the boxes and decorate them,” said Brandi.

The first year, Brandi and her mom collected three boxes of crafts that they delivered to Andrea at CHOP, who according to Brandi’s mother was genuinely appreciative and thankful for their effort.  The second year, Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP collected six boxes of crafts.

Although Brandi now attends sixth grade at Maple Point Middle School, Pearl Buck Elementary School continues to host Brandi’s fundraiser.

“This year, our goal was to collect nine boxes of crafts, and we exceeded that goal,” said Brandi’s mother.

“It makes me feel good knowing I am doing something to help kids at CHOP feel better while they recover,” said Brandi, who hopes to ultimately work as a nurse at CHOP.

In the meantime, she plans to continue holding her annual fundraiser. 

Although Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP has been held from mid-December through the end of January the past three years, it will now be held year-round.  Therefore, if you have a new or gently used craft that you would like to donate to this worthy cause, contact Wendy Hellyer at hellyers5@verizon.net.

You too can help make a child’s hospital stay at CHOP more pleasant.

PHOTO CAP: Brandi Hellyer with donated items for CHOP

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Filed Under: Langhorne Ledger News Tagged With: , , , ,

‘Clutter Connection’ – Yardley teen helps kids in need

March 11, 2013 By
Alexa Cohen

 

Thousands of children in the Philadelphia area don’t have the luxury of getting the clothes, books or toys that they need. One Yardley teen is helping to change that.

Alexa Cohen, a freshman at Pennsbury High School, is collecting gently used clothing, books and toys to distribute to disadvantaged kids – and her efforts are making a big impact on kids in the region.

It all started simply enough. While cleaning out closets, Alexa noticed there were lots of things she no longer used that were still as good as new.

Hating to be “wasteful,” and realizing the items could help other kids, she did some research to find organizations that would take the items to distribute to kids that really needed them.

Finding organizations willing to take used items, rather than new ones or monetary donations, wasn’t as easy as she thought – especially finding ones that would give the donated items directly to needy kids rather than selling them. But once she found the types of organizations she was looking for, she knew friends and neighbors would also have items they no longer used that could help these kids.

All she needed to do was ask.

Alexa distributed flyers, texted and sent emails asking for donations – and the response was overwhelming. Her garage filled up quickly and it took multiple trips in her mom’s SUV to transport the clothing, shoes, books and toys she collected. People were actually thanking her for finding a good “home” for their discarded stuff!

She combed through donations to make sure items were directed to organizations that could actually use them. Most of the clothing, books and toys went to Cradles to Crayons, a local non-profit organization that provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. 

Items they couldn’t use, such as stuffed animals, DVDs or holiday-themed books, were separated to give to other organizations that could provide a new home for them. 

Alexa also began volunteering her time at Cradles to Crayons. During her first visit, the coordinator explained how each item was personally inspected and chosen for a particular child that wouldn’t otherwise have the items they needed.

Although the warehouse appeared to be filled with donations, she learned that there were some items that they simply couldn’t get enough of to meet demand. Some children couldn’t get a pair of winter boots because there weren’t enough to meet the need.

Clothing for older boys was in short supply, so putting together a “Kid Pack” of outfits, enough to clothe a child for a week, was difficult. New sock and underwear donations only provided each child with three pairs, needed to last a week. Learning more about the growing need made Alexa want to do more to help.

Alexa’s continuing efforts, which she is calling “Clutter Connection,” are now focused on spreading the word so that more donations can be collected. She has contacted schools in the area, asking them to get involved. She’s received some positive responses and one school has already scheduled a school-wide donation drive.

She is also hoping to find a local business willing to accept donations of gently used items, since logistics is proving to be a bit of a problem when she gets offers of donations from people she doesn’t know. 

“It’s crazy how many kids don’t have the basic things many of us just take for granted,” explains Alexa. “I know there are lots of people in our area that have items they no longer use that could help these kids. I’m just trying to find a way to connect people’s unneeded items with kids that really need them.”

For more information about Clutter Connection, or to join Alexa’s efforts, visit her website at http://clutterconnection.org.

PHOTO CAP: Alexa Cohen

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Filed Under: Morrisville Times News Tagged With: , , , , ,

‘Clutter Connection’ – Yardley teen helps kids in need

March 10, 2013 By

Thousands of children in the Philadelphia area don’t have the luxury of getting the clothes, books or toys that they need.  One Yardley teen is helping to change that.

