Category: Community Services

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Open House at the Peter Bressi Senior Center

The Peter Bressi Senior Center, 4744 Frankford Avenue is welcoming new members! Anyone over the age of 60 is most welcome. I visited there on Friday afternoon and found that there’s much happening there!
 
Jim Crawford is the Director and Blair Jordan is the Program Coordinator. Blair invited me to come over to hear about some of what they’re planning. Kathleen B. is one of the seniors who has stepped up to get involved in planning, too!
 
Janet Emily Bernstein, President, The Frankford Garden Club was there giving them advice on beautifying their outside patio space which is quite spacious. Staff wanted to involve members in choosing and planting seeds and plants, then caring for them, too! It’s really a nice space. There is a parking lot that you enter on Griscom Street.
 
In talking with Jim, he told me that their Center has a greater number of “younger” seniors and many are men. A free lunch is available daily. The facility is great.
 
But don’t take this just from me. This Friday, May 25, there is an Open House beginning at 10:00 AM with prizes, games and food. So, kick off your holiday weekend with a visit to get the “scoop” about a “hangout” for folks our age!
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Can You Be A “Turning Point” In A Child’s Life?

Do you have space in your home and your heart for a foster child? Could you be a foster parent – full or part-time or on an emergency basis? This is the question that Latasha Myers and Marcus Wing, Resource Home Coordinators, at Turning Points for Children are asking us to consider. Their “job”, but it is so much than a job, is to build stronger families, giving them and the community a foundation for a brighter future.

Turning Points for Children is a leading agency in the city providing services to families. For over 175 years they have been successfully been offering programs for children who have been in abusive or unsafe environments. Families often find themselves in difficult situations due to poverty, unemployment, addictions, homelessness or the parent’s own childhood experiences.

Turning Points for Children was born because of the mergers of several agencies servicing children. Most recently in 2008, The Children’s Aid Society of Pennsylvania and The Philadelphia Society for Services to Children would form Turning Points for Children. This name really fits. Our local office is located at 4329 Griscom Street. May is Foster Care Awareness Month and this is the perfect time to learn more about being a foster parent.

I recently sat down to interview Latasha and Marcus. I was very impressed with their passionate advocacy, their hearts and the smiles on their faces as they talked about their life’s work. Both believe that every child should have a real childhood in a stable and safe home environment where they can grow physically and emotionally. Children are referred through the Child Abuse Hotline and/or through Department of Human Services.

Latasha Myers (l) and Marcus Wing (r), Resource Home Coordinators

Here is what they want you to know: their days are spent recruiting prospective foster parent(s) for infants up to 21 year olds. Don’t believe the stereotypes that foster children  are “bad”. Very often, these kids are in these situations through no fault of their own. There is a large need and Turning Points for Children is dedicated to helping kids. That’s why these children are often placed in their own neighborhoods because the familiar surroundings help them. Helping these kids is also helping to build community and a strong foundation for the future. The Department of Human Services’ Improving Outcomes for Children initiative came up with the idea of trying to keep the children in their communities so that it would be less disruptive.

If you would like to be a foster parent, you first receive training from a Resource Parent Support Specialist. You must be at least 21 but there is no age limit regarding being a foster parent. You need to get the appropriate clearances but they are paid for by Turning Points.  A home inspection is conducted to be sure the environment is safe and a good “fit” for you and the child. Once you are certified, each foster parent is given a Resource Support Specialist. As a foster parent, you are not alone. When a child is placed with you, Turning Points for Children has already evaluated the child determining their needs so that resources are readily available and provided. Ongoing support is there for you.

You are compensated monthly which varies with the age of the child. Infants, of course, need formula, diapers and teenagers receive an allowance to help teach them some independent skills. Clothing is provided as well. Each child is eligible for CCIS (child care if you’re working) and Medicaid.

Marcus and Latasha wanted you to also know that being a foster parent is very rewarding for you, too. You are helping to build community by giving these children a sense of a caring community. Of course, you are also giving back by supporting a family at a time they need it the most. The ultimate goal is to reunite children with their families but sometimes that isn’t possible. Some foster children are in foster care longer and might be able to be adopted by you or someone else. As Marcus said, you could be caring for the next President, leader, doctor, etc. But we all know its most important what kind of person you are.

Turning Points for Children are the first to volunteer with Frankford community projects, they are everywhere and they always have a little something to give out. They are all wonderful  community partners and I have met quite a few over the past years. They are very supportive of this community. This is why they have focused on building partnerships with other organizations in the community and offering opportunities for parents to come together like their “Parent Cafe”.

If you would like to learn more about being a foster parent, please don’t hesitate to contact Latasha or Marcus. You can reach Latasha Myers at 215-287-4353 or email lmyers@turningpoints.phmc.org or Marcus Wing at 267-449-1558 or email mwing@turningpoints.phmc.org.

