Radnor Educational Foundation

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Supports Families Through Hard Times

Financial insecurity can impact a student's learning, school attendance, physical and mental health, and overall academic success.

Recognizing the negative effects that financial stress can have on students, in 2013, the Radnor Educational Foundation (REF) joined forces with the Radnor Township School District to create the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. Expanding on REF's existing work providing grants for innovative school programs and projects that enhance curriculum and student life, this program provides financial support to Radnor families who experience unexpected financial hardship and allows students to focus on their studies and just being kids.

When one of the district's school social workers becomes aware of a family facing disruption, a financial setback, or other life challenge, the social worker meets with the family to identify needed resources to reinforce a positive learning environment for the school students living in that household. When additional financial support is required to provide basic life needs for the students, the social workers reach out to the Radnor Educational Foundation to request help, while allowing families to remain anonymous. Thanks to the generosity of the Radnor community, REF is able to help pay onetime rent, mortgage, or car expenses, cover costs for transportation or utilities, and provide food, clothing, or other essential household items. This financial support can augment other support or serve as a stop gap when other assistance is not available.

In Radnor Township, we sometimes forget that there may be families that are living paycheck to paycheck or may be struggling due to circumstances outside of their control, but in the 2021-2022 school year, the Radnor Educational Foundation provided $8,400 in assistance to ten families. Through these funds, we have been able to help a family that was burdened with high medical bills and another family that experienced a reduction in work hours due to the pandemic. We also offered financial assistance for a grandparent supporting their grandchildren after a tragedy.

Now in its ninth year of existence, Neighbors Helping Neighbors continues to expand the ways in which it can support Radnor families beyond the traditional rent, utility, and car payments. For example, REF helped to cover transportation costs for a parent trying to get to work when they unexpectedly lost their car.

With rising costs of inflation and the holiday season approaching, greater need for this program is anticipated in the coming months, and the Foundation is prepared to support as many requests as the budget allows.

The Radnor Educational Foundation will be providing additional information about the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program throughout the fall and winters months (when requests for assistance are typically highest) and leading up to #GivingTuesday on November 29, 2022 when we hope to raise more awareness about this important program and gain the support of the community.

If you or someone you know is a family in the Radnor Township School District and is in need of financial assistance or need help during a family crisis, please reach out to the school social workers for advice and support.

If you'd like to get more involved with our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, we invite you to join the Radnor Educational Foundation Community Engagement Committee. Email REF at info@radnoreducational foundation.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.

To learn more about the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, please visit www.radnoreducational foundation.org/ neighbors-helping-neighbors

APPLY FOR A RADNOR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANT!

The Radnor Educational Foundation Grants Committee accepts applications for consideration during three grant cycles in fall, winter, and spring. The first step to applying for a grant is submitting a Letter of Intent that provides a brief description of the project and its budget using the form on the REF website. For the 2022 - 2023 school year, the Letters of Intent are due on the following dates:

SEPTEMBER 30

for the fall grant cycle JANUARY 20

for the winter grant cycle MARCH 31