Teaching Community Service in Pottsgrove Schools

Photos provided by the Pottsgrove School District

:Presenting the Cross Country Team check to the Cluster were, from left, Jonah Korman, Calista Faust, Molly Neeson, Aiden McDonald, Chloe Sullivan, Patrick Rieker, Megan Czerpak, Jaden Smith, Brandon Henriksen, Barbara Cooper- Director, Bryce Hampton , Larry Rechtin-Head Coach , Steve Lin, Gabe Craig. 

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottsgrove School District.

The beginning of March once again provided the backdrop for community service throughout the Pottsgrove Athletic community. For years, athletic teams have found ways to give back to the community that supports through various community service projects.

For the past eight years, the Pottsgrove High School Cross-Country team has supported and volunteered their time with the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities Meals and Shelter Programs. 

This year they added a check for $3,500. The proceeds were raised from the annual Thanksgiving morning Toss Your Turkey 5K road race. 

The Pottsgrove Cross Country has donated in excess of $13,000 to the Pottstown Cluster since the start of the Toss Your Turkey in 2011.

Molly Neeson, Michael Allmond, and Jacob Spadt

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provides food security, household assistance, supportive service referrals, housing stability, and an opportunity for individuals living in poverty to participate in education and supportive programs for people living in the greater Pottstown area.

Accepting the check was Barbara Cooper, Director of the program at Trinity Church in Pottstown and presenting the check on behalf of the team is Head Coach Mr. Larry Rechtin.

The team also donated a check for $1,500 to Operation Backpack, which helps to provide food to local families. 

Operation Backpack is a non-profit organization providing food to students in our local community who might go without over the weekend. Backpacks are filled Wednesday nights and are distributed to families on Friday for the weekend. The backpacks contain enough food for dinner Friday night, all meals Saturday and Sunday, along with snacks. 

The team has contributed $2,500 to Operation Backpack in the past two years.

There's something fishy about Pottsgrove students Justin Wescoat, Jack Sibley, Rylee Howard, Evan White, Max Neeson, Tyler Kaufman

And on March 2, the Pottsgrove High School Football team joined forces with Green Allies helping them with their Recycling Day endeavor. 

The Green Allies group, led by Ken Hamilton and members of the football team spent the entire day helping to preserve our environment as they recycled large amounts of electronics and scrap metal. 

Parker Janusek, Vinny Scarnato, and Gabe Flores

This included such things as computers, TV's, refrigerators, ice boxes, microwaves, air conditioners, humidifiers and more.

The efforts of Green Allies reaches not only the Pottsgrove community but extends well into Berks, Montgomery and Chester counties. 

The line to enter Recycling Day was backed up for approximately a mile and a half.

Ethan McHugh, Alex Degler, Max Dopwell, Aamir Mapp, and Kaden Reichelderfer

Shapiro Given Cluster Community Award at Gala

Blogger;'s Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities (PCRC) awarded Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro its first-ever “Cluster Community Award” on Thursday, Oct. 4, at The SunnyBrook Ballroom during its annual fundraising event branded this year as “You Gotta Have Heart.”

Barbara Wilhelmy, right, executive director of the Pottstown
Cluster of Religious Communities with Anthony Luker,
Education and Outreach Specialist with
the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.

The award honors those in the community and wider community who have furthered PCRC’s mission and made an impact through his or her involvement with PCRC directly or indirectly. Mr. Shapiro’s commitment to Montgomery County, including his strong support of Your Way Home Montgomery County, has made a significant contribution to PCRC’s ability to improve the lives of those it is serving in the County, working in a coordinated approach to reduce homelessness. 

As a result of this five-year partnership with Your Way Home Montgomery County, PCRC has been able to increase its footprint in the county offering greater resources.

Along with PCRC Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy, Mr. Shapiro was honored as a recipient of a Champion of Change award, at the “Your Way Home Summit” in 2014.

The Attorney General sent a video message, as he was unable to attend the event, with personal remarks about the award and PCRC, mentioning how he “was always happy to have any opportunity to support PCRC,” and how PCRC “brings together people of all faiths, and from a wide variety of service organizations to give a helping hand to those in need.”

Anthony Luker addresses the Cluster Gala.

Anthony Luker, the Attorney General office’s Education and Outreach Specialist, accepted the award on Mr. Shapiro’s behalf. Mr. Luker offered kind, supportive remarks, thanking PCRC for the work it continues to do in the community addressing food security, housing stability, and supportive and educational resources.

