Sydney Swope of Family Promise of Lower Bucks receives a $250.00 donation from SEPA Wrestling Club coach Joe Erb at last nights practice at Carl Sandburg school in Highland Park. A partnership has been formed to help FPLB Tuck One In helping homeless children in Lower Bucks.
Tuck One In Donation from SEPA Wrestling Club
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCT. 8, 2013
Contact: Jerry Coleman of Family Promise Lower Bucks, 215-547-0569
Joe Erb of SEPA Wrestling, 215-380-3499
Local Wrestling Club Supports Homeless Children’s Charity “Tuck One In” with Donation.
LEVITTOWN – Addressing the county’s growing number of homeless families, Family Promise of Lower Bucks has an awareness and fundraising campaign underway and more than 150 area businesses are supporting the campaign through October to “Tuck One In.”
Coin collection canisters can be found now at about 150 area businesses throughout Lower Bucks County. The familiar canisters are emblazoned with the Tuck One In logo – a reference to the 400 to 500 children in Bucks County who don’t have the benefit of sleeping in their own bed at night.
A local youth wrestling club, Southeast Pa Wrestling is a youth based organization dedicated to teaching and promoting the sport of wrestling. The goal of the club is to provide a safe, positive, and constructive learning environment for the wrestlers. With these characteristics as our foundation, we believe that our wrestlers will learn the values of discipline, hard work, and determination. SEPA made a donation to the FPLB “Tuck One In” campaign at its wrestling practice on Tuesday evening at Carl Sandburg Middle School on Harmony Road in Levittown. SEPA works very closely with a diverse group of young men and recognizes that fact there our economy is hitting some families very hard so they wanted to help homeless children. Club founders and coach’s Joe Erb, Kurt Paroly and Jay Saunders dedicate many hours helping to shape the lives of children and said “its hard to imagine what a child must go thru not having the basic things most have.” The club will collect donations for Family Promise of Lower Bucks through out its 2013-2014 season. The club practices at Carl Sandburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Along with the collection canisters Family Promise of Lower Bucks will be hosting four area restaurant events “dining out” nights from which proceeds will be donated to the campaign.
Family Promise of Lower Bucks, part of Bucks County’s Continuum of Care network of homeless support, soon expects to announce a location for a permanent day center to be used by homeless families in Lower Bucks. There, in a homelike setting, a small group of families – 3 to 4 at a time – will have a place to spend their days while working with trained professionals on finding work, budgeting and other self-sufficiency skills.
Candidates in this program are screened for criminal backgrounds and substance abuse. These factors help the national model of the program to boast a nearly 80% success rate in placing families back into self supportive housing.
In the evenings, the congregations working with Family Promise will provide dinner and a place to stay for these families. To date, congregations that have stepped forward to host or support the families are: Church of Living Hope in Langhorne; Highland Park Community Church, Levittown; Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,Yardley; United Christian Church, Levittown; First Presbyterian Church of Levittown; Hope Lutheran Church, Levittown; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lower Bucks, Langhorne; Zubaida Foundation Mosque, Yardley.
FPLB continues to recruit congregational partners and has determined that 13 are needed before services will be delivered.
About Family Promise of Lower Bucks
A 501c3 organization, FPLB is an affiliate of Family Promise, a national organization with 180 networks across the U.S. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of families mentored by FP return to self-sufficiency. The organization model is to work with a small number of drug-free, mentally healthy clients at one time.
More about Tuck One In
Restaurant promotions will take place on the following dates and locations:Thursday, Oct. 10, 4 to 10 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings in Langhorne; Tuesday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Kris Crois, Fairless Hills; Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 8 p.m., Chick-Fil-A, Langhorne; Tuesday, Oct. 29, all day and night, Miller’s Ale House.
More information
Online: https://www.fplb.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/FamilyPromiseOfLowerBucks
Mail tax-deductible donations at: Promise of Lower Bucks, 837 Hoe Road, Levittown, PA 19056
sepawrestling.com
SEPAWrestling@aol.com
2013 - 2014 Board of Trustee
On September 9 at the monthly Board of Trustees meeting of Family Promise of Lower Bucks the new board was put in place. This years board continues to reflect the diverse community in which we live.
Board members are:
Lisa Kulan - President
Jerry F. Coleman - Vice President
Diane Casey - Secretary
Maryann Hamer - Treasurer
Bryan Allen
Lori Corporale
Anita Getz
Richard C. Kelly
Krista Paone
Betty Scheich
Rev. Dr. Dan Young
This team of community leaders are charged with moving forward toward serving the more then 500 identified school aged children in the 7 lower bucks county school districts. Together with local interfaith congregations Family Promise of Lower Bucks will provide a structured plan including lodging, food, support, training and love to help get the families back into self-sustainable housing.
