One volunteer, Kathleen, has been serving for several years as a cook at Downingtown High School. Her experience has been a rewarding one as she enjoys being able to brighten the students’ day; so much so that one student even asked if she could join the teaching staff. Other volunteers fulfill vital roles at Meals on Wheels and the American Red Cross.

RSVP volunteers enjoy the music and luncheon on March 21, 2013.

As active and eager members of the community, the volunteers were ready to have some fun. Luncheon guests were treated to the musical talent of The Grateful Alive Orchestra. The group, composed of senior citizens playing instruments ranging from the violin to the accordion, is affiliated with the West Chester Area Senior Center. Some of the band members have been playing their instruments their entire lives, while others did not begin until retirement.  Virginia Love serves as a wonderful example– she began to play the violin at age 63, and continues playing today at age 91.

In addition to the music, many volunteers also received awards for their extraordinary efforts.  This year’s awards went to:

PA Senator Andy Dinniman congratulates fellow award recipient, Margie Glah. Margie is the youngest active member of RSVP.

Gwen & Frank Cornell
Dynamic Duo

Bea Conner
Oldest Active Member

Margie Glah
Youngest Active Member

West Chester University
RSVP Partner of the Year

Madge Miller & Thelma Teel
Longest RSVP Volunteer Service

Awards were also given to members who had contributed anywhere from one to five years of their time to RSVP and its partners.

As an additional form of thanks, the volunteers received special door prizes from local businesses such as Longwood Gardens, Normandy Salon & Spa, and the Brandywine River Museum. Tables were sponsored by members of the Chester County community including:

• Commissioner Kathi Cozzone
• Bryan Krause of Merrill Lynch
• Victor and Irene Terziu
• American Helicopter Museum
• The Kennett Square Branch of the First Niagara Bank
• Kendal Crosslands Communities
• Yellow Daffodils Wig Salon & Post Mastectomy Boutique
• Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
• Stillman Volvo

This annual luncheon also provided RSVP with the privilege of hosting special state and local representatives including representatives from the offices of Representative Duane Milne, Representative John Lawrence, Representative Becky Corbin, Amanda Ross, Christopher Mudhall and Alexander Thigpen.

PA Senator Andy Dinniman receives surprise award for his support of the Chester County community and its RSVP program.

Also in attendance was Pennsylvania Senator Andy Dinniman.   RSVP awarded Senator Dinniman with a surprise Recognition Award for his continual support of the Chester County community and RSVP program.

Upon receiving the award, Senator Dinniman remarked that he felt honored, but that it was most important to be commending the senior volunteers for all of their time, hard work and commitment to the Chester County community.

Thank you senior volunteers for all of your time and continued efforts!

The 18th Annual James L. Mosteller Comedy & Magic Spectacular is around the corner.  Join us for a night of mystery and entertainment sure to mystify adults and kids of all ages.

Check out the Magic Show Website for information on performances, cool videos, and to purchase tickets!

Contact ECFC Program Director, Voni Moore-Mastovich for advertising opportunities and group ticket information.

All proceeds benefit the Exchange Club Family Center of Family Service– providing parenting support and child abuse prevention to Chester County families and children.

RSVP of Chester County hosted its 41^st Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, March 22.

The event was held at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, and included entertainment from the always enthusiastic, Grateful Alive Band.  Over 135 volunteers and honorable guests attended the luncheon and enjoyed the dynamic emcee performance provided by Burt Rothenberger, RSVP Advisory Council and Family Service Board of Directors member.

This year marked a new set of awards that were distributed to volunteers including:

Dynamic Newcomers: recognizing volunteers who have been active less than a year but have volunteered significant hours.

Venerable Volunteers: recognizing volunteers who are 85+ and still active!

Learning to read a child’s behavioral cues is one of the best ways to identify potential child sexual abuse.  The Exchange Club Family Center provides parents and caregivers with resources that can help to prevent this and other types of child abuse from occurring in their homes.

How Can You Tell if a Child is Being Abused?

Watch for these behavioral and or emotional reactions:

• Nightmares and sleeping difficulties
• Withdrawn behavior
• Angry outbursts
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Not wanting to be left alone with a particular individual
• Sexual knowledge that is inappropriate for the child’s age

Although many children who have experienced sexual abuse show behavioral and emotional changes, many others do not.  The best way to prevent child sexual abuse is to communicate with your child about body safety, healthy body boundaries and encouraging open dialogues.

Tips to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse:

• Teach children accurate names of private body parts.
• Teach children about body safety
• Educate children about the difference between good secrets and bad secrets
• Trust your instincts!