“PCRC was delighted and honored the Attorney General accepted its first ever Cluster Community Award because PCRC, like Mr. Shapiro, is working hard to protect everyday Pennsylvanians,” said Wilhelmy. 

And as Mr. Shapiro stated at the end of his video remarks: “[PCRC’s] work has had an incredible impact on the lives of so many people who are left behind by the rest of society.”

Through interfaith cooperation, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provides tangible services, support, and spiritual guidance to address the basic needs of persons within and beyond the Greater Pottstown area, coordinating programs and referrals to help clients improve their overall stability. 

Current programs and services provide food security, household assistance, supportive services and referrals, case management and housing stability, and an opportunity for individuals living in poverty to participate in an education and support program.

Sixth Annual Pottstown CARES Clean-Up is Set for Sept. 22, More Caring to Come in Coming Weeks

Volunteers from a previous Pottstown CARES gather before the townwide clean-up.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by PottstownCARES

This year’s Pottstown CARES fall clean-up will be held Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

Also, several other CARES and Hobart’s Run-related projects are in the works, including an Historic Edgewood Cemetery community-wide clean-up and volunteer engagement event on Saturday, Oct. 20 (see more below).

The fall CARES clean-up event has again been registered as a Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Intercoastal Cleanup event. Debris bags, gloves, and safety vests are provided for volunteers by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and PennDOT.

Here is a glimpse at upcoming activities connected to CARES and Hobart’s Run co-endeavors:

 On Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Reformed Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., there will be a “Common Threads” youth clothing boutique that will donate free, gently used clothing to middle and high school students in Pottstown. Trinity is partnering with CARES students for this event. Pizza and soda will be provided to “shoppers,” as well as music; this event will be a student “mixer” as well.

 Fall clean-up Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:30-10:30 a.m. A group including about 600 Hill students and faculty will pick up litter in the Hobart’s Run area, roughly bordered by Keim, Queen, Adams, and Jackson Streets; tend to a section of Historic Edgewood Cemetery; work in the downtown; assist with projects at Pottstown’s community gardens on Walnut Street and at the Olivet Boys’ and Girls’

Club/Rickett’s Center; pick up litter along Armand Hammer Blvd., Hill’s “Adopt a Highway” road; and work on rehabilitating a home at 702 Walnut St..

Pottstown High School athletics teams will focus on the area from Pottstown Middle School to the Redner’s market and the YMCA to Charlotte Street.

 The year the Pottstown CARES fall clean-up day will culminate with a CARES Activity Night that is being organized by Hill and Pottstown High School students for area youths and families.

The Activity Night will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 from approximately 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Hill School’s Lehrman Pavilion at the Far Fields and will feature snacks, music, games, and other kids’ activities such as face-painting.

 At the Activity Night on Sept. 22, The Hill School and Pottstown School District’s student-led

Hobart’s Run Student Leadership Committee will kick off local participation in World of Change, an international nonprofit that facilitates the collection of pocket change that in turn donates 100 percent of the proceeds to Pottstown charities designated by the students involved in this endeavor. 

The charities fall under “bucket” areas of housing, food security, education, financial literacy, health and wellness, and children’s play/discovery. World of Change was founded by Matt Hoidal, a Maine-based Hill School alumnus from the Class of ’90 who is committed to engaging youths in understanding citizenship and the potential they have to make an impact in their towns and throughout the world. 

The literacy “bucket” change collected through the World of Change drive will be applied toward buying children’s Winnie the Pooh books that student Pottstown CARES and Hobart’s Run leaders will hand out to kids during the Pottstown Halloween Parade on Oct. 23. 

The students are planning to march with a literacy-promotion themed “float.”

 On Saturday, Oct. 20, Historic Edgewood Cemetery will hold a community-wide “Stop Complaining, Start Caring for Edgewood Cemetery Day” beginning at 9 a.m. Details are being finalized, but Pottstown citizens are encouraged to volunteer at the cemetery for a few hours or the whole day, by raking, weed-whacking, mowing, and participating in other planning and improvement projects while learning about the cemetery and its rich local history.

Refreshments will be available; the committee also encourages participants to bring food donations to share in fellowship with other concerned citizen volunteers. Hobart’s Run and CARES volunteers are assisting with ongoing planning for this “bring your own tools” effort to noticeably improve the grounds. 

