Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children

Have you read our latest newsletter? It's called "Keynotes" and you can read it here! - https://conta.cc/4ccvwnk

Welcome to Keynotes Our July Newsletter! July 1, 2024 Volume 1 | Issue 1   Dear Friends of "Friends", I am delighted to welcome you to "Key Notes," the inaugural edition of our Friends Association for Care & Protection o

The new school year is almost here, and we need your help to support our students as they get ready for the back-to-school season!

We are collecting backpacks filled with some essentials along with gift cards so families can purchase their other back-to-school needs.

Sign up to be a sponsor here: https://forms.office.com/r/TTvUcd0ZXx

Can't make it to the store? Purchase gift cards that will be mailed right to us here: https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/31e545b7-2267-4683-8f34-9224b69be14c

What is a Key Holder? It is a person who makes a monthly giving commitment to Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children. This commitment creates more reliable funding from month to month for our work to end homelessness and will make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of families struggling to regain stable housing.

Did you know:

$20/month will provide 10 hours of case management support to help families access essential services and overcome the causes of their homelessness.

$50/month will provide 20 hours of life skills training to parents who need help building essential skills such as home maintenance, parenting, self-care, and budgeting.

$100/month will provide 20 hours of representation in eviction court to help prevent homelessness for struggling families.

Become a Key Holder and make a difference in the lives of children and families experiencing homelessness in Chester County.

You are the key! Friends Association is launching Key Holders, our new monthly giving society! Monthly giving creates a reliable funding stream for our work to end homelessness and will make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of families struggling to regain stable housing. Even small monthly gifts really add up over the year. Find out more at our website - friendsassoc.org. It is easy to sign up, and you can cancel at any time. Join today and make a difference in the lives of children and families experiencing homelessness in Chester County! . ,

May you have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Our offices will be closed from July 1st through July 5th. However, if you are experiencing or about to experience homelessness, please call 211. All of us at Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children wish you a safe and "Happy 4th of July!" #211, , , , .

We love our volunteers! At Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children, we believe that we build unity with our families through collective care and community impact. Our dedicated volunteers are crucial to the organization's success, and many serve in key roles within the organization. We recently had a team stop by and do some painting, and they did a great job! If you or your group would like to volunteer with us, please go to our website and click the volunteer link to learn more! All skill sets are welcome! ,

If you or a loved one are overwhelmed by the extreme heat during these dangerous temperatures, use this link below to find resources in Chester County to help you stay cool.
https://www.chesco.org/4250/Extreme-Heat

June 21st is the first day of summer and coincidently, Chester County has an extreme heat warning for the next three days. If you are experiencing homelessness and need to locate a cooling station call 2-1-1. Also, you can follow the link below for more resources on staying safe and cool during this extreme weather. Don't forget your pets too, our friends at Brandywine Valley SPCA have tips to keep your pets safe. https://www.chesco.org/4250/Extreme-Heat

The link is below if you missed the Juneteenth show broadcast today on WCHE 1520AM 95.3FM Radio. Friends Association's Development Director, David James hosted the show. Our CEO Joyce Chester and Mike Duncan, CEO of Chester County Hospital discussed the history of Juneteenth and what it means to them personally and their organizations. Plus a great segment on why partnering between non-profits is so important. https://953wche.com/podcast/juneteenth-show-6-19-24 , , , , ,

Our offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth. If you or someone you know is experiencing or about to experience homelessness, call 211.

This week has been a continuous celebration of Juneteenth in Chester County. Our CEO Joyce Chester spoke at the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center this past Saturday and tomorrow Joyce and the CEO of Chester County Hospital, Michael Duncan will discuss Juneteenth's history, message, and its importance to their organizations. Listen live on WCHE 1520AM 95.3FM Radio 1520AM 95.3FM Radio this Wednesday, Juneteenth, at 11 AM.

This Wednesday, June 19, you do not want to miss the discussion of Juneteenth with Friends Associations' CEO Joyce Chester and the CEO of Chester County Hospital Chester County Hospital, Michael Duncan. They will discuss Juneteenth's history, message, and its importance to their organizations. Listen live on WCHE 1520AM 95.3FM Radio this Wednesday, Juneteenth, at 11 AM.

This Father’s Day, let's take a moment to celebrate and appreciate the love, strength, and sacrifices of fathers everywhere. While we cherish the dads in our lives, let's also remember those who are facing tough times, especially the father’s experiencing homelessness in Chester County. These dads face daily challenges, yet they continue striving for a better life for themselves, their children, and their families.
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Check out some of the awesome Juneteenth Celebration events that are coming up!

Starting with this Saturday, join us at the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center for their Juneteenth Celebration where our CEO Joyce Chester will be speaking on the significance of Juneteenth in our community.

Then on June 19 at 11AM tune into WCHE 95.3 FM for a Juneteenth Discussion with Chester County Hospital President and CEO Michael Duncan and Joyce Chester. They'll be discussing the significance Juneteenth has on their organizations and how they collaborate on healthcare advocacy for people experiencing homelessness.

