New Make-A-Wish Fund Launched

Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley recently launched the Sapphire Fund. The Sapphire Fund will financially support the wishes of children with a cancer diagnosis in the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley region.

The largest number of wishes granted each year by the chapter are for children with a cancer diagnosis. On average, 60% of the wishes granted each year will now be funded by the Sapphire Fund. Annually, $800,000 is needed to financially support these wishes. The name of the Sapphire Fund was inspired by the birthstone for the month of September, as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

To learn more about the Sapphire Fund, visit https://wish .org/philadesv/sapphire-fund.

Feb. 11. Children’s Valentine’s Day Party Village Library

207 N. Walnut St., Morgantown, 9 to 11 a.m. The Friends of the Library will present a special story time for children age 3 and up. Featured will be Valentine’s Day bingo, a craft and other themed activities. For questions and to register, email Lauren at laurennappi465@gmail.com or call the library at 610-286-1022.

Feb. 11. Indoor Flea Market

St. Peter United Church of Christ 920 Ridge Road, Pottstown, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will also be available. For more information, call 610-469-9690.

Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day Lasagna Dinner

Historic Joanna Furnace 1250 Furnace Road, Geigertown, noon to 5 p.m. The takeout meal will include a one-and-a-halfpound pan of lasagna, along with salad, bread and a homemade dessert. All dinners will be sold cold with heating instructions included. The deadline to order lasagna meals is Friday, Feb. 10. www.haycreek.org/food-raiser

Feb. 16. Community Cancer Support Group

Conestoga Mennonite Church

2779 Main St. Morgantown, 7 p.m. Anyone currently diagnosed with any form of cancer and cancer survivors are encouraged to attend the meeting for hope and encouragement. For more information, contact Cheryl at csgcmc@ptd.net or 610-762-0002.

Feb. 21. Potato Fastnacht Sale

Historic Joanna Furnace, noon to 5 p.m. Fastnachts can be purchased per dozen or half dozen. The order deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 14. www.haycreek.org/food-raiser frompg 1 backpack full of food for the weekend,” Brian explained, noting about 60 OJR students are given backpacks each week.

TheCommunityCalendarisaweeklyfeatureof the Community Courier. Submit your meeting or event for consideration in writing at least two weeks prior to the event. Email submissions to ffulton@engleonline.com.

There are also special holiday distributions, including Christmas, when youngsters are provided with an assortment of gifts.

The pantry is always in need of food donations. Items can be placed in a bin located in the front of the building. Those with large quantities of items to donate may email coventryfoodpantry@gmail.com to arrange a drop-off time.

“We need canned pasta and canned meat like beef stew. We also run out of canned fruit quickly,” said Ash, noting that cleaning products and personal care items are also accepted.

Ginny hopes that the community will continue to support the pantry in its new location. “We are so happy to be here and so happy to have moved, but we have so many more expenses here that we did not have before, like heating and electricity,” she said. “We are really relying on the community for food and monetary donations.”

For more information, including donation and volunteer opportunities, visit www.coventryfoodpantry .com or www.facebook.com /coventryfoodpantry.

BY FRANCINE FULTON

Middle-schoolers who reside in Chester County are invited to take part in a Civics Bee that is being offered through the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry (CCCBI).

CCCBI is partnering with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) to host the competition, which is designed to test students’ knowledge about civics that is “the study of the rights and obligations of citizens in society.” Students will be recognized and awarded cash prizes.

“This is our first year being involved with (the Civics Bee),” noted Marguerite DeGrassa, CCCBI director of marketing and communications, adding that the regional Civics Bee is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee competition.

In the first round of the contest, local sixth-, seventh- and eighthgrade students will be asked to submit an essay. In the essay, students must identify a problem, challenge or opportunity in local communities and explain what can be done to improve it based on civic virtues and founding principles. Civic virtues include moderation, respect and integrity, and the founding principles - core ideas of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution - include concepts such as inalienable rights.

In the 500-word essay, students may write about issues in their own neighborhoods, answering questions such as “Is there something in your community that you would like to change?” or “What service is currently missing from your community?”

The deadline for essay submissions is Friday, Feb. 24. Entries may be submitted by mailing a hard copy, postmarked by Feb. 24, to Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, 1600 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA 19355. A link to email the essays is available at www.facebook.com/chescochamber in a post dated Jan. 6.

Judges will select 20 finalists to participate in CCCBI’s local competition at the CCIU, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown, on Saturday, April 15, beginning at 10 a.m.

Similar to a spelling bee, the Civics Bee will feature contestants answering questions one at a time.

“It will be a live quiz event,” noted DeGrassa. The Civics Bee will feature special guest judges, including state

Rep. John Lawrence; Michael Hartman, chief of staff for state Sen. Carolyn Comitta; and Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline and Josh Maxwell. “More ‘celebrity’ judges are being added daily,” DeGrassa said.

Sample Civics Bee questions include “Which branch of government can declare war?” (legislative branch); How many justices are on the Supreme Court?” (nine); and “What year did women get the right to vote?” (1920).

After regional Civics Bees at five other locations in Pennsylvania, the top three students from each local competition will advance to the state competition in June.

For complete details about the Civics Bee, including the specific essay requirements, important dates and cash prize information, visit the previously mentioned Facebook page or visit www.chescochamber.org and choose “Events” and then “Civics Bee.”

Quarryville 717-786-8781