Around Phoenixville

The You Are Worth It Foundation is a grassroots homeless and in-need outreach group from Phoenixville, PA. Around Phoenixville recently asked Chris Brickhouse for some more information about the Foundation and how you can help: Tell us a little about You Are Worth It and how it got started: We are a homeless outreach organizations serving Phoenixville, Pottstown, Norristown, Center City and Kensington in Philly and constantly expanding. We were formed in early 2018 by Dina Rowan and I came on board last June. We have roughly 15 volunteers so far and would like to expand that to expand our reach. We take donated items directly to the people. We provide them with a hot meal and new or lightly used clothing and self-care products. We have long term goals of a mobile shower center, vocational training and assisting with housing in any way possible. What kind of items do you need? We take a wide array of items - individually packaged food, canned goods, ramen, protein bars, water, s...

The Better Together Church Street Block Party is a gathering of over 25 local non-profits and small businesses that serve the greater Phoenixville Area. Come out and learn about the wonderful local non-profits doing great things in your community, and enjoy great food, music, and activities for the whole family! The Main Event will take place in the parking lot of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center, 153 Main Street. The Phoenixville Fire Department, A Baby's Breath, and Code Blue Overnight Emergency Warming Center will have Open Houses. There will be face painting, balloons, kids' crafts, story hour, a performance by the wonderful Firebird Theatre, a DJ, and much more! The event will be held on Saturday, September 30th from 10am-2pm. Visit the Facebook Event Page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/460663864296588/

Phoenixville Area Time Bank presents an Introduction to Time Banking with Margo Ketchum on the second Saturday of the month, 2:00 to 3:30 pm at Orion Communities, 237 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA. The Phoenixville Area Time Bank is a new kind of resource - Do you love to cook but can't mow your lawn? In an exchange of services, members give what they want to, and receive what they need. Come learn about the abundance in your community and what it has to offer you in this orientation for new members and refresher for current members. Time Dollars are a type of community currency that anyone can earn by using their time, energy, skills, and talents to help others. One hour of service provided to another human being or to the community earns one Time Dollar. You can spend your Time Dollars on any number of services, give them to a family member, to a friend who needs help, or to an organization of your choice. Or you can save them up for the future. Businesses and non-profits ...

The Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce led a ribbon cutting ceremony to recognize the new office and growth of Orion Communities, a non-profit that serves the most vulnerable neighbors in the greater Phoenixville area. Participating in the ribbon cutting event were two Chester County foundations that have been instrumental in Orion’s growth. The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation provided a technology grant to update office technology as well as help with the implementation of a new web-based data management system. The Chester County Community Foundation awarded Orion a ‘capacity building’ grant for several items including marketing materials, Orion’s first Annual Report and improvements to the physical office due to the dramatic increase in clients in the preceding year. Orion Communities believes everyone is entitled to life’s basic essentials of shelter, food, clothing, transportation and medical services. With the support of generous donors and volunteers, Orion is ...

Laura Prell has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help feed 108 families a real meal. Laura is working with the St. Peter's Church Food Bank and estimates it costs $20 to provide a family a real meal and is thus hoping to raise $2160. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. From the campaign page: The idea of feeding 108 families a real meal with real food started a long time ago, but last year, I was reminded of this idea, when I was putting my food away after coming home from food shopping. Not everything would fit in my fridge and I was annoyed. Then I felt like someone smacked me in the face... I have too much food and it won't fit in my fridge... I am so blessed that I have never known hunger a day in my life. I knew I wanted to do something that showed how grateful I am for that. My husband and I, have always donated to food banks at the holidays, but we wanted to do more, make it more of a monthly reminder of how good we have it. We started b...

On Wednesday May 13, 2015, in conjunction with the Dogwood Festival , the Kimberton Area Lions Club will be hosting KidSight, a Lions' vision screening program for pre-school children. The screening will take place between the hours of 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Parkside United Church of Christ on the corner of Main Street and Third Avenue in Phoenixville, across from the Dogwood Festival location (Reeves Park) and will be conducted by trained specialists. This is a free service provided by the Kimberton Area Lions Club. What is KidSight? KidSight is an initial screening program for eye problems in preschool children. If a screening reveals a potential issue, the child should be referred to an appropriate eye care professional. Children are screened for lazy eye and possible depth perception conditions.