Alexa Cohen, a freshman at Pennsbury High School, is collecting gently used clothing, books and toys to distribute to disadvantaged kids – and her efforts are making a big impact on kids in the region.

It all started simply enough. While cleaning out closets, Alexa noticed there were lots of things she no longer used that were still as good as new. Hating to be “wasteful,” and realizing the items could help other kids, she did some research to find organizations that would take the items to distribute to kids that really needed them.

Finding organizations willing to take used items, rather than new ones or monetary donations, wasn’t as easy as she thought – especially finding ones that would give the donated items directly to needy kids rather than selling them. But once she found the types of organizations she was looking for, she knew friends and neighbors would also have items they no longer used that could help these kids.

All she needed to do was ask.

Alexa distributed flyers, texted and sent emails asking for donations – and the response was overwhelming. Her garage filled up quickly and it took multiple trips in her mom’s SUV to transport the clothing, shoes, books and toys she collected. People were actually thanking her for finding a good “home” for their discarded stuff!

She combed through donations to make sure items were directed to organizations that could actually use them. Most of the clothing, books and toys went to Cradles to Crayons, a local non-profit organization that provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. 

Items they couldn’t use, such as stuffed animals, DVDs or holiday-themed books, were separated to give to other organizations that could provide a new home for them. 

Alexa also began volunteering her time at Cradles to Crayons. During her first visit, the coordinator explained how each item was personally inspected and chosen for a particular child that wouldn’t otherwise have the items they needed.

Although the warehouse appeared to be filled with donations, she learned that there were some items that they simply couldn’t get enough of to meet demand. Some children couldn’t get a pair of winter boots because there weren’t enough to meet the need.

Clothing for older boys was in short supply, so putting together a “Kid Pack” of outfits, enough to clothe a child for a week, was difficult. New sock and underwear donations only provided each child with three pairs, needed to last a week.

Learning more about the growing need made Alexa want to do more to help.

Alexa’s continuing efforts, which she is calling “Clutter Connection,” are now focused on spreading the word so that more donations can be collected. She has contacted schools in the area, asking them to get involved.  She’s received some positive responses and one school has already scheduled a school-wide donation drive.

She is also hoping to find a local business willing to accept donations of gently used items, since logistics is proving to be a bit of a problem when she gets offers of donations from people she doesn’t know. 

“It’s crazy how many kids don’t have the basic things many of us just take for granted,” explains Alexa. “I know there are lots of people in our area that have items they no longer use that could help these kids. I’m just trying to find a way to connect people’s unneeded items with kids that really need them.”

For more information about Clutter Connection, or to join Alexa’s efforts, visit her website at http://clutterconnection.org.

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Filed Under: Yardley Voice News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP

March 8, 2013 By
Brandi Hellyer

 

by June Portnoy

Brandi Hellyer, 12, of Langhorne, recently collected and then donated 10 boxes of crafts to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The donation was the culmination of Brandi’s Third Annual Craft Drive for CHOP, a fundraiser established three years ago by Brandi and her mother, Wendy, after Brandi underwent a serious surgical procedure at CHOP.

Brandi suffers from cholesteatoma, a chronic condition consisting of abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum. After undergoing mastoid surgery to remove a skin cyst from her ear, Brandi developed a brain infection, which required emergency surgery.

“The doctor at CHOP gave Brandi a 50% chance of surviving from the surgery,” said Brandi’s mother, describing the severity of this procedure. 

Fortunately, the surgery, which took over three hours to complete, was successful. Despite the relief of surviving the surgery, Brandi was terrified during her recovery at CHOP. 

“Whenever a team of doctors came into her room to evaluate her progress, she began screaming,” said Brandi’s mother.

The doctors wanted her to get out of bed and walk around the unit, but she was too frightened to leave her room. It was thanks to Andrea Brandt, a Child Life Specialist working on Brandi’s Pediatric ICU Unit, that Brandi began to relax.

Andrea asked Brandi what she could do to help her become more comfortable during her hospital stay. Brandi’s first request was a weaving loom, which Andrea immediately located and brought to Brandi, so they could weave together. After that, Andrea searched for any craft she could find for Brandi, such as paints, beads and friendship bracelets.  

