Downingtown/Exton
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JULY 8, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
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VOL XXXII • NO 15
View the tributes and honor your own community hero!
/heroes Golf Outing TUMC Stays Connected With “Waving Wednesday” Ministry EPC To Aid Good Samaritan Services By Francine Fulton
In order to stay in touch with congregation members during the recent stayat-home order, Thorndale United Methodist Church (TUMC) held a new “Waving Wednesday” ministry. As part of the nine-week initiative, a group gathered at the church at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and caravanned throughout the community to honk and wave and say hello to congregation members and their neighbors as a way to promote camaraderie during the coronavirus pandemic. Pastor Shauna Ridge came up with the idea for Waving Wednesday after hearing about birthday party drive-bys, parades and similar efforts. The goal was to greet every member of the congregation. “We attempted to do a drive-by
and wave at everyone who worships with us,” she said. “We called the night before and asked people to stand on their porch. We probably got to 85% or 90% of the worshipping church.” She said the effort grew as neighbors of congregation members joined in. “The really cool thing that would happen is we would drive by and honk to our members and their neighbors came out,” said Ridge. “We ended up waving to whoever was out and about. If we drove by the mailman, we would honk and wave at him. We honked and waved in the Giant parking lot (located next to the church). It was fun and a way to spread joy and laughter in the midst of what was going on.” Ridge pointed out that congregation member Bill LaBriola joined the caravan and loaded an old TUMC sign in the See TUMC pg 4
By Dayna M. Reidenouer
As part of Thorndale United Methodist Church’s “Waving Wednesday” ministry, congregation members gathered at the church on Wednesday mornings and then caravanned throughout the community to honk and wave and say hello to congregation members and their neighbors.
David’s Drive Collects Items For Veterans, Announces Fundraiser David’s Drive 831 (DD831), a Chester Countybased organization with the motto of “Helping
Veterans Because We Should,” continued its charitable work during the coronavirus outbreak. For a period of six weeks, the charity purchased and packed nonperishable food items that were delivered to local at-risk veterans. DD831 is named for David Turner Jr., who was employed at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center when he passed away at the age of 20 in December 2009. His family members started the all-volunteer David’s Drive 831 charity to benefit veterans by providing much-needed goods and services. The 831 symbolizes the phrase “I love you,” because the phrase contains eight letters in three words that have one meaning. DD831’s effort in partnership with the Coatesville VA began on March 30. On that day, the Turner family picked up cases of See David’s Drive pg 3
Over the course of six weeks, Sam (left), Joy (center) and David Turner Sr. from David’s Drive 831 (DD831) packed more than 400 bags of food for local veterans. The charity purchased the food at cost from local grocery stores. DD831 also announced that St. Joseph’s Parish’s fourth annual golf outing on July 13, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 7208, will benefit DD831.
See Golf Outing pg 2
Student Joins Church Effort To Offer Free Masks By Francine Fulton
When Emma Aucker, 16, learned that her church - Central Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Downingtown - was beginning an outreach to offer free masks to the community, she quickly decided to assist with the effort as part of her required graduation project at Downingtown High School West (DHSW), where she will be a junior this fall. As part of the initiative, called Masks for Neighbors, local residents are invited to pick up a mask free of charge from an outdoor display at See Student pg 4
As part of her graduation project, Emma Aucker, a student at Downingtown High School West, has joined the effort at Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown to offer free masks to the community.
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By Francine Fulton
Now more than ever, thanks to jobs and wages lost while the stay-at-home order was in place, resources for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes are in demand. Thankfully, Good Samaritan Services (GSS), which serves individuals and families in Lancaster and Chester counties who have poverty-related needs, is prepared to help. “We provide a wide spectrum of services that are customizable to each individual or family at whatever