As part of The Humane Society Phoenixville’s ongoing commitment of serving the community, on Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., veterinary staff and volunteers from The Humane Society Phoenixville’s partner organization, Humane Pennsylvania , will be on hand to administer free vaccination and microchip services to area residents. Vaccinations for Rabies and Distemper-Parvo, along with Home Again microchips will be provided at no-cost for up to 75 dogs on a first come first served basis. In tough economic times, many pet owners feel as though they have to choose between caring for their family or their pets’ needs. Humane Pennsylvania has been a leader in developing programs, such as PetNet and AniMeals, so that pet owners hopefully do not have to make that unfortunate choice. “Our goal has always been to make pet surrenders a last resort,” said Karel Minor, Humane Pennsylvania’s President/CEO. “Fortunately, we have made tremendous strides in this area, but more can alwa...

Reader Maureen posted this on our Facebook page : New Jersey residents are in desperate need following the devastation of many shore communities and are in need our immediate help. The process of returning life to normal may take a very long time but together we can help our neighbors by donating items, distributing flyers about this effort, volunteering at the collection center when it opens, and help to make a positive impact on many lives. We have received a list of needed items. Please see below. Wednesday, November 07, 2012, 7 p.m. we will meet at the Episcopal House, 601 Center Street, Phoenixville, to collect any immediate donations and to organize volunteers to drop flyers, staff a collection center, and deliver supplies to New Jersey. Please make plans to attend! Manny DeMutis has graciously offered a collection site for donations next door to Generations which is across from Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust at 115 Main Street, Phoenixville. The center will be open ...

PHOENIXVILLE TOWN WATCH PARTNERS WITH AREA GROUPS FOR SPRING COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP DAYS Clear skies and warm air mark spring’s arrival in Phoenixville; so too will the perennial act of sprucing up the town. In mythology, April is the month of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and in keeping with that theme, the Phoenixville Town Watch will be cleaning up, with the public’s help. Phoenixville Town Watch is excited to announce Spring Community Cleanups Days will take place on Wednesday, April 18th and Saturday, April 28th and is encouraging area residents to get involved. Picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, and raking debris from the curbside areas may require some sweat equity, but it’s well worth the effort. These projects will not only improve the landscape of Phoenixville, they will create a great foundation for working together moving forward. Many local organizations will also be joining together for this worthy event, including the Phoenixville Business Association (PABA),...

The Phoenixville Green Team will be cleaning the French Creek Stream tomorrow morning and is looking for volunteers to help them with their effort. If interested, you are asked to meet at either the Foundry building or the Farmer's Market at 10am. The clean up will last until approximately 2pm at which point refreshments will be served for a job well done. For more information, please contact Carrie Makoid at cmthirteen@yahoo.com /484-356-6036 or Jessica Sanchez Jessica.sanchez@7thwonder.org /610-574-0786.

Phoenixville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1564 (Ettinger - Powers - Campbell Post) is hosting two events this month. On Sunday, November 6th in celebration of Veterans Day. There will be a church service from 10:45-11:45am at St. John’s UCC, 315 Gay Street. After the service, a special ceremony honoring our Veterans will be held from 12-12:30 at Reeves Park. The VFW will then be hosting a luncheon beginning at 1pm at their banquet hall, located at 200 Starr Street. On Saturday, November 19th, Post 1564 will be presenting a Veteran’s Benefits Seminar beginning at 9am. V.F.W. Service Officers , Veteran’s Affairs Representatives and Disabled American Veterans will conduct presentations and will be available to answer questions and assist in filing of claims. All area veterans are encouraged to attend this free seminar which will be held at 200 Starr Street.