Afterward, check out the Juneteenth Meal and Jubilee happening on Wednesday at 4PM for an event filled with dance, thoughtful conversation, food, and fun! We hope to see you there!

Thank you to the 2024 West Chester Juneteenth Committee, Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste, and community organizations like the West Chester, PA NAACP and Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center for helping put together such an impactful week of events.

Our staff had an amazing time at our first "What's Up Wednesday"!

The Chester County Prothonotary Debbie Bookman was invited by our CEO, Joyce Chester, to have lunch with the Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children staff and discuss issues that matter to us all in Chester County. Debbie was kind enough to share her own personal story of inspiration, and all of the staff benefitted from having an audience with her. The entire team is looking forward to the next "What's Up Wednesday!"

Did you see the headline in today's ? "Making the Most of Connecting with People" is about Joyce Chester and her vision for Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children to help families who are experiencing homelessness in Chester County. You can grab your copy from a newsstand today. Thanks to reporter Bill Rettew for taking the time to share our story! ,

Thank you to Bill Rettew for his amazing article on our new CEO, Joyce Chester. You can read all about her and her vision for Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children in The Daily Local News. -

Joyce Chester takes over at Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children Friends Association saves everyone in the county by not clogging up the courts, or bogging down attorneys, while thwarting evictions, according to Joyce Chester.

On this day 80 years ago, brave soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, marking a pivotal moment in history. Today, let's honor their courage and sacrifice.

It's World Environment Day - Today, we celebrate the beauty of our planet and the urgent need to protect it. But let’s also remember that environmental health is closely linked to social well-being, including homelessness. Environmental issues like climate change and natural disasters disproportionately affect the homeless community. Rising temperatures, severe weather, and polluted air make life even more challenging for those without a stable home.

Let's work together to create a sustainable future where everyone has a safe place to live. By advocating for environmental justice and supporting policies that address homelessness and climate resilience, we can build a greener, more inclusive world.

We are sending out a big "Thank you" to the volunteers who came from Vertex Inc yesterday to work at our Family Center and office space. They did an amazing job putting gravel out in the parking lot, installing shelves in the families' apartment closets, and repairing steps. We look forward to them coming back every year. Of course, we must mention Jersey Cares, who works with Vertex to coordinate this volunteer event. We depend on volunteers to fulfill our mission to help those experiencing homelessness in Chester County. If you would like to volunteer, please go to our website and click on "Get Involved."

Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children will operate on our summer hours schedule until August 30th. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 to 4:30, and is closed on Fridays. If you need services in Chester County at any time, call 211. ,

Our Family Center in Chester County houses families experiencing homelessness. Each family lives autonomously in an apartment for 90-120 days as they work with their case manager to secure permanent housing, create a housing stability case plan, increase income, and access mainstream benefits. Friends Association's Family Center is currently the only low-barrier emergency housing in Chester County that can house entire family units together during their housing crisis. Did you know that Friends Association recognizes all families, where they are, as they define themselves. A family could be grandkids raised by their grandparents, a dad raising a son, or same-sex parents with children. At Friends Association we believe in Housing First, for everyone. , ,

As a reminder, if you are experiencing homelessness or about to experience homelessness in Chester County, call 211. , #211

The Friends Association staff works hard daily to assist families experiencing homelessness in Chester County. However, this past Wednesday afternoon, it was time for some team-building at the local bowling alley! Everyone had a great time competing, socializing, and enjoying each other's company.

This week, our CEO, Joyce Chester, along with other regional non-profits that are focused on ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing, met with leaders in Harrisburg. Joanna McClinton, the Speaker of the House, joined them during their open discussion, along with a half-dozen Representatives, PA Human Relations Commission members, and other staff. Representative Paul Friel (center) looks forward to quarterly discussions with this group because sufficient and safe housing is important to him. Working together, we can end homelessness in Chester County.


(Pictured)
Karin Williams, Ann's Heart
Mayor Peter Urscheler, Phoenixivlle
Emily Easter, Phoenixville Women's Outreach
Cheryl Miles, Kennett Area Community Services
Keith Burress, Orion Communities
Rep. Paul Friel
Tracy Patches, Church Housing Corp.
Joyce Chester, Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children
Matrie Johnson, Home of the Sparrow
Kris Keller, Pxv resident
Joe Giron, The Whitehall Apartments

Thank you to United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey for an amazing OpportUNITY Summit in Philadelphia today. The speakers and workshops were inspired. Our Development Director, David James is grateful for the experience he had today. In the photos you will see Philadelphia Mayor, Cherelle Parker who was on a panel about a more unified vision for non-profits, and the wonderful woman in red posing with David is our UWGPSNJ Grant Manager, Cheryl Thomas. We are so proud to be partners with this organization because together, we can assist more of those families experiencing homelessness. , , , ,