Their website is turningpointsforchildren.org or find them on Facebook at Turning Points CUA3 and on Twitter @tp4cCUA3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Simpson Recreation Center Update

Lifeguards are NEEDED!  If interested contact us at 215-685-1223

  • Family Bingo Night is Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. cost $0.25 per card
  • Day Camp Registration begins April 2, 2018 for additional information email us.
  • Tee Ball Registration begins Monday, March 12, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.  Call Pat for more information.
  • Lifeguard Fair will be held at Simpson Recreation Center March 24, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. come out and get information or interview for a position.
Cynthia Young

Facility Supervisor
Simpson Recreation Center
1010 Arrott Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19124
215-685-1223 Office
215-537-3494 Fax
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P.G.I. Frankford – Great People Doing Great Things.

P.G.I. has been around for many years, known as Party Girls Inc. in the Frankford area and was most active in the 1990’s. They have always projected a positive vibe at all their functions and events.

There are about a dozen members now and the group is accepting new applications for membership. The mission of the club is to give back to the community by helping to support charities and children’s functions that positively affect the area., as well as holding social functions and gatherings. There are  monthly meetings, membership dues, lottery club, and birthday club.

They love working with children and ran their own drill team for many years, the P.G.I. Blazing Hot Steppers. The kids trained at weekly drill team practice at Gambrel Recreation center. The team was made up of over 40 students and it received a state grant for assistance. They did well, with help from family, coaches and group members and, before long, they were performing at block parties, parades and competitions and were selected to perform at gate six during a Phillies game.

P.G.I. Blazin Hot Steppers

Some of these kids have grown up to become members of the P.G.I. Social Club. These initials P.G I. now stand for Proud Gorgeous and Independent Ladies, which is a nonprofit organization in the Frankford community. It is entirely self-funded with monthly membership dues. This club is organized and run by President, Sonya Patterson and Vice President, Darlene Coles.

In 2017, a cancer drive was held in honor of P.G.I. President’s Sonya Patterson’s mother Sandy Scott and other families who have experienced this struggle with cancer.

On October 28th American Legion Post 244 on Orthodox Street, provided great support by offering their side yard next to the Post to hold the 1st Cancer drive fundraiser. There were two baskets of cleaning supplies to raffle off (tickets were $2 each. Baskets were donated and made by Judy Dones, a P.G.I. member. There was music, food, and drinks free for all supporters and a little over $200 was raised at that event.

Two months later, P.G.I. held their main event, the Cancer Drive Drawing to raise money for Fox Chase Cancer center. It was held at the club house on Foulkrod Street on January 7th.   4 prizes, all funded by P.G.I.  were awarded.  They raised an additional $300 at this event.

 

1st Prize – 40-inch TV went to Ed Gerber of PA Auto Outlet on Frankford Ave

 

2nd Prize –  Basket of Joy – Lynwood Budd

 

3rd Prize – Dinner for 2 at the Longhorn Steak House – Prince Dixon

 

4th Prize – Movie tickets for two – Janice Wise Diggs of Washington, DC

From President Sonya Patterson:  We would like to thank all PGI members in their efforts to participate and work hard for our Drawing. Special thanks to P.G.I. members. Mr. Kelly Patterson our club house Manager, Richard Lovett our club house DJ, Aquilla Patterson our Dance coordinator, Tytiona Booker our Secretary, Dana Maples our Event Coordinator, Angie Burton our Club House Coordinator, Connie Mathews our Lottery Club organizer, Gloria Pearson Clubhouse Coordinator’s Assistant, Bi Bi Arroyo our Safe keeper of Joy, and Betty Boo Birthday club organizer.

We would also like to thank everyone who participated In Washington DC, (Keon Diggs), and North Philly (Albert Diggs) and our own Frankford community.   We would like to give a warm congrats to all our winners.

Donations are still being accepted until March 31st. Proceeds will go to Fox Chase Cancer Center, through the American Cancer Society.

For donations or information about membership: contact the club by Email:  PGILADIES@GMAIL.COM or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pgi.pgi.904 for an invite.

Please be a part of our Legacy.

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Tour the Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls Club

We took a tour of the Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls Club last week to see what the renovations look like that have going on for the last year.  I get in there at least once a month but never have the time to stop and look around at everything.

Besides all the interior improvements, all the windows have been replaced and that was a huge job.  There was a lot of concrete work done outside.  The gym had no heat and that was resolved.

Inside, the building has been upgraded from top to bottom, including the basement.  The kitchen is not finished yet but the work is in progress.  The new John and Katie Ericksen Family Literacy Center, the Kids Café, STEM Learning Lab and Technology Center at the Club are all shown in the video below.

Its not easy to call anything in an old building like this beautiful but the old metal ceilings up on the second floor have been restored and, yes, they are beautiful.

Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls Club restored ceiling

Change came to the Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls club with the arrival of the new CEOs of the Boys and Girls Cubs of Philadelphia in 2012.  Joseph & Lisabeth Marziello have had a profound impact of the lives of the children in Frankford.

See the short video below to hear Denise Matza and Donald Travers on a tour of the club.