Grands Stepping Up members create Easter baskets for 32 children

UPPER DARBY » Karen Barnes, founder and president of Grands Stepping Up, has coordinated a drive to make Easter baskets for 14 struggling families and 32 grandchildren. Grands Stepping Up is a local organization that assists grandparents and kinship guardians in Delaware County who are raising their grandchildren primarily due to the opioid epidemic, incarceration, mental health issues, death, or illness.

Barnes was assisted in her generous endeavor by Tammy Cole and family who donated four baskets, John and Lisa Riggin of J Riggin Painting who donated five baskets, Lorna Laffey, Chelsea and Michelle Barnes who donated basket fillers, and Beth Tyson, Timothy Snyder, Pam Tyson, Abigail Anne, and Jessica Bordas who donated cash to the fundraiser for grands stepping up to get Easter gift cards for all 14 families.

For more information on Grands Stepping Up, call Barnes at 610-3556362.

Wallingford Stained Glass Works supports City Team Ministries

NETHER PROVIDENCE » Owners Kurt Wibbens and Dan Greek of Wallingford Stained Glass Works are donating 80 percent of their business profits to City Team Ministries in Chester.

“My partner and I realized that we might be able to utilize this business to generate donations to City Team Ministries in

Chester because it is being hit hard by greater demand for services caused by the pandemic,” Wibbens explained.

During the COVID crisis, Wibbens and Greek are donating 80 percent of the purchase price of custom-created stained glass pieces, like nightlights, suncatchers, full glass panels, and more, to City Team. Through the generosity of numerous folks who have supported this effort, they have already sent over $300 to City Team and that number continues to grow. For more information, visit www.wallingfordstainedglassworks.com.

Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches institutes ‘Pay It Forward’ pizza program

ASTON » Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches, 417 Pennell Road, Aston, has been running a “Pay It Forward” program during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to spread kindness, the popular local business has donated over 100 pizzas. People can buy a large pizza for only $10 to donate to a family in need. Wolf’s will match that donation with a second pizza for another family in need, of the donor’s choice, or from the list that Wolf’s has been accumulating.

Those who know of a struggling family in need can let owner Dan Wolf know the family’s name and address and he will add them to the Wolf’s Superior Sandwiches list of those to receive pizzas.

“We’ve gotten a ton of support in this program thus far,” Wolf said. “I know times are hard, I know people have had to cut out certain luxuries, but we are here for the people in need. I can’t do it alone and that’s why we have the Pay It Forward program. So far this week alone we’ve donated almost 100 pizzas, and the shop does not profit off this.”

Wolf encourages Delco residents to stop by the shop to donate and pick a family of their choice. For more information, call Wolf’s at 484-480-3181.

Costume maker uses skills to make protective masks

RIDLEY PARK » Becky Wright of Ridley Park is usually costuming kids in multiple high school shows and musicals at this time of year. Right now, however, she is cranking out protective masks for local individuals with health problems, nurses, hospital care workers and more. She has made over 150 so far, with no end in sight. Wright is taking no money or donations for the masks.

Dad Scouts express appreciation to Riddle Hospital’s healthcare team with pizzas

MIDDLETOWN » A group of men in Middletown who call themselves the “Dad Scouts of BSA Troop 404” are pooling money together to send pizzas to the Riddle Hospital Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Unit on a regular basis to show their appreciation to the healthcare providers “for the amazing and incredibly brave jobs that they are doing to keep the community in good health. “

The sons of the “Dad Scouts” are now in their 20s and many achieved Eagle Scout rank when they were in the Boy Scout Troop at Lima United Methodist Church. The fathers continued to meet regularly and when COVID-19 hit the area, the men decided to support local businesses by purchasing four pizzas several times a week, and show ongoing appreciation and support to the healthcare workers. They call ahead to determine delivery protocol and need. The generous Dad Scouts, who are participating in these generous random acts of kindness, include Mark Rosenberg, Billy Kirkpatrick, Tim Fuller, Jim Bushey, Kurt Wibbens, Don Hudson, Scott Opitz, Rich Brown, Larry Weathers and Bill Thomas.

Retired Interboro teacher sews masks for community members

UPPER DARBY » Jannie Sirkin of Drexel Hill has made and donated over 200 protective masks to those who need them. Many folks have been requesting masks and she is trying to keep up with demand. She has been sewing daily for several weeks, making them for family and friends, police officers and others who request them.

Sirkin is a retired Interboro School District family and consumer science teacher.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Karen Barnes of Drexel Hill has coordinated the effort to make Easter baskets for 32children whose grandparents have sought assistance from Grands Stepping Up, a local organization that assists grandparents raising their grandchildren due to the opioid epidemic, mental illness and other circumstances. Grands Stepping Up also provided gift cards for 14families. For more information, visit the “Grands Stepping Up” Facebook page.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Kurt Wibbens and his partner Dan Greek, owners of Wallingford Stained Glass Works, are donating 80 percent of the profits of their crafted stained glass pieces to City Team Ministries in Chester. Wibbens said the need at City Team is growing daily due to unemployment and other factors created by the COVID-19pandemic.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Retired Interboro School District family and consumer science teacher Jannie Sirkin of Drexel Hill has sewn and donated over 200 protective masks.