PHILADELPHIA (October 2011) – GlaxoSmithKline , one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, has announced that the Phoenixville Healthcare Access Foundation is one of its GlaxoSmithKline 15th Annual IMPACT Award recipients in the Philadelphia area. The Chester County nonprofit will receive $40,000 for having a significant impact on its community by providing access to proactive and effective healthcare services. A ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at GlaxoSmithKline in Philadelphia to honor the organization. “The recipients of the GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award inspire us to keep dedicating ourselves to making the world a better place, especially in these challenging times,” said Mary Linda Andrews, GlaxoSmithKline Director of Community Partnerships. “The individuals behind these organizations are healthcare advocates, change agents and passionate community supporters working to build stronger and healthier and communities.” F...

This Saturday, September 24, from 4 pm to 7 pm, come out to the basketball courts at Valley Forge Christian College for the first "Give Back to the Community Day". When Phoenixville community activist Mike Ellis recently noticed that Phoenixville has never had a "Give Back to the Community Day", it set off a chain of events that will culminate in this weekend's Giveback event that has a focus on the kids. Ellis and professional basketball player Tai Crutchfield will be at the courts to give a free basketball clinic to those 11 and older. Ellis and Crutchfield worked with Dolly Winston this summer as coaches for the Phoenixville Area Positive Alternatives league. A bond was formed and plans to continue teaching the local youth move forward with this event. Ellis feels Phoenixville can become a major basketball training ground for kids with events like this. "We have the talented teachers and coaches. I'm arranging sponsorships to make these progra...

Neumann University, located in the Franklin Commons building in Phoenixville, will host a re-employment project using the Five O’Clock Club model. The program begins February 28 th with the orientation meeting that day. The program will run for 10 weeks, every Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and is designed to work with individuals who are looking to get back to work quickly in their industry or transition to another industry. “What differentiates this re-employment program from other public, private and commercial programs in the area is the focused concentration on the individual,” says Gail Fletcher of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Leadership Academy. “The program is a cross between a graduate school curriculum and boot camp and has a rigorous syllabus to follow, with weekly high-powered guest speakers to kick off the day’s program.”

Reader Abby wrote in to tell of a blog she has started for new parents in the area, Babies on Bridge Street . Says Abby about the site: The blog is intended for new parents in Phoenixville to find baby friendly activities, businesses, and resources in our area. I'll be reviewing these places and activities for parents to see what it's like. There's nothing more intimidating than attending new events with little babies in tow. I hope the blog will encourage new parents to enjoy what the town has to offer and inspire a little courage to leave the house! Good luck to Abby with the site!

On Tuesday, October 5th, Service Club Members, guests and Past Recipients of the Ambassador Award are cordially invited to attend the 48th Annual Phoenixville InterService Club Dinner. The event is being hosted by the Phoenixville Jaycees and begin at 6pm at Franklin Hall in Franklin Commons, 400 Franklin Avenue. Schedule of events: 6:00 p.m. – Social Hour (Wine, Beer, Hors D'oeuvres provided) 7:00 p.m. – Dinner (Cost - $36 per person, includes beer, wine & soda). Menu can be found at www.interserviceclub.org . In addition to food and beverage, entertainment will be provided by John Valerio Music and there will also be raffles for cash prizes, basket of cheer and more! Deadline to register is Monday, September 20th. Click here to download a registration form .

The Youth Aid Panel in Phoenixville is seeking community service providers to assist them with their program. Specifically, they are looking for local groups who can offer youths a chance to volunteer their time in order to meet the requirements of the program. About the Youth Aid Panel: The Youth Aid Panel Program helps neighborhoods deal effectively with first time youth offenders. A panel of local community volunteers meets with the youth and his/her family to discuss the offense. The panels hold the youth accountable for their actions by requiring community service, educational programs, and specific restitution. How It Works: 1. Referral. The police department offers the young offender the opportunity to go before the panel instead of heading to court. The referrals are summary or minor misdemeanor offenses such as curfew violations, underage drinking, or retail theft. In order to participate, the person must admit involvement in the offense and agree to meet with the pane...