Media-Providence Friends School holds virtual open houses
MEDIA » With the stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. Wolf to stop the spread of COVID-19, MediaProvidence Friends School, like most schools, moved to distance learning and virtual teaching in March. As an independent school, the faculty and administrative staff are allowed the flexibility to craft their own distance learning program. Each family has been equipped with Chromebooks for their students to ensure that all students, regardless of finances, are able to successfully participate in distance learning. The Quaker school teaches the Quaker testimony of Stewardship, which empowers students of all ages to be stewards of their local community and the larger world.
According to a press release, the school is sensitive to the fact that working parents are struggling to juggle the demands of full-time work with the added responsibility of full-time parenting and education. To best accommodate families during this time, the distance learning schedule is broken up by division and creates blocks for time spent with classroom teachers, a break for lunch and physical activities, and time spent with special teachers. This schedule balances the importance of student community with video check-ins and time spent working independently.
Another Quaker testimony that the school community has continued to embrace during this challenging time is service. Service learning is an integral part of the school experience so students can gain a sense of responsibility for one another, their community, and their world, along with selfworth, compassion, and empowerment. Students in the community have helped raise funds for local families in-need of groceries, sewed fabric masks for donation to local healthcare workers, and written letters to residents of local senior centers.
Media-Providence Friends School is a Quaker day school for students age 3 through grade 8, providing a challenging academic program infused with values. Community involvement and service play an integral part in curriculum, connecting students with the larger world. Despite the current pandemic, the school is still currently enrolling for the 2020-21 school year. The admissions office has instituted a new application process to provide prospective families with a virtual and interactive alternative to the admissions process including live virtual Open Houses. To learn more, visit mpfs.org/rsvp or contact Angela DiMaria, assistant head of school and director of admissions and academic programs, at 610-565-1960, extension 104.
Hot meals available to residents in Upper Darby, Havertown, Yeadon and Lansdowne
Upper Darby Community Outreach and Christ Lutheran Community Church are offering free hot meals, take-out or delivered, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People can pick up from 5:306:30 p.m. at 7240 Walnut St., Upper Darby. For delivery, call 610352-7008 from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays to order. Deliveries are available to Upper Darby, Havertown, Yeadon and Lansdowne residents.
Volunteers are needed for deliveries. To volunteer, call Pastor David at 610-352-7008.
St. Madeline holds local food drive
St. Madeline Parish, in conjunction with Knights of Columbus Peace Council, will hold a driveby food drive 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 2 in the church parking lot, 110 Park Ave., Ridley Park. Donations can include dry goods, canned goods and nonperishable items, all to benefit local families in need.
Delco Chamber launches opportunity for local businesses during COVID-19 outbreak
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce launched #BusinessTipTuesday, a webinar series where local leaders and industry experts share valuable strategies and opportunities that businesses can utilize and implement during the COVID-19 outbreak. During the inaugural event, the chamber partnered with Villanova University to announce an innovative opportunity that aims to connect businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with students who are seeking remote/ virtual work.
“Villanova University is proud to partner with our local Business Associations and Chambers of Commerce in offering our students’ assistance during these unprecedented times.” said Laura Wagoner, MPA assistant director of government and community relations at Villanova University.
Local business owners and professionals logged onto the Zoom Tuesday morning as Maggie Sogner, director of employer relations at Villanova University, provided an overview of the university’s initiative and the form they launched that will assist in publicizing opportunities and identifying students who can assist small businesses with driving commerce and promoting or building online platforms.
When businesses fill out the form found on the Career Center’s website, Sogner explained their team will process the submissions and assist business owners by sharing their professional work opportunities and identify students who might be an excellent fit to support their submission.
According to Wagoner, the initiative not only supports small business owners, but it also provides students with a rewarding academic experience. A recording can be found on the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s YouTube channel for those who missed last Tuesday’s presention: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=-HX6An0TVFM. For more information about Villanova’s University initiative and to access the Small Business Opportunities form, visit bit.ly/covid19hirenova.
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is committed working side-by-side with the local business community and providing support, advocating for policy response and delivering the most up-to-date resources in order to get through the COVID-19 outbreak. For additional information regarding the business resources available during the COVID-19 ourbreak or to register for the next #BusinessTipTuesday, visit www.delcochamber.org.
Boy Scouts host food drive to stock Wayne U.M. Church food pantry
The Wayne Food Pantry at the Wayne United Methodist Church in Radnor is working with the Paoli Scout Troop 1 to host a community food drive 9 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, May 9. The food pantry has seen a surge in those seeking help as so many have been impacted by this crisis and are in need of donations.
People can bring donations of non-perishable grocery items to the Radnor Township parking lot on South Wayne Avenue, across from the church and the Radnor Fire Station. For a list of the most needed items, visit http:// wayneumc.org/food-pantry.
Storytime with Phillie Phanatic and celebrity readers available on Instagram
The Phillie Phanatic launched a weekly “Storytime with the Phillie Phanatic” last Wednesday, live on @philliephanatic on Instagram. The new virtual event will feature a celebrity reader from the Phillies who will read a book from the popular Phanatic book series – with the Phillie Phanatic’s help. Phillies manager Joe Girardi and his wife, Kim, had the honor of being the first celebrity readers.
To be part of the fun, fans should follow @philliephanatic on Instagram, where they will then be able to watch “Storytime with the Phillie Phanatic,” live each Wednesday at 7 p.m.