March 2017 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Quakertown Cares Has Successful 21st Season BY JANE THOMPSON-SMITH For more than two decades “Quakertown Cares” has collected money to help those in need in the Quakertown area, and as its 2016 campaign comes to an end, the collecting and helping continues. This year more than $46,000 has been raised! “Quakertown Cares” helps families, seniors and veterans in need within the area of the Quakertown Community School District. Truly a local campaign, contributions are collected from area individuals, families, organizations, churches and businesses. Originally a holiday campaign, collections are now welcomed throughout the year, and distributions to those in need are also made all year long. Giving to “Quakertown Cares” this year so far are the Zeigler Family Foundation with $15,000, and a Quakertown business which wishes to remain anonymous with $10,000. Both give their generous gifts annually! The Quakertown church, Morning Star Fellowship, contributed $4, 771 to benefit the students at Quakertown Elementary School, and the 100 Acre Wood Foundation Trust gave $2,000, an annual gift. QNB has given $1000 to “Quakertown Cares” every year since the fundraiser’s inception, along with numerous, greatly appreciated inkind contributions. The Quakertown School District has also consistently given in-kind gifts since “Quakertown Cares” was begun in 1995. The Quakertown Business Networking Group (QBNG) gave $1,000 this year, as did an anonymous Richland Township resident who gives this gift annually. The Milford Middle School staff gave $1,060. In addition, numerous Quakertown Community School District staff members gave to the cause through payroll deductions. The Trumbauersville Elementary TPO gave $845, bringing its five-year total to a truly impressive $4,692, and a Milford Township couple gave $500. The Missions Committee of the Quakertown United Methodist Church gave $500, and the local accounting firm Hutchinson, Gillahan and Freeh contributed $425 along with many in-kind gifts over the life of the campaign. There were also anonymous contributions of $500, $400, $325 and $250, in addition to five $200 and two $150 gifts. Scott Godshalk and his Regency Manor neighbors gave $350, a Milford Township couple gave a $300 annual contribution with an employer matching gift, and David and Arlen Freeman gave $250. Thomas and Barbara Bisko donated $200, as did Stacie Schantz and Diane and Paul Golrick. The Kiwanis Club of Upper Bucks gave $100, and there were numerous contributions of $25-$150. And what has “Quakertown Cares” made of all of this giving by community for community?
During this year, the campaign provided assistance to 180 senior citizens and veterans and 215 school families, and supported Head Start. It held a joint holiday campaign with Quakertown School District, coordinated by district social worker Kirsten Cochran. $15,000 in Target gift cards were distributed to students in need. Recipients are referred to “Quakertown Cares” by school guidance counselors, community social workers, veterans organizations and the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging. In addition, every year the campaign supports seventh grade students at Milford and Strayer middle schools who would not otherwise be able to attend Outdoor School for financial reasons. The “Quakertown Cares” committee hand delivered Giant food store gift cards to the 152 residents of the housing facility, The Grundy House. “Cares” also handed out 100 turkeys at Quakertown’s Classic Staffing Services, owned by Bob Zirinsky, the Monday before Thanksgiving. Thanks to Bob for his generous turkey contribution! The campaign held a November craft fair with 21 registered crafters and lots of good food at Quakertown High School to raise funds for the cause. In addition, a craft fair AND breakfast, coordinated by “Quakertown Cares” committee member Lisa Green, will be held April 1 from 8a to 1p, also at the high school. Plan to attend and help your neighbors in need! A similar craft fair/breakfast combo was held two years ago and was a real hit! Breakfast will include freshly made eggs with peppers and onions and fresh pancakes! Raffles will be held with prizes donated by the crafters and community. There is still room to get a table and sell your crafts. If you are interested, call Lisa at 215-536-4972. “Quakertown Cares” continues to support students in the Quakertown Borough’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ program, and has again this year sent $1,000 to the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging Foundation, whose social workers assist impoverished seniors in the Quakertown area. “Quakertown Cares” also gave 15 local veterans $100 Giant food store cards. “Quakertown Cares” was begun by the original Free Press newspaper. It is overseen by a small group of volunteers. There are no administrative expenses; every dollar raised goes to Quakertown area residents in need. Anyone interested in contributing to the cause may do so by sending a check made out to “Quakertown Cares” to: Quakertown Cares, c/o QNB, P.O. Box 9005, Quakertown, PA 18951. “Quakertown Cares” is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All contributions are tax-deductible, and all contributors will receive a written receipt.