 WHERE TO FIND HELP

If you have any questions or feel as though you may be in a situation requiring guidance, we encourage you to confidentially call Voni Moore-Mastovich, Director of our Exchange Club Family Center, at 610-696-4900 ext. 129 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

You may also contact ChildLine, a  24 hour hotline for reporting child abuse in Pennsylvania at 1-800-932-0313.

How to help

Learn more about the Exchange Club Family Center program.

Take an active role in the fight against child abuse and neglect. Learn about our Volunteer Parent Aide program and become a Volunteer Parent Aide today.

Contact our ECFC Director, Voni Moore-Mastovich, by phone at 610-696-4900 ext. 129 or via email at ecfc@familyservice.us.

Guest speakers: Rev. Lynda Rassman, Connectional HIV/AIDS Coordinator of AME Churches Health Commission NJ, and Chantal Whitehead of Camp Dreamcatcher

Enjoy Herstories, door prizes, games, teas and desserts.

$5 per person or $40 per table (of 8). Prize for the best dressed table. Scholarships are available.

To Register:
Hub of Hope Interfaith HIV/AIDS Ministry
610-444-2400
hub-of-hope@umcod.org

All year long, these volunteers provide transportation to HIV/AIDS clients, assist with prevention initiatives, provide food, and give financial assistance to Project ONE.

Helping Hands: Darlene Robinson, James S. Smith, Fiona Allison, Tim Case, Jesse Cocks, Elmer Duckinfield, Angela Emrich, Anne Cormish, Rev. Jacqueline Hines, Virginia Huestis, Rev. Eva Johnson, Pamela Johnson, Cheryl Miles, Rona Obert, Peggy Puy, Shauna Ridge, Molly Dee Rounsley, Eleanor Ruiz-Santiago, Rich Sipple, Rev. Sondra Taylor.

Faith Communities: Bethel United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, Galilee UAME Church, Grove United Methodist Church, Hopewell United Methodist Church, Second Baptist Worship Center, St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, UM Church of the Open Door, West Chester United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church

Helping Hands

Click on any photo to enlarge.

To human service providers, medical professionals and those serving the HIV/AIDS population in Chester County:

You are invited to a Family Service/Project ONE Open House on Tuesday, December 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Coatesville Center for Community Health. Come and learn about our comprehensive case management services for individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in Chester County.

• Meet our case managers, prevention education specialist, and program director.
• Discuss ways we can work together to help people living with HIV/AIDS in our community to access better medical care and resources for healthy living.
• Discuss HIV/AIDS issues and trends in Chester County.
• Get information about HIV prevention and our VOICES prevention program.

Directions

World AIDS Day Services:

Tabernacle Baptist Church 
December 1, 6:00 pm
819 Coates Street
Coatesville, PA  19380
Refreshments

First United Methodist Church of Phoenixville
December 4, 4:00 pm
865 Main Street
Phoenixville, PA  19460

Well, okay, we don’t need your socks. You can keep the ones you’re wearing—but we do need new, warm socks to give to homeless and disadvantaged people in Chester County this winter.

Socks are one item people rarely donate. Socks wear out, get holes, and end up in the trash can. When homeless and disadvantaged people need socks, our clothing donations centers have few or none to give.

You can make a small, but important, difference in someone’s life this winter by participating in our annual Sock-It-To-Us community sock drive.

Purchase clean, new socks for men, women or children and bring them to a Sock-It-To-Us collection site from October 1-31.

Sock Collection Sites

Family Service of Chester County
310 N. Matlack Street
West Chester, Pa  19380 (map)

Public Libraries in…
Avon Grove
Bayard Taylor
Chester Springs
Coatesville
Downingtown
Easttown
Henrietta Franklin
Honey Brook
Malvern
Oxford
Parkesburg
Phoenixville
Spring City
Tredyffrin
West Chester

And at…
Eagleview YMCA
Phoenixville YMCA
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Grove Church
St. Paul’s Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church of West Chester
Spirit of Yoga

Where Will The Socks Go?

At the end of October, your socks will be distributes to 20+ homeless shelters and community agencies serving disadvantaged men, women and children in Chester County.

Chester County’s 10 Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness stresses the need for public awareness. By participating in Sock-It-To-Us, you can bring attention to this tragic reality and make life easier and warmer for our homeless and near-homeless neighbors.

Questions? Don’t Hesitate… Contact Us!

Sock-It-To-Us is a signature project of our RSVP Volunteer Program. It is led and organized by retired and senior volunteers age 55+.

Leslie Stauffer, RSVP Program Director
610-696-4900 ext. 114
rsvp@familyservice.us

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