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Summer Food Program Begins 3rd Year at Center
During the mid-summer of 2006, Prince of Peace Center became a participating service provider with the Summer Food Service Program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This program typically provides meals to children of lower-income families during traditional breakfast and lunch school hours. Last year we began to offer an evening meal for them as well in July and August.
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Mahoning Valley Scrapper Game Plans
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The Center will again offer our limited-income neighbors an exciting evening of
baseball and hot dogs with all the condiments!
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H.O.P.E. Advocacy Program Merits National Recognition
The HOPE Advocacy Program, an innovative program of Catholic Charities’ Prince of Peace Center in Farrell, has been named as a finalist for Catholic Charities USA’s 2005 Family Strengthening Awards. UPCOMING EVENTS
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In June of 2007, we again committed to provide summer meals that minimally meet daily nutritional requirements. Through a local campaign, we have solicited local children to come and enjoy a meal prepared by Soup Kitchen groups each Monday and Wednesday. They are requested to come a full 30 minutes earlier than the traditional Soup Kitchen meal (offered between 4:00 and 5:00 PM). This early start encourages the children to attend in age appropriate groups with or without supervising adults, and insures that balanced meals are distributed and consumed in the accountable manner that meets the state guidelines.
However, Assistant Director Annette Morrison saw this as an opportunity to meet additional needs as well. She recently initiated a “Dinner and a Movie” themed-evening to great success. On the first occasion in mid-June, 45 children remained after the dinner meal and enjoyed the family movie “Happy Feet” while eating the popcorn and soda provided for them in the air conditioned Providence Room. As pictured above, this area was transformed for the occasion into a theater, and the video was projected onto a screen suspended from the ceiling. The activity was such a great success that two more movies are planned to be presented during July.
“I was so excited to see these children so enjoy a movie, and learn some very important lessons that were presented in the cartoon as well.” reported Mrs. Morrison. “This sort of organized social activity is very important, especially now that school is in recess. And this initial success has made us consider some other future educational activities that we may undertake as well; especially after school resumes.” Ideas to consider include homework programs and month-long educational seminars hosted by local adults in mentoring roles.
In the meantime, our next “show” is scheduled for August 8, 2007, and several lucky children will win bicycles provided through Magnotto’s Shop n’ Save. The Hermitage store recently facilitated a Bicycle Rodeo, and in response 5 bicycles were donated by the Bikes for Kids charity in Niles, OH to the store for their effort. These donated bikes will certainly add to the level of summertime fun these children will experience… and always remember. What a mix… Food, Flix, and Fun!
For the past seven years, the Center has sponsored a trip to Cafaro Field in Niles to watch the Mahoning Valley
Scrappers, our local Cleveland Indians affiliate in Class A minor league
baseball action.
This first-annual award given by Catholic Charities USA has been made possible by the generous support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The award program aims to recognize and award exceptional programs in the Catholic Charities network that take a holistic approach to providing services by supporting healthy family relationships while working to improve a family’s overall financial situation and enhance the community where they live.
The program empowers low-income families by providing them with support and guidance through in-home case management and parent education. In this program, one of the Center’s two HOPE advocates works directly with a family to help its members learn basic life skills, initiate routine medical and dental services, develop positive parenting skills, access educational opportunities, and obtain job skills training.
“By providing families a tailored case management program and coupling it with a variety of workshops and trainings, the program assists families to establish a support system, identify and utilize community resources, and increase knowledge of basic life skills and proactive parenting skills that promote family communication and prevent substance abuse,” said Phyllis Gallant BA, Coordinator HOPE Advocacy Program, which serves between 25 and 30 families a year.The program empowers low-income families by providing them with support and guidance through in-home case management and parent education. In this program, one of the Center’s two HOPE advocates works directly with a family to help its members learn basic life skills, initiate routine medical and dental services, develop positive parenting skills, access educational opportunities, and obtain job skills training.
Throughout the program, which ranges from six to 18 months depending upon a particular family’s circumstances, frequent contact is made between the advocates and the families within the home, community, individual meetings at the Center, group learning activities, and life skills classes. Many of the group activities and life skills classes are co-sponsored by other community groups.
“The Family Strengthening Awards have allowed Catholic Charities USA to celebrate the many excellent and innovative programs across the country that work with vulnerable families through community partnerships. Programs such as the HOPE Advocacy Program are successful largely because of the commitment of the families involved, the provider agency, volunteers, parishes and government working together to create opportunities for families to better their lives,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA.
The HOPE (Help and Opportunity for Personal Empowerment) Advocacy program was selected as one of just 12 finalists out of 92 submissions from local Catholic Charities programs from across the country.
H.O.P.E Advocacy was created more than nine years ago by Sister Clare Marie Beichner. Today, Phyllis Gallant is assisted by Family Case Manager Lisa McCoy in the service provision.
We are very proud to offer services to those in the Shenango Valley that rival any offered in the United States! Thank you Phyllis and Lisa, and all associated with this program.
May 1st: National Day of Prayer & Project RUTH begins 9th year
May 11th: Mother's Day
June 14th: Flag Day
June 15th: Father's Day
June 21st: Summer Begins
Every Monday & Wednesday:
Neighborhood Meal/Soup Kitchen, 4-5 PM
Every 3rd Thursday of the month:
$2 Bag Day: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM,
Food Day: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM & 4-6:00 PM, 3rd
Thursday of every month