CHESTER— Cityteam Chester’s new initiative, Turning Point, is a transitional housing program for young women in crisis, providing a bridge to independent living and ensuring a loving community atmosphere for women and children in need. Cityteam offers resources to help them get on their feet and achieve financial stability, including a 12-month residency program, employment coaching, and training to build budgeting and financial literacy. Their mission is aligned with the BHCU Kids Foundation which seeks to provide resources and support for at-risk youth in Delaware County.
The BHCU Kids’ Foundation presented a $2,000 check this week to Cityteam. The donation comes from funds raised by the BHCU Kids’ Foundation Second Annual Golf Classic held last November. Proceeds from the event benefitted BHCU Kids Foundation Hope for Children Fund which assists abused and neglected children in Delaware County.
The BHCU Kids’ Foundation, established and chartered in 2019, is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The BHCU Kids Foundation began with a simple mission of strengthening the Delaware County community by seeking to provide programs and support for at-risk youth. Volunteers needed for annual stream cleanup The Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association is seeking enthusiastic volunteers for its 23rd Annual CRC Streams Cleanup on Saturday morning, March 20. The cleanup will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m., at some 30 sites throughout local watersheds. Find a cleanup site nearby on the map at www.crcwatersheds.org/what-we-do/streams-cleanup/ Volunteers are encouraged to register for the event via a form on the same website page. The annual cleanup includes hundreds of volunteers, fanning out to multiple sites and removing about 10 tons of trash each year from local streams and creeks. Many faithful volunteers return year after year for the fun, camaraderie, and opportunity to improve their communities. Due to Covid 19, CRC had to cancel the Streams Cleanup in 2020. However, this year there will be special safety protocols in place, including social distancing, mask requirement and gloves and hand sanitizer. All are invited to volunteer and make the 23rd year, the biggest and best cleanup yet. Children under the age of 18 are encouraged to participate, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For additional information, contact Susan Ethridge at 415/583-8943 or [email protected]. Davidson, Zabel host free shredding event State Reps. Margo Davidson, D-164, and Mike Zabel, D-163, both of Upper Darby, will host a free shredding event, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Upper Darby High School, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill. The event will be held in the front parking lot, and residents can bring a maximum of three paper boxes or bags of documents per household. Identity theft continues to be a current problem and this free service provides a pathway for residents to dispose of personal information in a safe manner, so it does not fall into the wrong hands. To protect the safety of the public and volunteers, the event will be contactless. Residents are asked to remain in their cars, while volunteers and staff will remove items from the trunks of vehicles. Magazines and newspapers will not be accepted. Organizers will ask to see proof of residency, like a driver’s license, to limit the event to residents in the 19082, 19050, 19026, 19018 and 19083 zip codes. Residents can also donate nonperishable food items and toiletries that staff will collect for Delaware County food banks. Foundation For Delco announces support for housing stability program The Foundation for Delaware County has announced that six organizations have committed a total of $102,000 in support of the foundation’s Housing Stability Program. This program, in its second year, benefits low-income, vulnerable women, children and families in need of affordable housing in the City of Chester. The Housing Stability Program is a partnership between The Foundation for Delaware County and the Chester Housing Authority. The project was approved in December 2020 for funding by the state Department of Economic Development as part of the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. Under the project, program participants in the foundation’s Healthy Start and Nurse-Family Partnership programs will receive assistance and support that will allow them to access affordable housing units through Housing Choice vouchers and housing units provided by Chester Housing Authority. Bryn Mawr Trust is the lead contributor of the six organizations, providing $62,000 in funds, followed by WSFS Bank, Keystone First, Park Power each contributing $10,000; Main Line Telecommunications and Meridian Bank also committed $5,000 each. “The Foundation for Delaware County is thrilled that six organizations have stepped forward this year to contribute to our Housing Stability Program. This project gives many of our clients safe, stable and healthy housing and it would not be possible without the support of our funders,” said Frances Sheehan, president of The Foundation for Delaware County. By providing education, advocacy, and access, the foundation is setting program participants on a trajectory for well-being and self-sufficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the impact of the social injustice of inadequate housing. Populations that were already vulnerable are increasingly more so, experiencing housing overcrowding and family violence that make home an unsafe space. As such, access, information, and support are critical for families to secure permanent housing. The Foundation for Delaware County has headquarters in Media and service sites in Eddystone, Upper Darby and Springfield, To learn more, visit the foundation on the web at www.delcofoundation.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @DelcoFdn. Immigrants invited to register for annual Pro Bono Citizenship Day Pro Bono Citizenship Day, a national event convened by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and local partner organizations as an opportunity for eligible low income permanent residents (green card holders) to receive free assistance in applying for U.S. citizenship, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20. This year’s Philadelphia area community partners include: Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; American Immigration Lawyers Association – Philadelphia Chapter; The New Americans Campaign; HIAS Pennsylvania; Duane Morris LLP; and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Prior to Feb. 20, volunteer attorneys will conduct information sessions, via phone or video call, with applicants on eligibility for naturalization. These sessions will include an explanation of the U.S. citizenship application process and eligibility criteria; individual screening for eligibility; and appointment scheduling and review of supporting documents needed for Feb. 20. The information sessions will be conducted in English. Those needing language assistance are asked to bring their own reliable interpreter. Eligible individuals can then schedule an appointment for assistance on Pro Bono Citizenship Day, which will be held remotely through Zoom this year. Interested applicants can sign up for an information session at http://bit.ly/Citizenship2021 or by contacting Mercedes Nunez-Salgado at [email protected] or HIAS Pennsylvania at 215-832-0941. Readers can email community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at [email protected].
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