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...

Last night, a federal judge in California ordered that children separated from their parents as part of the zero-tolerance immigration policy be reunited with their families within 30 days . Children under five must be reunited even sooner, and all parents must be able to contact their children by phone within ten days. This action is good, but the work of reuniting children and protecting families is far from over. You can find our previous posts on this topic here and here . For the latest on what we can do, see below. Families Belong Together Rally. Rallies will be happening across the country on June 30.  The main rally will be in DC, but you can learn about all rallies at familiesbelongtogether.org. Contact your elected officials . Dial 202-224-3121 to reach any member of Congress. The  American Immigration Lawyers Association  has tools that you can use. Here is a sample script: Hello, my name is _____ and as a constituent, I urge the _____ to use Congress'...

(Updated June 19, 2018) Here are more resources to help you take action against the separation of family members entering the United States (read  our post  from last week for the original information). Thanks especially to  Families Belong Together  for your comprehensive list of information. ** Here's what's happening.  The Guardian   put together a Q and A that you can read  here . According to this article, migrant families crossing the border illegally, even if they are seeking asylum, may now be criminally prosecuted under a new policy put in place this April. If the families come with children, the children are separated from their parents while the parents are held in federal jail. Children then wait to be reunified with their parents or to be sent to relatives or sponsors. According to  The Guardian , this wait can take weeks or months.  News reports  from  this weekend  show some of the facilities for children a...

We're keeping a running list of ways to help those affected by recent disasters. Please, before you donate, do some research on the organization for yourself to make sure funds will be spent as you intend them to be. Texas: The  Austin Disaster Relief Network pledges to meet immediate needs and to work long-term to rebuild in Texas. The  Texas Diaper Bank provides diapers and other items to families in Texas. The SPCA of Texas is taking many animals affected by the storm. Organizacion Latina de Trans en Texas is supporting trans people who are often not safe in shelter environments.  Florida: The  Hurricane Irma Community Recovery Fund will support grassroots organizations as they help vulnerable communities recover. Support the Girls will donate bras and hygiene products to the homeless, including those affected by natural disasters. The  Jacksonville Humane Society is working to support animals, including those injured or abandoned during th...

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 /.

Pope Francis’ September visit to Philadelphia has spurred the creation of the Francis Fund in association with Project HOME and the World Meeting of Families Hunger and Homelessness Committee. Headed by sister Mary Scullion, the project has pledged to aid 50 human service organizations. Among the organizations receiving grants so far are Philly Restart, Women Against Abuse, Coalition Against Hunger, and Pathways to Housing PA . It is estimated that 650 homeless will be on the streets of Philadelphia. This number does not including those who have sought shelter. The organization has plans to eradicate this homelessness and hunger, along with stopping human trafficking and domestic violence. Want to donate or learn how to apply for the funding? Visit projecthome.org for more. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 7/7/15 - Summer Food News 6/26/15 - New and Improved? House Bill 222 Remains Cruel 11/20/14 - Runaway Services at PathWays PA and Beyond

As we get ready for Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we hope you will help us kick off this time of giving with a donation to PathWays PA. Your continued generosity helps our families succeed in becoming self-sufficient. While we always encourage monetary donations , you can give to PathWays PA in a variety of ways while shopping for other people on your list. On Black Friday, consider buying some gender neutral baby clothes for one of the many children we work with! New (unused) baby clothes, socks, and hats are always appreciated, especially as the weather gets colder. On Small Business Saturday, think about purchasing a children's book at a local bookstore for one of our families. On Cyber Monday (or whenever you shop online), do your shopping through AmazonSmile or iGive so that a portion of your purchase goes directly to PathWays PA.  (PS - if you sign up for iGive as a new customer before December 15 and try the free iGive button before Februar...

If you participate in any of the following workplace giving programs, please consider using your money to support PathWays PA. Here is the information you might need. Please feel free to contact us with any questions! United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey: 01619 Combined Federal Campaign: 16357 Pennsylvania SECA: 4113-0006 Penn's Way Campaign: Designate UWGPSNJ and our United Way number, 01619 Don't have a workplace giving program? You can donate directly to PathWays PA at  https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=23-2001837 . Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 10/21/14 - Tax Season is Around the Corner - We Need Volunteers! 6/6/14 - PathWays to the Stars Annual Gala November 21! 5/28/14 - And the One Millionth Donation Goes To....

From our friends at Family Values at Work Today we celebrate the 19th amendment, when Congress stopped denying women the right to vote. Of course for decades, women of color were still denied access to the polls. August 26th is about all women who continue to raise their voices in the face of injustice – who say, pay attention, we matter! Today, women across the country are standing up and speaking to lawmakers with a similar message: #WeMatter We are women and families, and the changes we need matter. Women’s economic security matters. Our votes matter. We matter. Pay attention, those running for office. #Wematter isn’t just a hashtag; it’s notice to elected officials that there’s a linked policy agenda that values families and the work they do. And we’re watching. But we can’t do it without you. To raise the floor and remove the barriers for all women and families, we need your help. Here’s what you can do. Ask two friends to sign up to get involved in local, state ...