“Doing crafts with Andrea was a great distraction for me,” said Brandi. “It took my mind off of being in the hospital and helped me feel more comfortable.”

Andrea and Brandi did crafts together in Brandi’s room for about five days until she was ready to leave her room and go into the playroom.

“Once there, I was able to choose more crafts and that made my stay at the hospital even more enjoyable,” said Brandi.

When Brandi finally returned home, she and her mother talked about doing something to help the children at CHOP. They both agreed that they wanted to establish a craft fundraiser for CHOP.

“Now that I knew firsthand what these kids in the hospital were going through, I wanted to help them feel better by giving them crafts so they would feel less nervous,” said Brandi.

Brandi and her mother approached Principal Stephanie Miguelez and Guidance Counselor Carrie Lenahan at Pearl Buck Elementary School, where Brandi attended fourth grade at the time.

They proposed holding their fundraiser at the school, and the school administrators were very receptive of their idea. Carrie created flyers to distribute throughout Pearl Buck asking students to donate crafts for CHOP.

“Every day Mrs. Lenahan asked me to help organize the boxes and decorate them,” said Brandi.

The first year, Brandi and her mom collected three boxes of crafts that they delivered to Andrea at CHOP, who according to Brandi’s mother was genuinely appreciative and thankful for their effort. The second year, Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP collected six boxes of crafts.

Although Brandi now attends sixth grade at Maple Point Middle School, Pearl Buck Elementary School continues to host Brandi’s fundraiser.

“This year, our goal was to collect nine boxes of crafts, and we exceeded that goal,” said Brandi’s mother. “It makes me feel good knowing I am doing something to help kids at CHOP feel better while they recover,” said Brandi, who hopes to ultimately work as a nurse at CHOP.

In the meantime, she plans to continue holding her annual fundraiser. 

Although Brandi’s Craft Drive for CHOP has been held from mid-December through the end of January the past three years, it will now be held year-round. Therefore, if you have a new or gently used craft that you would like to donate to this worthy cause, contact Wendy Hellyer at hellyers5@verizon.net.

You too can help make a child’s hospital stay at CHOP more pleasant.

PHOTO CAP: Brandi Hellyer with donations she collected for CHOP

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Filed Under: Newtown Gazette News Tagged With: , , , ,

Morrisville Reunion Committee donates to auditorium fund

February 22, 2013 By
Reunion Donation

 

The Morrisville All-Years Reunion Committee donated $532 to the high school auditorium restoration fund during the December 12th Morrisville School Board meeting.

The proceeds are a result of the recent Morrisville High School All-Years Reunion in October, according to Suzanne Albanese Gavella and Sharon Yeager Mackey, who presented the check to Morrisville School District Business Manager Paul DeAngelo.     

The All-Years Reunion Committee formed in 2011 and held its first reunion in Williamson Park, with former Morrisville High School graduates from 1943 to the 1990s attending.

Proceeds from the 2011 reunion were donated to the Morrisville Student Loan Fund.  Planning for the October 2013 reunion has begun.

For more information e-mail allyearsreunion@yahoo.com.

PHOTO CAP: From left, Sharon Yeager Mackey, Suzanne Albanese Gavella, and Paul DeAngelo

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Filed Under: Morrisville Times News Tagged With: , , ,

Village Improvement Association Donates Gift Cards to the Horsham Air Guard Base

February 12, 2013 By

viahorshamabdonation The Village Improvement Association (V.I.A.) of Doylestown donated $1,200 in gift cards to the Family Readiness Group/Key Volunteers of the 111th PA Fighter Wing Air National Guard located at the Horsham Air Guard Base in Horsham, PA.

The Village Improvement Association was the guiding force behind the founding of Doylestown Hospital, and still owns and oversees the operation of the hospital and associated health systems today. Each year the club’s Veterans Committee collects donations for military charities. This year’s donations included $25 Wawa and $50 Giant gift cards for the Family Readiness Group to distribute to military members stationed at the base, plus an additional $350 to support the base’s food pantry.

The gift cards were presented to the Family Readiness Group’s representatives, Sarah Blank and retired CMSgt Jennie Pappas, at the V.I.A.’s January general meeting.

