PathWays PA Policy Blog

As we get to the end of the year, many individuals and companies are looking for ways to give back to their communities. Here are some ways you can help PathWays PA for the holidays or throughout the year! Donations : You can help to end poverty, homelessness, and abuse by making a donation! The support you provide will help the most vulnerable women, children, teens, and families. Visit PathWaysPA.org to donate or text "PathWaysPA" to 521-82. Donate items : We also offer ways to donate material items. To see what our agency needs that is available on Amazon, check out our general wish list or our Welcome Kits lists for moms , children , and babies . Volunteering : PathWays PA has an ongoing need for volunteers. Giving your time is a great way to help families in your own community. Visit PathWaysPA.org to see what you can do. Shopping : Every time you buy on Amazon via AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate .5% of your total purchase to PathWays PA! Visit smile.amazon.co...

We are so excited to share that PathWays PA has been selected to be a part of the GIANT Bags 4 My Cause Program, which is designed to make it easy for customers to contribute to their local community while supporting the environment. For the month of December , each time a $2.50 reusable Bags 4 My Cause Bag is purchased at the GIANT located at 950 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA, $1 will be donated to PathWays PA (unless the customer chooses otherwise). This is a great way to raise awareness, support the environment and fundraise for our cause. If you shop at GIANT, please support PathWays PA in December by purchasing a Bag 4 My Cause! And if you know someone who shops there, please share this information. To learn more about this program, please visit giant.bags4mycause.com .

PathWays PA's adult education program helps adult learners achieve their dreams by earning their GED. In today's world a high school diploma or GED is a necessity for securing employment and advancing in the workforce. Our adult education program helps adult learners take the next step in their lives and careers by helping them to prepare for the GED test and building the skills necessary to gain employment, thrive in the workforce, and advance in their careers. For more information about the adult education program and to sign up for our next adult education orientation contact Kathy Raymond at (610) 543-5022.

Creative Arts engage children's minds, bodies, and senses! Please consider joining us as we share artful creations from our Therapeutic Art Enrichment program. The children experience less anxiety, build positive relationships and create mindful art while residing at the Center for Families. We hope that you enjoy their work as much as they do. Some of our young artists will be onsite to talk with you and answer some of your questions about their work. Hoping to see you real soon! Time: 1p-3p Date: March 30, 2019 Location: Saint Paul Episcopal Church 1105 East Lincoln Highway Exton, PA 19341 Entrance Fee: Donation of Art supplies

Please consider joining us as we share artful creations from our Therapeutic Art Enrichment program. The children experience less anxiety, build positive relationships and create mindful art while residing at the Center for Families. We hope that you enjoy their work as much as they do. Some of our young artists will be onsite to talk with you and answer some of your questions about their work. Hoping to see you real soon! St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Exton 1105 East Lincoln Highway Exton, PA 19341 610-363-2363 Saturday, April 14, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm Entrance Fee: Donate from items below for our kitchen at The Center for Families. Monetary donations will be accepted as well. Items needed for the Kitchen at Center for Families Large mixer Large food processor Knives Storage containers (large, medium, small) Large mixing bowls Large serving utensils Oven mitts Kitchen towels Microwave (2) Water pitchers (8) Ice trays Kitchen buckets for sanitizer and rinsi...

We're hoping to send out our Annual Appeal email tomorrow, but you can get a sneak peek at the video right now! Tell us what you think! Tenelle and Taquanna are two of the 4,500+ people that PathWays PA serves each year. Through the our services, families get the support they need to go back to school, move into stable housing, and get good jobs. Give the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season! Whether you want to donate in your name or make a gift in honor of your loved one, our families need your help today. Donate now at  Justgive.org  or visit our  website  for more ways to give.

From now until midnight Sunday (Chicago time), new members using our special link earn a $10 bonus for PathWays PA. All you need to do is shop just once (Amazon not included) by January 10, 2016. Three important details - New iGive members only (never joined before). You must use our special link to join. And you must join before 12:01 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, 2015. You must shop at one of our over 1,700 stores (actually buy something, window shopping doesn't count, and neither do purchases at Amazon) by January 10, 2016. There are some great last minute holiday shopping deals at iGive. You can help PathWays PA at the same time as you save time and money. Every purchase you make will help, even after the bonus period ends. The average iGive shopper is raising over $30 a year, and many are raising $100 or $200 a year, at no cost to your cause or to them.