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The Atlantis Series I wanted to tell you about a great Middle grade series I was just introduced to. I am so jazzed about this awesome series! Check out my review below! Atlantis Rising Series: Atlantis Saga #1 By TA Barron 384 pages - ages 9+ Published by Philomel Books September 26, 2013 Synopsis from Publisher- In a magical land called Ellegandia, a young boy named Promi scrapes by, stealing pies, cakes and sweets to survive. But little does he know that his country is a pawn in an ages-old war between good and evil, battled both in the spirit realm and in the human world. Harboring secrets of his own, Promi teams up with a courageous girl named Atlanta and the two vow to save their land—and each other—no matter the cost. But their vow has greater repercussions than they ever could imagine—in fact, it may just bring about the creation of Atlantis, an island cut off from the rest of the world, where magic reigns supreme. Atlantis In Peril Series: Atlantis Saga #2 By TA Barron 272 pages - ages 9+ Published by Philomel Books May 5, 2015 Synopsis from Publisher- In Atlantis Rising, Promi and Atlanta saved their homeland by transforming it into the magical island of Atlantis. They had hoped that would keep it out of the clutches of the evil spirit warlord Narkazan. But Narkazan has returned, more determined than ever to conquer the spirit realm and Atlantis as well. Will the destiny of the mystical isle lie in the boat of Greek sailors who wash up on shore? The powers of the ethereal oceanglass? Or will the growing bond between Promi and Atlanta cause the strongest magic? Atlantis Lost Series: Atlantis Saga #3 By TA Barron 224 pages - ages 9+ Published by Philomel Books November 8, 2016 Synopsis from Publisher- The veil between the Spirit Realm and the mortal world has fallen, and the evil lord Narkazan is primed to claim the magical Starstone for himself once and for all. But when tragedy befalls Promi’s newly reunited family, he knows that he can’t let Narkazan ruin everything his parents held dear. With his friends beside him, Promi battles Narkazan in the Spirit Realm, to ensure that the Starstone remains safe from
Narkazan’s mortal followers. But how far will Promi have to go to keep the world and the people he loves safe? What I Thought About the Series- Wow. Mr. Barron is a fabulous writer - I couldn’t put any of these books down. I read all of these in two days. They were that good. The worst part of the series was that you got incredibly attached to all of the characters...but you knew what was going to happen in the last book (Guess what? Atlantis sinks!). And that made it hard to read on...but you couldn’t stop. I tried and I failed. Mr. Barron has a writing style
that gets the reader involved, and keeps you on your toes. Mr. Barron has done a marvelous job of taking mythology, magic, and realism and tossing them all together in a big melting pot. He created a culture where every type of person and animal lived. He created a religion for that culture, with spirits for them to pray to. He created a government for that culture. Only to destroy it all in the end. Promi is a character you can empathize with, seeing as he is a sort of honor-bound/ Robin Hood-like thief. He only steals from those that deserve it, and in the book, there are quite a few people that deserve it. After all, the religious government is almost completely corrupt. They make for a good villain, where everyone reading despises them. Atlanta is a great supporting character who is the moral backbone for Promi, as he goes from a selfish thief only looking out for himself to a truly caring hero. It is a marvelous transformation. The series is written in a satisfying way. I found it heartbreaking, however, what was happening to Atlantis in Book 2, with foreigners industrializing it, and also polluting it. Those scenes were written to engage your emotions, and are most likely a stance against the wickedness of humans ruining our planet. If so, then we need it. Atlantis was on the way of having its magic ruined forever. Why let Earth’s natural magic be put to waste? To sum it all up, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Mr. Barron has made a fan out of me, and I will continue to look for more of Mr. Barron’s work, particularly his Merlin series. For more on books and reading visit my website at ThisKidReviewsBooks.com