Unlike other local programs candidates will be screened for substance abuse, criminal backgrounds and mental health issues prior to acceptance into the focused structure. Our program also requires there to be a school aged child in the family unit. We keep the family together while sleeping and having dinner and community time at local churches, mosques, temples and meeting houses.
A program coordinator will work with the Bucks County Continuum of Care and Homeless Placement hotline to help serve the many homeless people in Lower Bucks. Each family will have an active goal oriented structure that will require specific progress being made toward placement and financial stability.
If you are interested in helping Family Promise of Lower Bucks you can contact us at fplb@comcast.net or by calling Lisa Kulan at 215-547-0569.
Please like us on Facebook.
Homeless children here in Bucks County…Yes over 500!
Recent statistics have identified that there are around 500 children in Bucks County that are identified as homeless. This means they do not have a permanent address, they do not have a bed to call their own, they are unsure when or where their next hot meal will come from. Some may sleep on a friend or relatives couch or floor. Some may be in an inexpensive hotels isharing beds with little to no privacy and making it even harder to save money toward permanent housing when a first and last months rent may be needed.. Family Promise of Lower Bucks is working hard under the umbrella of the national organization family promise who has about 180 chapters through out the United States and boast a near 80% success rate of placing families that have been guests in their program back into self sustainable permanent housing. This success rate is most likely a result of the screening and intense structure of the program. It is very goal oriented so the families have to do their part while being offered structured support, love and training.
Please visit our other pages on this website, learn about us and then shoot us an email fplb@comcast.net and ask any questions you may have or tell us how you can help us help homeless kids!
Tuck One In - Its what we do
Family Promise of Lower Bucks (FPLB) is launching a month long fundraiser called Tuck One In. As this is back to school time each of us involved with tucking your children in at night and providing all of them the basic supplies they need to succeed most likely can’t imagine your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friends children not only not having those school supplies but not having a home. A warm place to sleep in a bed, hot meals or even sometimes any meals. This is a reality right here in Lower Bucks County Pennsylvania. A small group of faith based volunteers did research in search of a mission. They identified that over 400 school aged children in the 7 Lower Bucks School Districts are identified as homeless. Being saddened these volunteers knew they had to help. First confirming the 400 number because it seems impossible here where people drive nice cars have many high end cell phones and spend $5.00 on a coffee there are those in the background. Unseen, unknown that are living in their cars, in a shelter or on a waiting list and that family children also live on friends floors or couches. Live in the woods, or worse have no where to live. How could they help. They found the National Organization Family Promise that was addressing this very issue. They did research and discovered the Family Service Association Of Bucks County Emergency Shelter has a very long waiting list and that’s coming off the end of the summer. The other difference is that emergency shelter that is doing great work had split up the family unit. Men in one room and women and children in another. They also struggle with the chronic homeless, substance abuse and mental health issues. Family Promise is a smaller group and there must be children involved no single adults. The prospective guests are screened for substance abuse, mental health issues, and a criminal background check. This insures guests are doing everything they can to help themselves. If they get accepted into FPLB they will enter into a contract with our coordinator that has specific goals, training and obligations that should the guest not be on target will be reviewed for dismissal or be placed on an amended plan. This is all results oriented. This is why the national organization has hundreds of successful local programs in operation that boast proudly the fact that they have a over 70% success rate at placing their guest families back into self supportive self sustainable independent housing where they will become contributing community members again.
We are almost ready to begin providing full time services right here in Lower Bucks. We are holding a public awareness campaign and fundraising opportunity during the entire month of October 2013. We will have activities going on including opportunities to dine out at Chick fil a Oxford Valley, Buffalo Wild Wings Langhorne, Cris Croix Fairless Hills and others where all you have to do is show up, mention family Promise of Lower Bucks and a portion of your guest check will be donated by the restaurant to FPLB and will help homeless children right here at home. We will have hosts available to provide information about other ways you can help if your interested.
If you want to help us help homeless children and their families right here in Lower Bucks you can make a donation on this website or thru Paypal sending your donation to fplb@comcast.net.
You can also contact me, Jerry F. Coleman at fplb@comcast.net or by calling 215-943-7573.
You can also LIKE US on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/Family Promise Of Lower Bucks
How was your children’s first school week?
Did your children enjoy their first few days of school? Did they meet new friends and teachers? Did you provide them with new clothes, school supplies a lunch box and all the comforts of a nice warm home to come to after school every day?
Not all children have that same opportunity. Over 400 children, school age children are identified as homeless right now, right here in the 7 Lower Bucks school districts.