If you shop this weekend, please keep in mind the businesses that provided sponsorship and auction items at our events this year! Spring Event Chubb Jane Barr Pino & Associates All Seasons Home Improvement Conrad O'Brien Jackson Cross Crozer Keystone Health System Comcast TD Bank eXude QVC Coldwell Banker Pinocchio's Pizza Keenan Auto Body Crown Holdings Monarch Staffing Fischer Cunnane Agritment Farms Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union White Harris Elwyn Pharmacy WSFS ZRG Partners Finit Solutions Women In Transition Trader Joe's Gala PECO Boeing Chubb Allen & Shirley Speiser Foundation LimNorris All Seasons Home Improvement Blank Rome Korn Ferry Natalie Brooks & Larry Katz Amy & Nick Gavrishev Bradford White Conrad O'Brien Jackson Cross /Cate Sennet Jane and Bill Farran Kroll Language Services McCarter & English Sam Becker Saul Ewing Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP Dr. Deebeanne Tavani and Suzanne Tav...

The Adopt-a-Family program provides the opportunity for PathWays PA client families to experience the many joys of the holiday season that they otherwise may not have been able to afford. Thanks to the generous contributions of local donors, families have been able to create their own special holiday memories over the years. In fact, thousands of client families have benefited from the Adopt-a-Family program since its inception! Please help us continue this success by adopting a family or signing up to donate a Welcome Kit today ! Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 9/3/15 - Do You Need Access to Food? PathWays PA Can Help 9/1/15 - PathWays PA's Basic Center Program Helps Homeless Teen Girls Go Back to School 10/22/13 - Adopt a Family for the Holidays

As we celebrate Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, we'd like to revisit a post from earlier this year about our Adult Ed graduates . DCLC Graduates: Suwah Davies, Michael Ernst, Onnica Gaglio, Denise King, Youssuf Kromah, LawShawna Wiley PathWays PA Graduates: Sandra Cerminaro, Anthony Freeman (not pictured - Abiodun Olawiyi) On July 29, 2015, adult education students from the PathWays PA and the Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) celebrated earning their GEDs at a joint ceremony. The moving ceremony began with Laila Hill, an accomplished singer, sharing her rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Brenda Dawson, president and CEO of PathWays PA, gave the welcome and introduction. The GED test gives students of all ages the chance to move ahead with their educational attainment. In Delaware County,  6% of adults ages 25-64 do not have a high school education . Earning the GED is much more than a certificate. The difference in earnings for Pennsylvania...

Beginning October 1, 2016, students applying for financial aid for higher education will be able to use a new, easier process being proposed today . Traditionally, students preparing for college or graduate school must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to qualify for federal grants and loans. The FAFSA application window runs from January 1 to June 30 for the upcoming school year, so if you were going to school in September 2015, you sent in a FAFSA sometime before June 30, 2015. While the application has become easier in recent years, it still takes time and persistence. Even once the FAFSA is filed, students must sometimes wait until their taxes - and their parents taxes - are filed for the paperwork to be processed. By the time students receive their financial aid packages, they have already applied to colleges and may have even made a decision on where to go without knowing how much funding they will have. Under the new proposal being made by Pr...

Ready to achieve a financial goal, but need help getting started? Have you created a plan and need some support to stay with it? Our Financial Coach will work with you one-on-one to help you achieve your financial goals. The Financial Coach will provide the information, resources, support, encouragement, and accountability so you can take control of your financial situation and meet your goals. If you or someone you know needs help achieving their financial goals and achieving self-sufficiency contact our Financial Coach Keith Miller at (610) 543-5022. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 1/29/15 - Pennsylvania Extends Streak of Lackluster Performance for Financial Security of its Residents 11/10/14 - Join Us in Building Assets in Pennsylvania! 5/30/13 - The Payday Lenders Are Swarming. It's Time to Act.

