Broomall rabbi retires after serving over three decades
MARPLE » Rabbi Barry Blum of Congregation Beth El - Ner Tamid, 715 Paxon Hollow Road, Broomall, will retire after serving there for 31 years. Due to still being in the yellow pandemic phase, there will be no retirement party, but rather a drive-by celebration at the synagogue on June 28.
Blum grew up in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia. He served as a rabbi in Toronto before coming to Delaware County. While at Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid, Blum served as president of the Marple Newtown Clergy Association. His mission is to help those in need with the St. Mark’s Food Pantry. For 25 years, he has also worked along side of Ellen Glassman, religious school director, in a special program to educate the students of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Upper Providence and Beth El - Ner Tamid about the traditions of Christianity and Judaism.
For 30-plus years, Blum also helped to provide food for the community at Thanksgiving time, while attending the M-N Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in the community.
His community work also has included serving as chaplain for several local nursing homes through Jewish Children and Family Services and serving as the Camp Rabbi and Judaism specialist each summer at the B’nai B’rith in Starlight, Pa.
Blum shares a passion for Israel, having visited there 11 times on missions and family milestones.
For more information on Congregation Beth El - Ner Tamid, visit http://cbent.org.
Baby items available Friday afternoon for families in need
Delaware County Council, the Department of Human Services, Individuals Aiding in Emergencies Foundation and Multicultural Community Family Services are sponsoring a baby item pick up event noon to 2 p.m. Friday, June 19, at 250 Sharon Ave. in Sharon Hill.
Newborn to size 6 diapers, formula, baby food, and other baby items will be available free of charge for families in need on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Springfield homeowners invited to apply for tax assistance
Springfield Fund For The Elderly is a non-profit corporation which has been providing assistance to senior citizens residing in Springfield who own their homes with their school property tax bills for many years. The fund is now accepting applications for
2020. Eligible seniors will receive a rebate. In order to be eligible seniors must live in Springfield, own their home, and have applied for and received the 2020 State Property Tax Rebate.
Those who think they qualify should forward a copy of their 2020 State Property Tax rebate check or receipt of direct deposit to: Springfield Fund For The Elderly, 478 Beatty Road, Springfield, PA
19064.
WSFS Bank contributes to Foundation For Delaware County’s Housing Stability program
The Foundation for Delaware County has announced that WSFS Bank recently made a $5,000 contribution to the Housing Stability Program that will benefit low-income, vulnerable women, children and families in need of affordable housing in the City of Chester. The project is a partnership between The Foundation for Delaware County and the Chester Housing Authority. WSFS is one of five investors to contribute to this new initiative and will receive tax credits under the Special Program Priorities project. Serving the greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name.
The project was approved in November 2019 for funding by the state Department of Economic Development as part of the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. Under the project, program participants in the foundation’s Healthy Start and NurseFamily Partnership programs will receive assistance and support to allow them to access affordable housing units provided by Chester Housing Authority.
“I want to thank everyone involved in the Housing Stability Program,” commented Keshla Cruz, a current Nurse-Family Partnership program participant. “This opportunity has provided my family much joy, peace, and safety. Having a place to call home has truly made a difference to me and my family and they are all so happy.”
The Foundation for Delaware County is a public charity founded in 2016, and is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County. In March, the foundation distributed more than $1 million in grants to improve the well-being of the diverse residents in the county. With headquarters in Media and service sites in Eddystone, Upper Darby and Springfield, The Foundation for Delaware County also operates the prestigious evidence-based programs: Healthy Start, the WIC nutrition program and Nurse-Family Partnership. Other programs include: Drug Free Communities El Centro (a Hispanic resource center) and a health resource center for students in the Chester Upland School District. To learn more, visit the foundation at www.delcofoundation.org.
Registration opens for Girl Scouts Camp@ Home program
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania is launching its first-ever virtual summer camp titled Camp@ Home. General registration is now open.
Camp@Home will include five week-long sessions beginning July 6 through Aug. 7. Each session is designed by age level, has a unique theme, and is led by GSEP’s camp staff. Camp@Home is a mix of live interactive sessions, independent work, recorded materials, supplemental activities, and a box camp kit to provide each Girl Scout the interactive fun camp experience at home.
“At GSEP, we look forward to camp each and every year. After reviewing our operations, we have determined for the health and safety of our girls, leaders, and staff to move our inperson camp season to a virtual experience this summer,” said Kim Fraites-Dow, scout chief executive officer. “One adventure at a time, we continue to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We hope to see many familiar faces virtually this summer as we continue to learn, grow, and face this challenging time together.”
Each week-long session costs $50 to $75 per camper and includes a scout camp kit shipped directly to the girl’s home or available via contactless pick-up, over three hours of daily virtual and unplugged activities, exclusive swag and goodies, and secured access to the scout Zoom Camp experience platform.
Daisy and Brownie programs for girls K-3 are facilitated half-day sessions, with morning and afternoon options while Junior (4-5 grade), Cadette
(6-8 grade), Senior (9-10 grade), and Ambassador
(11-12 grade) programs are full-day sessions. Older girl leadership programs like program aide and counselors-in-training will also be offered, providing an important continuity to progressive leadership experiences at camp.
All campers and their families will connect on Thursday evenings for a virtual “All Camp” campfire, featuring a slideshow from the week, a beloved Girl Scout Camp tradition.
For a full list of Camp@ Home programs by age, visit www.gsep.org/campathome.
Delaware County Women Against Rape reminds residents of victim assistance programs
Delaware County Women Against Rape offers free and confidential counseling in person and through its 24-hour hotline to victims of sexual assault.
The agency provides medical, police and court accompaniment. It also facilitates support groups for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault, and Teen Survivors of Sexual Assault. Educational programs are available to schools, professionals and community groups. For questions or for services, contact their 24-hour hotline at 610-566-4342.
Delaware County Women Against Rape and Crime Victim Services offer police/court accompaniment, advocacy and free confidential counseling to victims of serious crimes including robbery, burglary, assault, arson and the surviving family members of homicide victims. For questions or for services contact DCWAR and Crime Victim Services at 610-566-4386.