Pictured, L-R: Edi Eisenbraun, V.I.A.; Sarah Blank and Jenny Pappas, Family Readiness Group, and Pat Skowyra, V.I.A.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News, Home2 Tagged With: , , , ,

CR South senior spotlighted for volunteer work

January 24, 2013 By

by Amanda Molinari, senior, Council Rock High School South

Council Rock High School South is flourishing with exceptional students, but Ms. Hediya Sizar is one of the most outstanding seniors in the district.

Over the years, Hediya has accumulated over 400 hours of community service – an amazing goal for any student at Council Rock. She began her volunteering as a young seventh grader at the Summer Academic and Technology Academy at Maureen M. Welch Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant.

Hediya claims, “I have been given such a blessed life, and I wanted to reach out to others who were in need, whether it is financially, emotionally, or academically.

Since then, Ms. Sizar has participated in numerous programs at CR South to benefit others in need. Her accomplishments range from her freshman year to her senior year. As a freshman, Hediya started the CHOP Reach Out and Read Drive through the French Honor Society. This program promotes literacy in pediatric exam rooms.

During the first year alone, she and other members of the society collected about 300 donated books for children to read while waiting for their doctor appointments. After being inspired by her endeavor with this drive, she and her brother founded the Bring on the Books Drive during her sophomore year. Assuming that most kids in doctors’ offices had enough money to purchase books of their own, she wanted to give books to the less privileged.

Some of the books collected were sent to children at the Philadelphia Family Court, as well as old textbooks to inner city schools. Even after her older brother graduated, she continued the drive and it became a non-profit organization.

As a senior, Hediya also became a motivational speaker in an organization known as Sunshine Hope. This year, Hediya has also expanded her book drives to other societies in her school. National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and French Honor Society have all donated books for those in need. Over the past four years, South has collected over 4,000 books for local children.

Ms. Sizar has also shown her leadership skills through her participation as the National Honor Society secretary. One of the biggest ideas of NHS is to serve your community, and Hediya sure has done that! NHS also organizes food drives, toy drives, and soldier drives.

“I had always had the vision to make a difference and by doing community service, I am making a difference in the lives of the people around me,” Hediya says sincerely.

She claims that she focuses so much on literacy in kids’ lives because she loves to read. As a child, she often pictured each character’s life as if she were the one in the story.

“The books had the ability to communicate to me messages that helped me deal with life. I want children to realize how much reading can impact one’s life. I wanted adolescents to know that they are not alone in this world, but rather there are characters who share the same emotions and experiences as them,” she states passionately.

Hediya points out teenagers specifically and wants them to know that they are not as alone in this world as they think. She wants them to realize how much potential each of them has and that they can do anything they want to.

“I want to INSPIRE people to believe in themselves!”

Hediya Sizar is clearly one of the most courageous, passionate people in our community, and will do great things no matter where she goes in life. She will be attending New York University in the fall as a media studies and communications major and hopes to bring her “Bring on the Books Foundation” there too!

We wish you good luck, Hediya.

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Filed Under: Teen Scene Tagged With: , , , ,

Central Bucks Rotary

January 21, 2013 By

This past year, CB Rotary ensured several local families could remain in their homes. One such home was a 200-year-old structure at risk for failing safety requirements. A struggling family was at risk for losing their home of 23 years.  Habitat for Humanity and the CB Rotary donated money, sweat and expertise to complete the necessary renovations.

Another family suffered a tragedy paralyzing their seventh grade daughter. CB Rotarians and Wehrung’s Building Supply stepped in and built handicap access to their home. A handicap access ramp was also added to a local senior’s home, giving her more independence to maneuver in and out of her home.

CB Rotarians are so successful because of their ability to partner with companies and organizations, willingness to roll up their sleeves to get it done, and fundraising efforts.

Various social events, organized motorcycle rides, raffles and concerts have fueled the CB Rotary to benefit more than 20 non-profit organizations and causes including Twilight Wish Foundation, Christ’s Home, Rotoplast, Shelter Box, Polio Plus, Travis Manion Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Make a Wish Foundation, families affected by tragedy and loss, and many others.

In the four years of existence CB Rotarians have raised and donated more than $100,000 – mostly within Bucks County. Additional service opportunities supported include the Doylestown Food Pantry, clean-up and landscaping at the Doylestown Borough Dam, and game nights at Center Square Towers.

For more information about the Central Bucks Rotary, visit www.centralbucksrotary.com or contact the Central Bucks Rotary President, Mike Esposito at 267-454-7074. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings at the Plumsteadville Inn.

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