Did you know that PathWays PA provides SNAP application assistance? Our SNAP Benefits Specialist can assist you in accessing SNAP and other workforce supports to help you make ends meet while you're between jobs and provide assistance to ensure you remain employed and are able to move toward self-sufficiency. To participate in an eligibility screening for SNAP benefits and other workforce supports contact Lauren Rodino at (610) 543-5022. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 8/26/15 - Who really uses SNAP? 9/1/15 - PathWays PA's Basic Center Program Helps Homeless Teen Girls Go Back to School 7/7/15 -Summer Food News

Many students are starting back to school this week. While some are anticipating meeting their new teachers and reconnecting with their friends to share stories of their summer, there are thousands of homeless teen girls wondering where they where they are going to sleep tonight, and whether they will be able to attend school at all. PathWays PA's Basic Center Program provides emergency shelter services to help runaway and homeless teen girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years old with assistance stabilizing their lives, remaining engaged in school, and successfully returning home (when safe to do so) or transitioning to safe, permanent independent housing. For more information about the Basic Center Program please contact LaSheena at 215-397-4287. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 8/25/15 - FAMILY Act 8/26/15 - Many Faces of Hunger 6/26/15 - New and Improved?: House Bill 222 Remains Cruel

As the summer draws to a close, PathWays PA is trying to get a few more days of summer fun for their children at the Center for Women and Families. CFF Camp runs from August 24 to September 4. There are a few things necessary for these last days before school starts. Jump ropes, chalk, table top tennis, and other engaging objects are needed. In addition, face-paint, bubbles, and water balloons would help the children make the most out of the camp. Candy and arts and crafts supplies would be appreciated as well. The schedule for the kids is jam-packed. From arts and crafts, to talents shows, to picnics and games, these last few weeks of summer can be unforgettable for these children. We can't do it without your help! Visit http://bit.ly/PWGiving  to donate, or deliver to 310 Amosland Road, Holmes, PA 19043. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 8/10/15 -  Swiss Farms Gift-A-Meal Program to Help PathWays PA 7/30/15 - GED Graduation Ceremony 2015 7/7...

Starting on August 10, 2015, visit any of Swiss Farms Store locations to receive a Gift-A-Meal punch card. For every 10 freshly prepared entrees or side items you purchase, Swiss Farms will donate a meal to PathWays PA in your name. The donated meals will be selected, prepared and delivered by Swiss Farms, monthly. You can see the Swiss Farms menu at  http://swissfarms.com/fresh-tasty /.

DCLC Graduates: Suwah Davies, Michael Ernst, Onnica Gaglio, Denise King, Youssuf Kromah, LawShawna Wiley PathWays PA Graduates: Sandra Cerminaro, Anthony Freeman (not pictured - Abiodun Olawiyi) On July 29, 2015, adult education students from the PathWays PA and the Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) celebrated earning their GEDs at a joint ceremony. The moving ceremony began with Laila Hill, an accomplished singer and a PathWays PA employee, sharing her rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Brenda Dawson, president and CEO of PathWays PA, gave the welcome and introduction. The GED test gives students of all ages the chance to move ahead with their educational attainment. In Delaware County, 6% of adults ages 25-64 do not have a high school education . Earning the GED is much more than a certificate. The difference in earnings for Pennsylvanians with high school diplomas versus those who have not graduated is stark -  workers who graduated from high school o...

PathWays PA has compiled an extensive list of programs that can meet the needs of many Pennsylvania residents in our updated Financial Resources Guide . This easy-to-use guide can help anyone find the programs they need and includes information on who qualifies for the program and how to apply. The Financial Resources Guide includes links for people who need help paying for childcare, finding health insurance, and much more. There is also contact information listed by county in our County Help Chart . Please let us know what you think! Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 7/7/15 - Summer Food News 9/4/14 - Jobs Are Returning, But Hunger Remains 7/13/13 - PA Agency Offers Food Aid to Low-Income Children

The Coalition Against Hunger conducted their biennial Emergency Food Provider Survey of 232 programs in Greater Philadelphia this year in order to learn more about the challenges that local providers face and found that 89.7% of emergency food providers either ran out of food or had to provide less food to clients at some point in 2014. Surveyed programs cited "lack of food donations" as a major barrier to getting more food. Over 90% of the emergency food providers surveyed also wanted to increase access to healthy foods for their clients. You can help by donating to your local food pantry. Food pantries, SHARE host sites and soup kitchens near you can be found by clicking here . Summer Meals , a program in Philadelphia that serves free meals and snacks to kids and teens age 18 and under, has over 1,000 site locations. There are no income, ID or registration requirements. Click here to find a Summer Meals site near you. As always, PathWays PA offers free and confident...

PathWays PA would like to invite all of our friends, colleagues and supporters to attend our 2015 Beer, Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Spring Event on Wednesday April 22, 2015 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Drexelbrook. The event will feature an amazing selection of beer, wine, cheese and chocolate from a wide array of local and national companies; live entertainment and a silent auction. We will also be honoring Deloitte for their contributions to the community. Buy tickets online today!