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JUNE 3, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXX • NO 18
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CCWS Holds Diaper Giveaway By Francine Fulton
Chester County Women’s Services held a free diaper giveaway on May 13 at its Coatesville office. During the event, staff members distributed more than 6,800 diapers.
Chester County Women’s Services (CCWS), a pregnancy care medical center, held a free diaper giveaway on May 13 at its Coatesville office. The giveaway was open to anyone in the community in need of diapers and wipes for their children due to the effects of COVID-19. Those who were interested in receiving the free diapers were asked to call CCWS in advance during normal business hours to reserve the size diapers that they needed. The event was promoted on CCWS social media sites, and information was distributed through flyers that were given out by partner organizations, such as the Community, Youth, and Women’s Alliance (CYWA); Gaudenzia; and The Bridge Academy. “In total, 100 families received this free service, which equated to 6,897 diapers,” reported Michelle Maloney, CCWS development director. The community was invited to
Donation Drive Set For Octorara Cupboard Penningtonville Presbyterian Church’s Christian Outreach Mission and Education Ministry will hold a community food drive on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to benefit the Octorara Area Food Cupboard (OAFC). Volunteers will be on hand at the church, 406 Main St., Atglen, to accept the food donations. Those donating food are asked to pull into the front parking lot at the church, follow the designated line of traffic and circle around the parking lot to the drop-off point. Items will be handed to an attendant. People are asked not to exit their cars unless absolutely necessary.
Items most needed by the OAFC include canned fruit, canned spaghetti sauce (not glass containers), stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, canned red beets (whole or sliced), pork and beans, boxed scalloped potatoes, rice dishes in a bag, mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup. Donations of fresh produce will also be accepted. “We especially need canned goods like hearty soups and beef stew - things with substance,” said OAFC volunteer Helen Hoffmeier. “Also, any canned tomato products and spaghetti sauce are top on the list.” At present, the OAFC is open on a limited schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic. Current hours are Tuesdays from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clients who visit the food pantry during operating hours are asked to remain in their cars with the windows rolled up. After clients open their trunks, volunteers will bring a bag of food outside and place it in the car, remaining at a distance from the clients. The building itself is on lockdown, and only a limited number of volunteers are working at the pantry. Those in need of food who are not pantry clients may call the pantry during open hours. People in need can give application information over the phone to become a temporary client. After restrictions have been lifted, clients can come to the OAFC to sign their See Donation Drive pg 4
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the community,” Maloney shared. CCWS is a nonprofit, faith-based organization that helps women and their families who are facing unplanned pregnancies to make life-affirming choices. All services are 100% free and offered in both English and Spanish. Families are supported physically, emotionally and financially through basic pregnancy care, parenting education classes, peer counseling, a family advocacy program and community referrals. Maloney reported that CCWS has remained open through the coronavirus pandemic. “We are seeing our clients virtually via telehealth and using Zoom for educational classes,” she said. “For those with medical (needs), we are still offering in-office medical appointments. We are still out there helping.” CCWS has offices at 1028 E. Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, at 139 W. Market St. in West Chester and at 203 S. Walnut St. in Kennett Square. For more information, readers may visit www.ccwsmedical info.org or call 610-383-0930.
Church To Collect Food For The Factory By Francine Fulton
As part of an effort to help the community during this time of need, Pequea Evangelical Congregational (EC) Church in Gap is hosting a “Fill the Trailer” food drive to benefit The Factory Ministries. The food drive will take place every Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the church, located at 5482 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gap. “The food drive will take place every Thursday for the foreseeable future as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated congregation member Jesse Bills. Volunteers will be at the church during those hours to accept the donations. “There will be people there, so you don’t even have to get out of your car,” said Bills. See The Factory pg 2
Pequea Evangelical Congregational Church members (from left) Alan Kinsey, and Mary Jane and Wilmer Stoltzfus invite the community to donate nonperishable food items as part of a “Fill the Trailer” food drive to benefit The Factory Ministries. The food drive will take place every Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the church in Gap.
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contribute to the effort by donating money that was then used by CCWS to purchase the diapers. “ We have a COVID emergency fund on our website, so people gave monetary donations through that,” Maloney explained. “We also have an Amazon baby registry and a Walmart wish list. People could go on and select what is on the registries and have it mailed directly to CCWS. We did not take physical donations (of diapers), so people could make a donation without contact. It was a tangible way to help.” On the day of the giveaway, CCWS staff members followed social distancing guidelines. “(People) drove up and popped their trunks (and the diapers were placed inside),” said Maloney. “For walkers, we had a table set up where we would place the bag six feet away for contactless pickup.” CCWS also plans to host diaper giveaways at its West Chester and Kennett Square locations. “It felt so good to help
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