PathWays PA 36th annual gala will be November 21 from 6:30PM to 10:00PM at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Guests will enjoy a live and silent auction, cocktail reception, free admission to three Franklin Institute exhibits, dinner, live entertainment and a brief recognition ceremony and program. All net proceeds from this event will benefit the programs and services offered to PathWays PA client families. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly! Get them here!

JustGive , a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase charitable giving, just processed its one millionth donation on its website. The lucky recipient of that donation? PathWays PA . We reached a major milestone in the history of JustGive last week when we processed the one-millionth donation on our website. Who was behind this auspicious donation? His name is Al Danish, and he hails from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Al made his donation to PathWays PA, a nonprofit dedicated to helping to keep low-income, vulnerable women together with their children by offering programs and services that help families stabilize their lives. “If my donation can help in a small way, then that makes me feel good,” Al said about helping PathWays. To read more of the story, please visit http://blog.justgive.org/2014/05/27/one-million-donations-and-counting/ . To make your own donation to PathWays PA, please visit  https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=23-200183...

PathWays PA is pleased to announce a grant from Bank of America to support our Girls SHElter for runaway teen girls. The girls served through the SHElter have been thrown out of, or have left, an unstable and/or abusive home environment. Many have experienced emotional, physical and sexual abuse; and have witnessed domestic violence in their home. To survive on the street, the girls are at risk for involvement in high risk activities including drug use, prostitution and human trafficking. The SHElter helps to save the lives of teen girls by preventing their involvement in these activities. While at the SHElter, girls receive support and assistance in stabilizing their lives, accessing supportive services that ensure that they remain engaged in school; and building a support network that will help them move returning home, to a safe family member; or linking participants to a transitional living program or permanent housing. Through the support of Bank of America, PathWays PA w...

The holiday season is upon us, and many of you are likely making plans with your families to celebrate the year that has passed and the year to come. But for many homeless women, children and teens in our communities, the holidays are like all other days - filled with uncertainty and fear. Today, on Giving Tuesday, we hope you will take a moment to think of the countless families that will not share in happy holiday celebrations and give them a gift that leads to self-sufficiency . At this special, gift-giving time of the year, we are asking for your gift - not for us but for our families. Please assist us in supporting the women and children in our care, who will spend the holidays without a home or loved ones to keep them warm. Many of our clients have been neglected, abused and have nowhere to go. PathWays PA gives them the stability and security they need to begin to rebuild their lives and care for their children. Our caring staff promotes education, teaches parenting...

Celebrate the joy of giving this holiday season with a donation to PathWays PA! We are one of Greater Philadelphia's foremost providers of residential & community-based services for homeless & low-income women, children & families, serving over 4,500 each year. Our full complement of social services focuses on developing self-sufficient lives & leads to the fulfillment of our mission: To help women, children, teens & families achieve economic independence & family well-being. Your donation will provide many wonderful things like: basic necessities for a homeless baby, a bed for a homeless mother, and food for a mother and her children.

For the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Red Cross, UNICEF and other world agencies are beginning their emergency response. It is feared that hundreds of thousands have been killed, displaced or missing in the wake of the typhoon. Learn how you can help using the links below.  The links below will help you find ways to assist: UNICEF-Super Typhoon Haiyan Red Cross-Typhoon Appeal  For a complete list of organizations helping the relief efforts please visit- http://world.time.com/2013/11/10/how-to-help-typhoon-victims/

We are partnering with Burlington Coat Factory to bring coats for people in need this winter. From November 1, 2013 through January 20, 2014, the annual Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive runs nationwide collecting coats to keep people in need warm! Since Burlington started this coat drive seven years ago, over 1.2 million coats have been collected and distributed to people in need. You can help by bringing your unused coats to the Burlington Coat Factory Store in Springfield, PA located at: 400 S. State Rd (US-1). PathWays PA will collect the coats from the store and arrange for their distribution to the community.

We have updated our donors page to make it more user friendly and customizable. Now you have the opportunity to not just give, but to direct your donation to your preferred source, such as our Center for Families, workforce development projects, or our new veterans program, HeroesPath. We hope you will take a few minutes to look at our new page and donate !

Women in Transition (WIT) is now accepting used iPods and iPads in its Cell Phone Recycling Program. At the moment, only Apple products can be accepted. WIT continues to accept any and all of your used cell phones and Smartphones. Click here for more information or call WIT's Development Department at 215.564.5301 ext. 125.