Color 5K Raises Funds For COPE Program

The 2022 Chester County Color 5K, held in October, raised $120,000 for the county’s Community Outreach Prevention and Education (COPE) program to help in the battle against opioid and heroin addiction. County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline presented a check to Jamie Johnson, director of the county’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (D&A), at the Dec. 15 commissioners’ meeting.

COPE provides 24/7 support to overdose survivors and their families at hospital emergency rooms throughout the county. Trained peer specialists make a personal connection with survivors in the emergency room and encourage them to enter treatment immediately following discharge from the hospital. The program also supplies information about overdose prevention and outreach to first responders, hospital staff and the families of overdose survivors. Kichline’s efforts to address the opioid and heroin epidemic led to the introduction of the Color 5K in 2016.

In addition to COPE, Chester County addresses the opioid crisis through its Overdose Prevention Task Force, which was formed in 2015. The mission of the task force is to prevent overdose deaths in Chester County through a multidisciplinary, coordinated effort between government departments, community organizations, and treatment providers. The task force is led by the Chester County Departments of D&A, Health, and Human Services; the District Attorney’s Office; and Good Fellowship Ambulance and EMS Training Institute.

In addition to the COPE Program, Chester County introduced the Law Enforcement

Treatment Initiative (LETI), started by the District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with D&A in early 2022. LETI is a collaborative effort between law enforcement and substance use treatment providers to save lives and reduce crime and recidivism. It provides an alternative option to law enforcement, providing treatment instead of punishment for people with substance use disorder who commit low-level, non-violent crimes. Individuals can also contact a member of law enforcement to ask for a referral or to be connected to treatment with no threat of arrest or prosecution.

Anyone who is struggling or has a loved one who is struggling with a substance use disorder may call the Drug & Alcohol Information and Referral number at 866-286-3767 or Get Help Now, a 24/7 hotline, at 800-662-4357.

To learn more about Chester County’s Overdose Prevention Task Force, visit https://stopodchesco.org/.

Additional ARPA Grants Awarded

The Chester County commissioners recently announced a second round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant recipients. More than $6 million in grants were awarded for 22 projects. The new grants add to the $40 million in funds that were awarded to 73 applicants during the first round of grants, announced in September 2022.

The ARPA grants are intended to provide an equitable infusion of resources to meet local pandemic recovery needs and help accelerate the ongoing rebuilding of Chester County’s economy. Specifically in this round of funding, grants supported many first responder organizations, municipal infrastructure projects, subsidized early childhood education and care, and behavioral health assistance.

Chester County received more than 300 ARPA applications for funding requests from a wide array of municipalities, public authorities, small businesses, and non- profit organizations that are located within, or provide substantial service to, the county. Application funding requests amounted to three times the total ARPA funds allocated to Chester County.

The breakdown in funding for the recommended projects, following both rounds of awarded grants, includes $12.9 million in behavioral health, $9 million in public health, $7 million in housing, $6.9 million in public safety, $3.3 million in community facilities and programs, $2.7 million in infrastructure, $1.8 million in workforce development, $1.5 million in food security, and $1.1 million in child care.

All ARPA funding applications recommended by independent review teams have also been reviewed by Susquehanna Accounting and Consulting Services (SACS) to ensure compliance with federal rules. A list of the ARPA fund awards can be found at www.chesco.org/arpa.

ATGLEN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: E. Main and Dallas Sts., Atglen, PA. Joe Newsome, Interim Pastor. Join us Sundays at 11am as we preach Christ crucified, risen and coming again so all may come to a personal, saving relationship with Christ.

COMMUNITY OF LOVE LUTHERAN CHURCH

117 N. 4th Street, Oxford, PA 19363 Sunday Service 10 am(in-person & online) 610-998-0282 collutheranchurch@gmail.com For more info, visit www.collutheranchurch.org

ENCOUNTER CHURCH: 300Hideaway Drive, Quarryville, PA 17566 Sunday Service & Kid’s Church held at 8:30 am and 10:45 am. Church e-mail: office@encounterchurchpa.org www.encounterchuchpa.org Church phone: 717-786-2756

FAITH BIBLE CHAPEL: “Ordinary People Serving An Extraordinary God.” Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. (Children’s Service during Pastor’s Message). Wednesday Prayer Meeting at 6:30 p.m. We are locatedat 140 Bernard Ave., Cochranville. Pastor Scott Althouse 610-593-6333 fbchapel@zoominternet.net

GAP COMMUNITY CHURCH: located at 835 Houston Run Drive, Gap PA 17527. Sunday morning gathering at 10:00 am as well as streaming live.To learn more, please check out our website at: http://gapcommunity.church

GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH: Dedicated to the serious preaching & teaching of God’s Word. Traditional hymns & praise songs accompanied by guitar. Sunday Service 10:40am. 53 Hurley Rd, Parkesburg, PA 19365. 610-593-7123. www. gracecommunitychurch-parkesburg.com for messages, ministries and directions

HEALING SHEPHERD, ECC

Progressive, Inclusive, Democratic, Catholic! Sunday Mass: 10am 2109 Art School Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425 610-969-5932 www.healingshepherd.com

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HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH: 1 East Highland Rd., Parkesburg PA 19365 610-857-1670 www.highland-bc.org

Sunday Services: Sunday School for all ages 9:30 am, Morning Service 10:45 am (nursery is available), Prayer Service 4 pm

Wednesday Youth programs 6:30-8:00 pm.

Thursday Ladies Bible Study 10:00 am

IMPACTCHURCH: Impacting lives with the Hope of Jesus Christ. Sunday Gatherings at 9 am & 10:30 am. 101 East 1st Ave., Parkesburg. Pastor Mike Bailey. 610-857-3887. Visit us online at WWW.IMPACTPA.CHURCH

LITTLE BRITAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

255 Little Britain Church Rd., Peach Bottom (between 222 and 272). Sunday School Classes all ages 9:15 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Youth Groups for Elementary, Jr. High and Sr. High, Choir, Bell Choir, Small Groups. Rev. Thomas Milligan, 717-548-2266. Web site: www.littlebritainchurch.org E-mail: lbpc1732@gmail.com Hearing assistance devices.

MANOR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (PCA)

“Come find spiritual life in Christ for your family.” Cochranville: Rte. 926, halfway between Rte. 41 & Rte. 10. Rev. Daniel Henderson, Pastor. Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 am. Fellowship & Refreshments from 10:15-10:35 am. Worship with classes for infantsPre-K at 10:45 am Kidsworship for K5th is held during the sermon time. Youth Group for 6th-12th grades twice a month at 6:30 pm 610-869-2402. www.manorpresbyterian.com

MAPLE GROVE MENNONITE CHURCH :

549 Swan Rd., Atglen. 610-593-6658, Lead Pastor: Mike Clemmer, Music Minister: Matt Chambers. Sunday School 9am, Sunday Worship 10am, Children’s Church, Nursery. Youth Group Wed., 7pm. Christian Preschool. Visit us online at www.maplegrovemc.com

MIDDLE OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH : 1199 Valley Road Quarryville. Sunday Services: Sunday School 9 AM; Blended Worship 10:30 AM. 717-786-3402 Visit us online at www.middleoctorara.org

MT. VERNON CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Growing Deeper, Reaching Farther. 1 Lighthouse Dr, Kirkwood. Pastor Tony Murrin. Sunday School- all ages 9am, Worship 10:00am. Handicap Access. Phone: 717-529-4102. Visit us online at mtvernonchristianchurch.com

PARKESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH: 103 West St., (next to Parkesburg Library & Minich Park). 610-857-9135 or Email: info@parkesburgbaptist.org. Pastor: Rev. Mary C. Lewis. Sunday Worship 10:30 am - Nursery Care & Jr. Church provided.

SANDY HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH : 420 S. Sandy Hill Rd., Coatesville 610-857-3959; www.sandyhill.net. Sunday service: 10:15am; Bible teaching, music; Children’s classes, staffed nursery; Adult classes, 9:15am, Youth Min., Sundays, 5:30-7:30pm. Small Groups. A Friendly, Christ-centered church. Preschool: Enrolling-2 1/2-5 years, 610-857-1922

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Where everyone can find a place to belong! 116 Lancaster Pike, Oxford (Rt. 472 at the Rt. 1 bypass ramps). Sunday in-person Holy Communion Service at 10:00 AM, also live-streamed. When people warmly welcome you, you will know you have found a church home where you can come just as you are. The Episcopal Church is Catholic in the way we worship and Protestant in the way we think. You’ll find beautiful music, good preaching, and an inclusive community in which to worship God. YOUBELONGHERE! Check out St. Christopher’s website, YouTube, or Facebook for updates and links. Rev. Dr. Mary Ann Mertz rector@stchrisoxford.org 610-932-8134 www.stchrisoxford.org

UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (EPC) : 1121 Octorara Trail (on Rt. 10 a mile south of Rt. 30), Parkesburg. Christ-centered, Handicapped accessible. Sunday School all ages 9:30 am (Sept-May). Sunday Worship (Blended style) 10:30 am. Adult choir, mid-week Youth Group & a variety of adult groups. Bill Kelly, Pastor; Bill Cliff, Asst. Pastor. (610)857-5787 www.uopc-epc.org Find us on Facebook. Christian Preschool: (610)8570236

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