We are Family Promise of Lower Bucks a local non profit organization that has many nationwide chapters that help homeless children and their families to get back into a self supportive home. We provide shelter, food, warmth and support all focused on love and keeping the family together while preparing to again become contributing members of our community.
There is many ways you can help. Become a Family Promise of Lower Bucks volunteer. Join our planning group at their September, 9 meeting. This Monday at 6:45 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown on Bristol Emily Road at Green Lane in Levittown. Come around back. There is another meeting on the side of the building. We are a friendly fun group that is passionate about our mission. We are planning a big event in October and need your help to make it a success. We hope to be providing full services real soon. We need your help to do this. The hundreds of homeless children right here in Lower Bucks are county on your help.
If you can make the meeting donate on this website or thru PayPal at fplb@comcast.net. It is tax deductible and will be used responsibly to serve children. Rather then make that online purchase send us the money and get a true feeling of service to your community. Do it now. It takes only a few minutes to help those kids.
If you want more information call me Jerry Coleman anytime at 215-943-7573 or Lisa Kulan our President at 215-547-0569. We want to share our excitement and offer you the opportunity to help no matter how much time you can offer. One hour or many. You will feel great knowing you are helping keep a family together and provide warmth, love and food.
Thank you for taking a minute to read this now take the next step.
Jerry
First school year weekend, What’s in the children’s minds?
As I sit at my iPad this morning enjoying some fresh brewed Kona coffee. I watch the neighborhood children some up so early and out to play with their friends I can only wonder what they are talking about and what are they thinking. I would guess they compare their teachers, talk about new friends and plan a speculation future full of successes and milestones. What I can’t imagine is the thoughts of this children who don’t have a home. No bedroom, dresser, school clothes, hot meals, warm showers, and their parent(s) stressed about all the same. I was so blessed to have loving parents that managed by way of some hard work but also luck to provide all the basic needs their children should have as tools to build their life. What if I didn’t? What if I had to worry about all the things a struggling parent has to worry about. What if I were homeless? What do you say when the teacher or another student asks where you live. What do you do at lunch time? How do you cope? How do you concentrate on any of the so many things children are supposed to like playing, learning social skills and having all the tools so many others have?
This thought frightens us so much that when some members at the Highland Park Community Church learned that over 400 children in the seven Lower Bucks County Schools were identified as homeless they searched for a solution. They organized and learned about a number of options. Finding Family Promise, a national organization 501(c)(3) non profit that serves these type of children and their families. Helping them have an address, have food,shelter and support and to find permanent self supportive housing while staying together as a family unit. Being surrounded by volunteers from our local faith based community. Family Promise of Lower Bucks was formed, incorporated and a working group was established to prepare to serve that population that is most vulnerable and needs our help. Now many have joined us, church’s, mosques, people from all faiths and all walks of life all wanting to help homeless children.
Our next organizing meeting is on September 9, 2013 at 6:45 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown. Emile Road at Green Lane. Around the back of the building. You are invited. Come learn, help and should you or your children want to help we welcome you, your ideas your support and time.
We also welcome donations of money or time. Donations can be made on this website FPLB.org or can be mailed to Family Promise of Lower Bucks c/o Highland Park Community Church 837 Hoe Road Levittown, PA 19056.
We also welcome civic organizations as a service project or mission.
Interested contact fplb@comcast.net. Inquire today, homeless children don’t deserve to have to wait.
Thank you
Jerry F. Coleman
Vice President
Getting ready for the first day of school doesn’t have to be so bad!
On September 9, 2013 at 6:45 pm a group of concerned people from all faiths and beliefs that all have one thing in common will meet to plan helping homeless children and their families in Lower Bucks.
Months ago members of some local churches learned that there were over 400 children registered in Lower Bucks County School Districts are registered as homeless. That’s over 400 children in just 7 local school districts who don’t have a permanent home, a hot breakfast or dinner or even a bed to sleep in. Those volunteers began to organize and plan on how they can make a difference in the life’s of these children.
It’s back to school time in Lower Bucks County and we all relate to being nervous about fitting in, being liked, learning life skills and social skills. Imagine trying to do all that and yet not having good clothes, breakfast, dinner or even a bed to sleep in.
You can help. Join our team of volunteers as we plan to host families, feed them, work with them to again find a home and keep the family together while they overcome their homelessness. We are part of a national organization that has an impressive success rate of over 70% at placing participants back into successful self sustainable housing.
If you can’t volunteer a few hours a month to help make a donation today. A link is available on this site. PayPal donations can be made to fplb@comcast.net or a check can be mailed.
This is something you can’t ignore. Please do something now.