Through The Hill School, Hobart’s Run recently made a $5,000 donation toward Edgewood grounds maintenance – but, to sustain this community resting place, there is a tremendous and ongoing need for volunteers and financial contributions from throughout Pottstown. Individuals who would like to volunteer for this community engagement endeavor and/or make a financial contribution should contact Andrew Monastra at amonastra@wolfbaldwin.com or 610-323-7436. All are welcome, from creative master gardeners to weekend warrior weed-whackers!

 The Hill School’s Hobart’s Run and Pottstown CARES students will participate in the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit (PART) food and goods drive between Thanksgiving and Christmas to benefit the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. Hill, along with other organizations in town, will place food and other household item collection boxes on their premises. 

PART passengers will receive a $1 fare discount if they make a food or household goods donation when they board the bus during the Take PART, Give Back campaign. In addition, for every 100 pounds of goods donated via the campaign, PART will provide 10 bus passes to the Cluster for people in need of transportation.

CARES stands for Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability.

The CARES organization is a collaboration between The Hill School, the Borough of Pottstown, the Pottstown School District, Montgomery County Community College, the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, Lowes, and, most recently, Habitat for Humanity. 

A 501(c)(3), Hobart's Run works with its residents and property owners to revitalize the neighborhood through projects that create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; provide incentives for home ownership and home improvements; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development. While initially addressing an area of approximately 600 parcels in Pottstown (Queen Street in the south, North Adams on the west, Beech, Grant, and Jackson on the north, and Keim Street on the east), Hobart’s Run strives to use successes in this focus area to spark and support revitalization throughout the Borough.

Library Hosting Bridges Out of Poverty Program

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Regional Public Library 

The Pottstown Regional Public Library will host Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities on March 20, 2018 at 6pm.  

The Cluster’s Program Bridges Out of Poverty will provide community leaders and residents with training to enable a better understanding for individuals living in economic poverty.  

The program features discussion about Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting-by World, a mentored program for building a better life.   

Refreshments will be served. 

To sign-up contact Ryli Meyer, Pottstown Cluster at 610-970-5995 or Michelle Kehoe, Pottstown Library at 610-970-6551. 

Cluster Raises $36K at Sunnybrook Dinner Concert

The Cluster Outreach Center at the intersection of King and Franklin streets in Pottstown.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Cluster.

The Fifth Annual Open Your Heart Fundraising Dinner and Concert for the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities raised $36,000.

According to a release from the cluster, a non-profit organization that provides for the basic food, clothing, personal care and housing needs for residents living in poverty, the event held at Sunnybrook Ballroom in September featured local artists Maggie Riker, Davie Heffner, Jason Switzer and Myra Forrest.

Through the generosity of the event sponsors: Video Ray, Cody Systems and Richard and Paula Dhein, along with many other sponsors and guests that made direct donations, bid on auction items and purchased raffle tickets, $36,000 was raised.

These funds will allow PCRC to assist Pottstown residents struggling financially to maintain adequate food and clothing for their families, receive educational services to gain greater stability, as well as providing home heating oil when the cost is more than a family can afford.

PCRC wishes to thank all those that made the event a great success. To see photos of the event please visit PCRC’s website at www.pottstowncluster.org.

PCRC’s 50th anniversary is in 2017 and the 50th Gala will be held on October 7, 2017 at Sunnybrook Ballroom.

Making it Easier to Ride the Colebrookdale Railroad

Junior Woman’s Club current president Anita Zuber and past president Jane Prutzman presenting Nathaniel Guest with donation surrounded by dedicated volunteer.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Colebrookdale Railroad.

The Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust recently received a boost from two local community organizations.

The First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown presented a check for $5,000 and the Junior Woman’s Club presented a check for $500 to Executive Director Nathaniel Guest recently. 

The donations will help fund the conversion of the railroad’s Café Car to be accessible to persons with mobility concerns. 

Additionally, the Junior Woman’s Club donation will also go towards offering free Santa Clause train rides to Multi-Service families and Pottstown Cluster clients. 

According to sources at the First Presbyterian Church the donation was made possible by the Mary N. Porter Designated Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward County, which awarded a grant to the First Presbyterian Church.

