Community Relations Office
April 1st, 2004 -- Program facilitates networking and pooling of services and resources.
Several Oxford organizations and individuals met with personnel from Penn State and organizations from southern Chester County to discuss strategies for expanding the Bridging the Community project to serve the Oxford area.
The grassroots project's aims are to organize service providers and volunteers to address community and individual needs and meet them without dependence on formal funding sources.
Wade Hosler, Community Program Director of Oxford's Broad Street YMCA Community Center, acted as temporary facilitator at the meeting. Hosler said the project would have an informal meeting structure, no funding and no officers.
Participants will include any organizations and individuals interested in helping to serve the community by volunteering in any number of capacities, including home repair, tutoring, participating in before- and after-school clubs, donations of food, clothing and home repair materials and items such as used working computers, and donating space for holding monthly meetings.
Among those present at the meeting held Monday, March 8 at Lincoln University were: Wade Hosler, of Oxford's Broad Street YMCA Community Center; Buzz Tyson, of the Lighthouse Youth Center; Laurie Szoke, of the Penn State Cooperative Extension; Jon Iannacone and Pam McGinnis (and mother, Shirley), of the Migrant Education Program of Chester County Intermediate Unit; Tammy Welch, of the Hills of Darlington Mom's Club; Ron M. Smith, of Good Neighbors Home Repair; Jessica Arencibia, of the Leo Club recycling project; Sophia Arencibia, of Project RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere); and singer/songwriter and volunteer Juan Avila.
Members of Camp Dreamcatchers, the Oxford Public Library and Oxford's Neighborhood Services Center (NSC) are also involved in providing services for the community and have attended previous meetings.
Oxford resident and volunteer Antoinette Gomez said the program attempts to "bring members of the community together to identify the needs and strengths of the community and areas where we can work together collaboratively to pool resources to eliminate duplication of services."
Gomez is a member of the Penn State Cooperative Extension Board of Directors and is active with the Bridging the Community project in Kennett Square and other programs in the Southern Chester County area. The project is based on the Kennett Square model, which has been active for around five years.
"Bridging the Community (in the Kennett Square area) was a small group of about 10; we want to be more diverse and inclusive and would like to expand to around 20. We encourage people to come out and get to know their neighbors in an open process to build community to make the town peaceful, progressive and inclusive."
In an effort to reach these goals, the various organizations involved have listed the services they provide and are asking for help from the community in the way of volunteers and/or donations. Contact numbers for each organization are included with their descriptions.
- Community Program Director Wade Hosler said volunteer tutors are needed at Oxford's Broad Street YMCA Community Center. The center offers a variety of programs for youth and teens, in addition to Adult ESL classes and Spanish Conversation Classes. Interested parties can call 610-932-4028 to volunteer.
- The Lighthouse Youth Center has after-school programs such as basketball, games and other activities for area youth and needs volunteers to run the snack bar counter, said Director Buzz Tyson. To volunteer, contact Buzz at 610-932-4883, or at lhyc@brandywine.net.
- Migrant Education of Chester County Intermediate Unit conducts before- and after-school activities, including tutoring, at area schools; collects working computers for donation to families that cannot afford a computer; and later in the spring will be arranging a "Shadow Day" for Oxford High School students to "shadow" area professionals at the work places for a day to learn about their professions. The programs are coordinated at Oxford High School, at Penn's Grove School and at Avondale schools by Jonathan Iannacone. Pam McGinnis coordinates before- and after-school clubs and enrichment activities, study halls and other programs in elementary schools in Oxford and Nottingham. For more information, or to volunteer, call 610-268-2414 or send an e-mail to JonathanI@cciu.org.
- Good Neighbors Home Repair, a branch of Koinonia Christian Ministries, performs free home repairs with the help of volunteers and donated resources to families that cannot afford home repair, said Community Relations Consultant Ron M. Smith. To ask for assistance for someone needing home repairs, or to volunteer or make a donation, call 61-347-2416.
- Oxford's Neighborhood Services Center (NSC) provides an information and referral service; donations of food, clothing and household items; job referrals; help with basic and emergency needs; and help filling out forms. The center also provides referrals for the Adopt-a-Friend program, which provides transportation and companionship for the elderly. To volunteer or make donations of food, clothing, and household items, call Case Manager Lisa Martinez at 610-932-8557.
- Jessica Arencibia, of the Leo Club recycling project, reported that Avon Grove High School would be having a career day in April. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact the school at 610-869-2446.
- Michele Dormer, of Camp Dreamcatcher, said teh organization provides safe and therapeutic services to children infected/affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, including support services, weekend retreats and educational programs. Camp Dreamcatcher also offers a week of camping and activities in August at Camp Saginaw in southern Chester County. The organization needs donations of a copier, childrens clothing, bedding items and camping equipment, including batteries and flashlights. Camp Dreamcatcher also is in need of financial donations to sponsor a week at camp for children; teh cose for one week at camp is $675 per child. The organization participates in Genuardi's Community cash Back Program, in which organizations can collect up to 3 percent of purchases, and collects Acme receipts. Volunteers are needed to serve as camp counselors and/or members of the planning committee. To make a donation or volunteer, call Michel Dormer at 610-925-2998.
- Project RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere) is an outgrowth of Ground Zero Youth Ministry of New London Church that performs free home repairs for community members who cannot afford the reparis. The organization, with the help of adult crew leaders and teen volunteers, performs various types of home repair using donated supplies. Representative Sophia Arencibia said the organization especially needs adult crew leaders with carpet-laying and roofing skills, teenage volunteers, and donations of building and household repair items. To ask for assistance for anyone needing home repairs, or to volunteer or donate supplies, call Drew Cope or Mike Atkins at 610-869-7332.