Good Things Are Happening

SHELTER GETS A FACELIFT THANKS TO TWO VOLUNTEER GROUPS
April 2013

Our Emergency Family Shelter was recently given a face lift as two local groups gave their time and services to freshen  and renew the shelter. We thank the volunteers from Jansen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson and Johnson , who  painted Unit #1 and Unit #3, cleaned the flower beds, and applied fresh mulch to the outside play area. We also thank the volunteers from First Presbyterian Church “Done in a Day” service project who painted Unit #6. We are thrilled with the results and appreciate the community support that is constant here at Friends Association.

 

ARTS AND CRAFTS NIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES
April 2013

Parents and children from our Emergency Family Shelter and Homeless Prevention Program enjoyed a wonderful evening at the recent Parents and Kids Night held on April 10th. “The more the merrier,” we always say, and “The merrier we were,” said Barbara des Jardins, who leads a group of volunteers as they guide  the children and parents to use their hidden talents to create art projects each month. They share dinner, friendship and delectable deserts provided by Emily’s Sweet Dreams. As Barbara says, “Caring for one another always makes the world a better place.”

 

SHELTER OPEN HOUSE
April 30, 2013

We're proud of our shelter and very grateful to the organizations that help us keep it fresh and attractive. Twice a year we open the shelter to donors, community members, and other agencies. Please let us know if you would like to be added to our guest list for the next open house in the fall. Contact Glenda Brion at g.brion@friendsassoc.org.

 

THEY BUILT BIKES FOR OUR KIDS AGAIN!
December 2012

We were delighted to be the recipient of bikes from the 100 Wheels project. Thanks to the generosity of Pine Street Carpenters and their team of volunteers, the children in our Emergency Family Shelter and in our Homeless Prevention Program received bikes that are perfectly suited for their age and size. This young man was so excited that he rode his bike in our office hallway. Look at that smile! 

View the video of Pine Street Carpenters 100 Wheels Project

2012 SPRING
CLEAN UP

Shelter residents and staff worked together on a chilly Saturday morning. All landscape areas have a rich, new layer of mulch. The walks and parking area were swept clean. Not a weed or leaf remains.

Thanks everyone, the place looks great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front and back look beautiful!

 

NEW BIKES FOR OUR KIDS 2011

We were blessed to be the recipients once again of new bikes for our kids. The bike project was organized by Pine Street Carpenters. This year they built and gave our kids 22 amazing new bikes of all sizes and colors. View more photos and a video of Pine Street's Annual Bike Build

May 2010: Kids Who Really Care

Nancy Hiro, Outreach Coordinator at Goshen Friends School, started Kids Care, a youth service organization, seven years ago. About thirty students participate, preschoolers to fifth graders working together to help others in the community, their activities ranging from baking cookies for firemen or policemen to organizing school-wide service projects. Once a month Kids Care children visit the nearby Bellingham Retirement Community where they meet with residents in independent living, assisted living, nursing care and the dementia unit to socialize, play games and assist with tasks like planting patio pots.

In May, the Points of Light Institute, the national umbrella organization for Kids Care programs,asked Nancy and her students to host a Pampers Surprise Baby Shower to congratulate and support an expectant mother in the community. Nancy contacted Friends Association to find out if we had a new or expectant mother, currently in our Shelter or Homeless Prevention Program, who was in need of baby gear, diapers, and some pampering. We had not one, but three eligible moms, and although the Baby Shower program was intended for just one mom, Pampers agreed to support a triple baby shower.

With $1,000 and coupons from Pampers, the help of the caring staff at Toys "R" Us in Exton, a beautifully decorated cake donated by Genuardi's in West Chester, gifts for siblings and moms contributed by the Goshen Friends staff, and additional donations of money and gift cards, Kids Care planned and hosted a fabulous baby shower. Moms, families, students and staff celebrated the occasion, as three elated moms and their children opened gifts and found an office packed with Pampers and baby equipment too large to wrap, including strollers, pack-n-plays, and car seats. They enjoyed cake, fruit, cheese and soft pretzels, and best of all spent time getting to know one another.

The shower turned out to be a tremendous gift for all involved,
as Nancy Hiro observed:

Even though we gave an incredible number of gifts, we got much more in return—to see our our staff rally together so passionately, to have the children so excited to be a part of this event, to have local stores give so much, to be introduced to such an inspiring association and its staff, and to meet three ladies who are trying so hard to make ends meet while lovingly care for their children and those to-be.

Thank you Kids Care, Nancy and Goshen Friends for dedicating yourselves to this cause, gathering the resouces to make it possible, and devoting your time to make it a success! Our moms are not only better prepared for their babies, but also richer for experiencing your care. We also wish to thank Pampers, the Points of Light Institute, VocalPoint, and generationOn Kids Care Clubs, the organizations responsible for creating and backing the shower program.

    

Above: Three pleased and pampered moms.



Above, left to right: Pampers, Nancy and John (Goshen Friends) with Daniel, Gifts too large to wrap.