“This generous donation supports our efforts of becoming more accessible to a diverse group of passengers,” said Nathaniel Guest, Executive Director of the non-profit Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust. 

Coupled with a nearly-completed ADA-compliant boarding platform, and the construction of a similar platform and station in Pottstown early next year, the improvements to the Café Car, when complete, will make the Colebrookdale Railroad the only ADA-accessible tourist railroad serving both Berks and Montgomery Counties. 

Persons with mobility concerns will find it much easier to access the restored historic cars. “This has been a priority for the Trust from the very beginning,” said Guest.

According to Guest the work has only just begun. “We still have a way to go as the restoration costs for this project are expected to top $150,000,” he said. 

“Addressing these barriers will help us to fulfill our vision of making the country’s best tourist railroad from the Golden Age of Railroading an experience to be enjoyed by all persons, regardless of mobility.”

The Trust is seeking support to continue the conversion of the Café Car and ADA-compliance.

Donations can be to the Trust at its Boyertown office or online at www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

Cluster Loses First Zoning Battle

Mercury File Photo by John Strickler

The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities wants to convert 61 N. Franklin St., known as the former Wainman Mansion, into office space for its operation and housing program. The zoning hearing board will decide if that's allowed in a series of hearings.

Despite what many may say about another property off the tax rolls, the current controversy over the Cluster's application to uses this grand old Victorian as office space really has nothing to do with keeping this property on the tax rolls.

That ship sailed last fall.

The borough and the school district both opposed making it tax exempt, and they lost.

Now already declared tax exempt by the Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals, the matter at hand is much more specific  and technical and essentially boils down to one thing: what is a "client-based social service provider?"

That is the phrase on which zoning officer Maria Gerber-Bleile hung her hat when she denied the zoning application by the Cluster. The current zoning ordinance specifically forbids that type of office in the Traditional Town Neighborhood zone in which the building is located.

The Cluster's strategy to overcome that obstacle is, or at this point "was," two-fold.

First, ask the zoning board to interpret the code and decide whether Gerber-Bleile was right in applying that definition to what the Cluster has proposed to do.

They did and they decided she was.

Had they decided the definition didn't apply, that would have been the end of it and no variance would have need been sought by the Cluster.

Which brings us to the second fold.

Now that they have decided the definition does apply, the hearings will have to continue and the Cluster must convince the zoning board that a variance should be granted.

The next hearing during which that case will be begun will take place on Tuesday, June 14.

That's it in a nutshell.

Now, if you're a fan of zoning testimony, or want to watch videos of 1) Zoning solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway reading objection letters from borough council and the school board; 2) Kenn Picardi's opening statement on behalf of the Cluster; or 3) Cluster Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy reading the definition in question, then by all means, proceed on the Tweets.

(Those who do will find a somewhat unusual surprise at the end ....)

Cluster Offers to Pay Some School Taxes Too

Super Cool Panoramic Photo by Evan Brandt's iPhone

Green-shirted members of the Federation of Pottstown Teachers stood for nearly an hour Monday night as teachers, students and parents testified to the school board about how a particular teacher had changed the lives of students.

The latest tactic by the Federation of Pottstown Teachers in their ongoing efforts to pressure the school board into a settlement that includes raises was unveiled Monday.

A total of 14 speakers -- teachers, parents, students and teachers reading student letters -- took to the lecturn Monday night to talk about the value of teachers.

But while that is significant, and will be addressed in an upcoming Mercury article for how it intertwines with a salary dispute on the board, it was not the most significant news of the night.

Also on the agenda was the Pottstown Cluster of Churches and their pending zoning hearing regarding the non-profit's use of 61 N. Franklin St.

Already rebuffed by Borough Council, which voted 6-1 earlier this month to oppose the zoning relief, the Cluster turned to the school board and, in a change of position, offered to pay 25 percent of their school property tax bill in the same way they had pledged to pay 25 percent of their borough property tax bill.

It would amount to about $1,000 out of a $4,009 tax bill, said Picardi.

The Payment In Lieu of Taxes offer, called a PILOT, was no more effective an offer with the school board than it was with council.

Once board member Thomas Hylton made plain that from 2008 to 2014, Cluster revenues jumped from $341,000 to $1.8 million in just six years, there seemed to be little appetite on the board to support the zoning request.

Hylton pointed to Cluster attorney Kenn Picardi that the school district "is in the lifting people out of poverty business" and that public education has a much broader impact on lifting people out of poverty than any of the Cluster education programs.

