Family Service Association of Bucks County’s first-ever virtual annual appeal, “Creating a Brighter Tomorrow,” ran from Dec. 16-31 and raised $104,049 in over two weeks, which is more than $4,000 beyond the initial $100,000 goal and an agency record. This money will ensure that clients will see many brighter tomorrows in 2022.
Family Service Association of Bucks County recently announced several upcoming dates for its long-standing free Families in Recovery sessions. All listed sessions are virtual.
Coordinated by clinicians in the agency’s Family Strengthening Program, Families in Recovery offers support and education to those who have been touched by addiction. Through group sessions, the program aims to help parents with substance use disorders learn healthy coping and parenting skills, while balancing their needs of recovery.
TruMark Financial Credit Union recently donated 60 children’s coats to local nonprofits, including Family Service Association of Bucks County, in an effort to ensure kids in need can combat frigid temperatures. This was part of the credit union’s Concern for Community initiative, which aims to help nonprofit organizations fulfill their clients’ needs.
Newtown podiatrist Dr. Lawrence Kalker recently partnered with Valley Youth House in Warminster and the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter in Levittown for the ninth annual Holiday Sock Drive to benefit both facilities.
This year, more than 3,000 pairs of brand new socks were donated by Kalker’s patients and other generous community members. Since 2013, more than 13,000 pairs of socks have been collected.
Family Service Association of Bucks County was established in 1953. The concept was developed by a small group of local residents, who met to address the increased need for a social service agency that could strengthen families and individuals, by responding to unmet needs – particularly in the area of mental health.
A bedroom, bathroom, kitchen area and living room — complete with a couch and a sense of security.
They’re the things most take for granted, but for the hundreds of homeless living in and out of shared shelters in Bucks County, a private place to call home makes a world of difference.
With the addition of two private units, that’s what the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter is offering — more than a roof over their heads — but a sense of home. And hopefully, a place to start again.
A little bit of rain did not dampen the spirits or generosity of 111 golfers, who spent a day on the links, supporting the 22nd Annual Family Service Association of Bucks County Drive for Youth Golf Outing, which recently took place at Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope.
The event raised more than $84,500 to support the vital health and human service programs that are provided to the community by Family Service.
Bucks County has heart.
In the face of runaway inflation, natural disasters, and the continued public health and economic fallout of COVID-19, Bucks County residents have, on the whole, continued providing ample support to area nonprofits.
A social worker recently visited the home of a single mom and her four kids. Despite the efforts of the mom, who worked full time to keep a roof over their heads, she could barely afford to furnish the place. She shared a bed with her 3-year-old. Her oldest, a teenager, slept on a bed supported on one end by an air conditioning unit.
The social worker knew this family deserved better. So, she reached out on behalf of this mom to a friend she knew volunteered with the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club. The club in turn, provided new bed frames, mattresses, box springs and bedding for each of the four kids.
As the remnants of Hurricane Ida tore across the region, Allison Howe was weathering another storm as her son was caught in a mental health crisis and struck by a truck.
Despite dealing with widespread damage caused from Ida, including tornadoes and flooding, the police officers who responded were understanding and were able to subdue him and get him into an ambulance to take him to a hospital, the Falls resident remembers.
