Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
JANUARY 3, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Making a resolution to volunteer BY FRANCINE FULTON
Sharing good news with the community BY FRANCINE FULTON
There was no shortage of good news that was shared in the Community Courier in 2023. Readers were introduced to charitable people in the community, and they learned about special events and activities by nonprofit groups, churches and school students.
In 2023, readers met Adah Lake of Morgantown, a Twin Valley Middle School student who founded Kindness Blooms, which provides free bouquets of freshly picked flowers from the family’s backyard to community members. The flowers are displayed on a flower stand in from of the family home. Adah gave away more than 30 bouquets See Good news pg 5
Jennifer Cordivari (left) and Amanda McGuigan are matched Compeer friends.
Mission Trip Birdsboro & Beyond celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023.
Be an influencer BY ANN MEAD ASH
The OIC Adult Tutoring Program utilizes volunteer tutors to help individuals from other countries with their English language skills.
To l e a r n m o re , v i s i t w w w .mentalhealthpartnerships.org/ compeer-chester-county. The Adult Tutoring Program of Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), headquartered at the Chester County Librar y in Exton, is
currently seeking volunteer tutors to help individuals from other countries with their English language skills. Tutors are required to commit to working with a student three hours per week, which is usually covered in two 90-minute sessions.
“There’s more demand for character coaches than there are volunteers,” said Ben Swarr, director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Berks County, who works with athletes in Twin Valley and Governor Mifflin school districts. Swarr is also a former character coach for Cocalico High School wrestling. “We are looking for volunteers and for coaches willing to have character coaches (help out),” added FCA’s Kyle Martin, who works with students at LampeterStrasburg, Conestoga Valley,
and Solanco high schools. Adam Burns, FCA area representative with Pequea Valley and Ephrata high schools, noted that the job of a character coach is to serve the coaching staff team in any way he or she can, and that a volunteer need not be proficient in a sport to be a character coach. Character coaches are asked to aid the head coach with a focus on social and emotional development of student-athletes. Objectives include encouraging athletes, working to create a positive culture, and helping to develop leadership characteristics in athletes. The first year See Character coaches pg 2
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See Volunteer pg 3
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nlike a typical resolution that can quickly be forgotten, a commitment to volunteer in the new year is a decision that can make a lasting impact in the community. Many local nonprofit organizations are in need of volunteers who are willing to help them continue their important work. Among the agencies in need of volunteers is Compeer Chester County, which pairs people living with mental health conditions with volunteer friends from the community. A Compeer volunteer is asked to make a commitment to meet with his or her friend for a minimum of four hours each month for one year. “We are still in need of both male and female volunteers, as we have a waitlist for both,” said Donna Kueny, program manager. According to Compeer, a person with mental health challenges can benefit from time spent with a friend, which has been shown to increase self-esteem and reduce loneliness. Compeer volunteers, who receive training, may choose their friends based on shared interests and geographic location. Compeer volunteers and friends may meet for coffee or dinner or attend a sporting event. With the end of the pandemic, Compeer Chester County has retur ned to offer ing group events during the year. “We have returned to in-person events, and in 2023, we had a pizza and bowling party, a summer picnic and a holiday luncheon,” noted Kueny. Compeer is a pro gram of Mental Health Partnerships.
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