"I think we need to make a strong statement to the Cluster," Hylton told the school board in making a motion to send a letter to the zoning board in opposition to the zoning relief sought by the Cluster.." $1.8 million in revenue and they can't pay $5,000 in taxes?"

Hylton's motion to send the letter of opposition was approved unanimously.

Now, here are the Tweets, videos and links from the meeting.

'No' to Cluster Zoning Support, And a Giant Chicken

You never know who you're going to run into
on the streets of Pottstown.

I've lived in Pottstown long enough now, that I was only mildly surprised to be addressed by a giant chicken with Gene Dugan's head as I made my way down North Hanover Street to Monday night's borough council meeting.

And when he showed up at borough hall and joined me in the elevator, I barely batted an eye.

"Hey, it's Pottstown," I said.

But as amusing as it was, Dugan was there with a serious purpose.

He was helping his wife Sheila, who happens to be the director of the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority, promote the pending FARM Market that opens on High Street May 5.

A good sport (and, I daresay, a good husband), he was even sure to flap his wings gently while Sheila outlined the plans to council for the first day of the market.

(Look for a story about the Chili Cook-off that will help kick-off the farmers market in an upcoming edition of The Mercury.)

And yes, I shot video for those of you who crave more giant chicken in your life, just scroll down through the Tweets, you'll see it.

But as good news as that is, the headline news from last night's council meeting is most likely the 6-1 vote by council to send a letter opposing variance requests being sought by the Cluster of Religious Communities for the former Wainman Mansion on North Franklin Street.

The Cluster, which operates a food pantry and clothing center at its Outreach Center next door (in the former American Legion Post) bought the property last year, took it off the tax rolls and is now asking for variances to convert it into offices, classrooms and meeting rooms.

The Cluster has pledged to pay 25 percent of its borough tax bill, but has made no such pledge about the much larger school tax bill.

Only Councilman Ryan Procsal, in whose ward the building sits, proposed that borough council stay out of it and let the zoning hearing board handle it as best they saw fit.

Not only did the rest of council believe otherwise, but Councilman Dennis Arms, who made the motion to oppose the Cluster's variance request, went so far as to say "I would rather see the building vacant"  -- a remarkable statement from an elected official who says he wants to revitalize Pottstown.

But like I said before, "hey, it's Pottstown."

Giant chickens walk the streets here.

Human Relations, Cluster Plans & New Police Officer

Boy, where to start?

It's nearly midnight and I am just getting to this after a borough council work session that lasted 3.5 hours.

The agenda looked dangerously long and, that observation was borne out by the handful of us who went the distance.

Everything from a new police officer, to an in-depth debate about the future of the Human Relations Commission; to an overview of the Pottstown Cluster's plans for the former Wainman mansion on North Franklin Street; to the local Youth Aid Panel and a fistful of grant applications -- all were on the table.

I'd offer some insights if I wasn't about to fall asleep.

Here are the Tweets and video, rest assured we'll be following up with a number of stories in The Mercury.

First Niagara Donates $20,000 to Cluster Program

From left: Renee Murdock, First Niagara’s Community Development Officer-Eastern PA; Allan Altschull, Pottstown Cluster Board President, Bob Rettinger, First Niagara’s Branch Manager-East End/Pottstown; Barbara Wilhelmy, Pottstown Cluster Executive Director; Mary Ann Glocker, Pottstown Cluster Board VP; & Tamera Hrynkow, First Niagara Area Manager.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by a public relations firm for First Niagara Bank.

On Ja. 28, First Niagara provided a $20,000 grant to Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities to support the Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere. 

Through interfaith cooperation, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities addresses the basic needs of persons within the greater Pottstown community, while assisting with their spiritual and social needs. 

Their programs and referrals are coordinated to help individuals make real progress in moving from dependency to productive self-sufficiency.

Understanding Poverty to Plan and Persevere is an intensive sixteen week workshop to educate persons living in poverty on how to recognize the cultural and economic differences between people living in poverty and people of middle class status. 

With this knowledge, persons in poverty can develop realistic plans for achieving stability. 

It is the goal of the program to equip participants to reduce dependence and increase self-sufficiency.

What is the Cluster Up to on North Franklin Street?

