We are pleased to announce, on behalf of the Community Needs Committee, the recipients of this Easter’s Community Needs Special Offering. The successful applicants represent in some way a feeling of hope, growth and renewal, which seems appropriate as we approach Easter and spring.
The Samaritan Counseling Center is an independent, non-denominational counseling and consulting center which has a long association with FUMCOG. It is seeking to fund an initiative to increase the financial security and stability of the organization. Their goal is to be able to offer services to more low-income families, including from the Germantown area, who otherwise would not be able to afford their services. By seeking to build a broader and more secure financial base for the agency, they can be more assured of providing services to all families in the community who may need them.
The Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice is seeking funds for its “Strengthening the Mentoring Program”. As the name suggests, the school’s Peace Program is endeavoring to offer support and education for participants in their mentoring program, by planning monthly meetings, to include a drumming event, ice cream social, art activities, and storytelling as a way to bring together 9th grade students and their families and mentors. The school actively encourages mentoring as an integral part of their education program and plans to strengthen this component, largely at the request of the participants themselves, further by fostering community building and resource sharing.
St. Mary’s Family Respite Center provides child care, emotional support and respite to families affected by HIV/AIDS. The program gives an opportunity for parents and other caregivers to attend to their own health and social needs, safe in the knowledge that their young children are being well-cared for. They can accommodate up to 12 children a day, who themselves participate in a curriculum that helps facilitate cognitive, physical, emotional and social development. Funds are being sought for day to day operations of the center.
The Grumblethorpe Farm Stand Project is a project of the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks. Grumblethorpe is located at 5267 Germantown Avenue, and used to be a working farm. The project combines history with current community needs through the Grumblethorpe Education program, by enabling local teens to participate in running a Farm Stand which sells “Grumblethorpe Grown” fruits and vegetables. This provides summer employment opportunities and a source of fresh food for a community in which such options are scarce. The project started last year, and was very well-received by the local community, many of whom wanted to know: “Will you be here next week?”. By offering support to the project for this year, we can help answer that in the affirmative.
The special offering to fund these projects will be taken on Easter Sunday. We hope that you will be able to give generously, as FUMCOG members have always done in the past.
Bill Tkacs & Nick Claxton
Co-Chairs, Community Needs Committee