That was the question that seemed to be on the minds of borough council members Wednesday during their regular work session council meeting.

The question began to form when Pottstown School Board member Ron Williams addressed council and urged them to send Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. to a meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals on Oct. 15.

That's when the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities will present its appeal to the county board for make the property at 61 N. Franklin St. tax exempt.

The former Wainman mansion, the building is adjacent to the Cluster's Outreach Center, where it distributes free food and clothing to the needy. It is located in the former American Legion building at the corner of King and N. Franklin streets.

Vice President Travis Gery ran the meeting due to the absence 

of Council President Stephen Toroney.

As Pottstown School Board member Thomas Hylton has pointed out in two paid advertisements in The Mercury, the borough's zoning code does not allow "client-based service providers" in either location.

The Cluster obtained a zoning waiver for the former Legion building in 2010.

But Garner said Wednesday night that the borough finally received a letter from the Cluster this week which gave a "vague description of use" for the property.

Council Vice President Travis Gery and Garner both said it seemed backward to ask for a tax exemption on a property before its use has been clearly defined and authorized.

Council seems inclined to send Garner, and to ask that School District Solicitor Stephen Kalis accompany him, to the board of assessment review committee and oppose the property tax exemption, although no formal vote was taken.

Council member Dan Weand, who asked that both solicitors attend, said Garner can be directed to go by Borough Manager Mark Flanders.

"Not to say anything against the Cluster, they do wonderful work," said Williams. "but we just cannot afford any more properties off the tax roles."

Jeff Gerber receives his award from Fire Chief Richard Lengel

Indeed, during a recent review of the 2016 budget, council's finance committee was informed that the borough's loss of assessed property value may make it difficult to hold the line on taxes for the third year in a row.

In other matters, council also prepared to make changes to the borough's animal ordinance and zoning ordinance as it relates to what triggers the need for a conditional use.

Jeff Gerber, the manager of the Turkey Hill on North Charlotte Street, was recognized for his quick thinking in preventing a catastrophe in July when a vehicle struck the gas pumps there and caused a small fire.

Flanders also updated council on the fact that all but one resident and business owner the borough has contacted is opposed to re-naming Cross Street after the late NAACP President Newstell Marable, primarily because of the expense of changing addresses on bank accounts, driver's licenses and business cards and stationary.

Here are all the Tweets from the meeting.

Make the Season Truly About Giving

You've heard of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday?

Well now, there's "Giving Tuesday."

The idea is to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.

And its happening right here in the Pottstown.

Pottstown-area nonprofits participating in #GivingTuesday (the '#' marks its Twitter handle ) include Pottstown Area Seniors’ Center, Pottstown YMCA, Pottstown Regional Public Library, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, KenCrest, Family Services, and Aclamo, among many others.

Brian Parkes, executive director of the Pottstown Area Senior Center, said the movement intends to use the power of social media to encourage making donations to non-profits which make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.

"We want to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season," Parkes said in a press release issued to The Mercury.

“People can donate to the organizations any time, not just on Dec. 2, but #GivingTuesday garners more excitement and we expect this excitement to bring in additional donors,” Parkes said.

"#GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world," he said.

In fact, there are organizations all over Montgomery County.

A new website www.GivingTuesdayMontco.org has information, including a list of nearly 100 organizations participating, along with links to donate, but does not accept donations of its own. 

According to the site, "#GivingTuesdayMontco is part of a national celebration of generosity. It’s a day to give a gift that makes an impact right here in our own community. It’s a way to let your values be part of your holiday giving."

Web marketing and web hosting company IQnection donated design and hosting services for the GivingTuesdayMontco.org website.

Along with the website, there is also a Giving-Tuesday-Montco Facebook page. 

“Last year, more than 10,000 nonprofit organizations in 46 countries were part of #GivingTuesday,” said Parkes. 

“It’s an opportunity to remind people of the power of charitable giving during this season, as well as the tremendous need that exists in our community.”

Cluster Food Bank Benefits from MCCC's 'Hoops for Hunger'

The Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center at King and Franklin streets will benefit from the college's fundraising effort 

Blogger's Note: The following is courtesy of Alana Mauger at the community college.

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) Mustangs Men’s Basketball Team, in coordination with the College’s Honors and Rotaract clubs, will hold its annual “Hoops for Hunger” donation drive now through Dec. 13.

All proceeds will benefit the Cluster Outreach in Pottstown.
Non-perishable goods are being collected in boxes throughout the College’s campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown through Dec. 13, as well as at every home basketball game during the month of November. 

Visit mustangsathletics.com for a full schedule.

For the first time, monetary donations are also being accepted online. 

Visit Yougivegoods.com and search for “Hoops for Hunger.” Then, click “Donate to this Drive” and select the items you want to purchase via Visa, Mastercard or American Express. 

The purchased food will be shipped directly to the Cluster Outreach at the end of the drive.

The community is invited to join the Mustangs on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. for a poverty awareness home basketball game at MCCC’s Physical Education Center, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. 

Information about local poverty issues will be available, and students from Gwynedd-Mercy University will be bringing food donations they collected in support of “Hoops for Hunger.” 

Admission is free of charge, but attendees are encouraged to bring a food donation.

For additional information, contact MCCC’s Office of Student Leadership & Involvement at 610-718-1852 or getinvolved@mc3.edu.

When You Wish Upon a Fundraising Dinner...

Chorale 33 performs at the second annual Fundraising Dinner for the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.

Blogger's Note: The following was sent to us by the good people at the Pottstown Cluster.

The second annual Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities was held October 4, 2013 at the Berean Bible Church on High Street in Sanatoga. 

This year’s event, titled "Wish Upon a Star," nearly doubled last year’s total: already raising over $39,000 with pledges still coming in.

To keep the night running smoothly, John Armato, Director of Community Relations for the Pottstown

There was more than just dinner going on at this year's Fundraising Dinner.

School District, emceed the program. Catering for this special event was provided by Pottstown favorite, Bause Catered Events.

A live auction, hosted by Paul Prince, of Prince and Kurtas Law Firm, awarded NASCAR Pit Passes, Blair Winery Tour and private dinner, a NYC Fashion tour and Flyers Lithograph to the highest bidders.

The highlight of the evening was an encore performance by local talent Maggie Riker -- this year being joined by her equally talented brother, Dave Heffner. 

Also returning to the stage was 12-year old Madison Kershner, who gave a touching performance of “When You Wish Upon A Star.” 

The evening’s entertainment was rounded out with performances by The Sounds of Sunnybrook Dance Band and Chorale 33.

The evening marked the debut of an 8-minute video highlighting the mission, services and great need for the services the outreach center provides.



The event was supported by many local sponsors, including Boscov’s, PMMC, Cody Systems, the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation and The Hill School.

{For a complete list of sponsors, click here: http://www.pottstowncluster.org/ }

The event committee

The event committee, chaired by Dr. Myra Forrest, is comprised of many talented women from the Greater Pottstown community: Terryl Andrews-Marsh, Sharon Basile, Victoria Bumstead, Sue Creswell, Doreen Duncan, Lesley Duall, Lois Georeno, Fran Heffner, Teri Hoffman, Lalena Kennedy, JoAnn McKiernan, Maggie Riker, Linda Voytilla and Carol Weitzenkorn.

All funds raised support the PCRC’s programs and services.

Through interfaith cooperation, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities addresses the basic human needs of persons within the Greater Pottstown community, while assisting with their spiritual and social needs.

Their programs and referrals are coordinated to help individuals make real progress in moving from dependence to productive self-sufficiency.

A Uniformly Good Idea

A local Pottstown Girl Scout Troop  is collecting new or used clothing that can be used as student uniforms in the Pottstown School District.

Suggested donations are white, light blue, or navy polo shirts, turtlenecks, certain sweaters and sweatshirts and navy blue or khaki pants, shorts, skirts, or skorts. 

All sizes are needed. 

The Girl Scouts have drop off sites at Grumpy's Sandwich Shop, Rich Ranieri's MAB paints -- both of which are on High St -- Mike's Brick Oven pizza on Charlotte St., the YMCA, Pottstown School District Administration  Building  230 Beech St. and the North End Swim Club.

All uniforms will be donated to the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. 

Victoria Bumstead, volunteer coordinator for the cluster, has indicated that many clients of the center are in need of uniforms before the start of the school year. 

For more information about the uniforms, click here.

            

            

Local Philanthropy by Hill School Students

The Cluster will use its grant for its Getting Ahead Initiative, which is a poverty education program that runs throughout the year for members of the Pottstown community below the poverty line. The program focuses on helping these members come to terms with their poverty, and it uses educational and constructive seminars as means to aiding those in need down a better socioeconomic track.

Led by co-presidents Nabil Shaikh '13 (Reading) and Auguste Boova '13 (Pottstown.), The Hill School’s Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) recently presented checks totaling $10,000 to four local nonprofit organizations to help fund those entities’ educational and community programs:

Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority ($2,110); The Growing Center ($2,690);

PDIDA will use is contribution for the Clean & Safe program,
which uses enhanced security methods and hired cleaners
as vehicles for downtown revitalization.

Montgomery Child Advocacy Project ($2,500); and the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Organizations ($2,700).

The SPC was established in 2009 through a gift to The Hill School courtesy of Charles A. Frank III, Hill ’59, and his wife, Betty.

Hill student participants solicit and evaluate local nonprofit requests for funding, and then award a total of $10,000 in grants each year. 

Last year, through the Franks' leadership and the generosity of several other donors, The Student Philanthropy Council became an endowed program at the School with the establishment of The Student Philanthropy Council Endowment in honor of Kay and David Dougherty.

The Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP) will fund the training of 10 lawyers for their initiative: providing legal advocacy for children of extremely unstable backgrounds in the Pottstown area. This non-profit grew out of a noticeable need for lawyers for children for whom parental advocacy is unstable and insubstantial.

The Growing Center plans to use their grant to provide materials for horticultural therapy for mental health patients. Horticultural therapy introduces patients to gardening activities, and is an incredibly potent means to psychological treatment. The Growing Center provides a secure hosting site to local horticultural therapy.

Good Food Cheap

Many of us take the food that graces our table for granted.

Others, usually those involved in a struggle to obtain it, know it isn't always so easy.

For those living on a tight budget (more and more of us it seems these days), Genesis Housing is providing some tips Thursday on how to fill that icebox on an ever-tightening budget.

The outsized poster above has all the salient details.

The workshop will be held at the Cluster Outreach Center run by the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities which, itself, could use a little help.

This photo at left was posted in the Cluster's Facebook page on May 10 with the following caption:

"For anyone living near Pottstown, please consider donating canned soup to the Pottstown Cluster. This is a picture taken today of the soup shelves in the food pantry."

Needless to say, donations will be welcomed.

The Outreach Center is located at the corner of King and Franklin streets in Pottstown in the old American Legion building. It provides free food and clothing to needy families in the area.

You can also help out by playing golf in the Cluster's annual golf tournament.

It will be held Monday, May 20 at Hickory Valley Golf Club (Presidential course).

A green on Hickory Valley's Presidential course.

The format is a scramble/shotgun start.

Registration is from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. and the cost is $110 per golfer or $440 per foursome, which includes lunch cart, greens fee, beverage reception and dinner. 

Tee-off time is at 11 a.m. The rules briefing is at 10:40 a.m. and the reception begins at 4 p.m., which is also when the putting contest conclusion will be held.

Dinner, the awards, silent auction and 50-50 drawing will all begin at 5 p.m.

Local Heroes Club

Blogger's Note: This just in from the chamber:

The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Golf Outing on Sept. 11.

Frank Strunk with Marcy Toepel

In honor of this date, Chamber Members were asked to nominate local heroes who were invited to participate in the Golf Outing compliments of Hickory Valley Golf Club.

These heroes were people who go above and beyond to better our community.

State Representative Marcy Toepel presented a Certificate of Recognition to each of these nominated individuals at the Clambake portion of the Golf Outing:

Frank Strunk, National Penn – Nominated by Leslie Unger and Shelly Stockmal.

Gary Pace with Marcy Toepel

Strunk is President of the Pottstown Vietnam Veterans Chapter and a member of the Pottstown Rotary. He has dedicated much of his life to his country and has been instrumental in helping to make Pottstown a better place.

Gary Pace, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities – Nominated by Barbara Wilhelmy

Pace is the PCRC’s lead volunteer chaplain. He is an example of someone who goes above and beyond for the needs of the organization and the people in the community.

Charlie Dickinson with Marcy Toepel

Charlie Dickinson – Nominated by Sylvia Landis, SCORE

Dickinson volunteers his time to plant and water the local hanging flower plants in downtown Pottstown taking responsibility for the beautification of the downtown.

For more information, visit www.tricountyareachamber.com or contact 610.326.2900.