New co-presidents lead Delco literacy council board of directors
CHESTER » Rick Durante of Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and Jennifer Stock, director of the Upper Darby Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Library, have been elected as co-presidents of the Board of Directors of the Delaware County Literacy Council.
Durante is vice president, director of corporate social responsibility and government affairs at the credit union and executive director of the credit union foundation. He also serves on the board of managers and is executive director of the Credit Union Network for Financial Literacy, LLC.
His work at the foundation includes overseeing all community giving programs, including education grants, teacher awards, community grants, Delco Hi-Q, the food insecurity fund, and other charitable giving in the communities served by the credit union. Durante has been involved with Delco Hi-Q, the oldest continuous academic competition in the United States, since 2004. He currently serves as Quizmaster and executive director of the competition.
Durante finds serving on the literacy council board of directors to be rewarding.
He explains, “I started volunteering with DCLC 12 years ago, and the growth and impact of the organization that I’ve witnessed over that time is amazing. The work of DCLC in improving literacy has helped students open doors to educational and employment opportunities that can help them move out of poverty and underemployment.”
Stock earned a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Drexel University. She has worked in Delaware County Libraries in various roles since 2001. Before becoming the Director of the Upper Darby Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Library, Stock served as head of public services for the Marple Library, assistant director of the Marple Library, and director of the Helen Kate Furness Free Library.
Stock describes first learning about the literacy council when she noticed literacy tutors meeting with their adult students in libraries where she was working. Stock says she is impressed with how the council has adapted to changing needs in the community.
“Now the focus is not only on adult basic literacy, adult GED, adult English as a Second Language (ESL), and adults’ learning something so that they can go on to either higher education or citizenship,” Stock stated, “But now there is also an important literacy-to-work aspect that DCLC provides. The Literacy Council has embraced this change, and we’ve seen the success. There are even DCLC students who have been able to become employees and continue the mission in that role. That’s amazing and a testament to the organization.”
Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union has provided financial products and services to its members in the greater Philadelphia region and beyond since 1970. As the largest financial institution headquartered in Delaware County, the credit union has 110,000 members, 2,500 partner organizations, and branches located throughout the Delaware Valley.
The Upper Darby Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Library includes three branches, the Sellers Memorial Branch on State Road in Upper Darby, the Primos Branch on Ashland Avenue in Secane, and the Municipal Branch on Bywood Avenue in Upper Darby. These libraries belong to the Delaware County Libraries, a federated system comprised of 26 member libraries.
The Delaware County Literacy Council helps adults develop reading, writing, math, and English language skills so that these adults can thrive in the workplace and community. To learn more or to get involved, visit www. delcoliteracy.org.
Merion Mercy offers summer programs for girls and boys
For close to 30 years, Merion Mercy’s Summer Programs have offered a multitude of academic and athletic opportunities for students. Merion’s summer programs provide more than 25 academic and enrichment opportunities and sports camps for girls and boys in grades 6 to 12. Popular offerings include writing, art, design, basketball, field hockey soccer, and volleyball camps. Whether students wish to sharpen their writing skills, earn high school credits, prepare for the various high school and scholarship exams, try a new sport, or learn a new skill, there’s probably a summer activity at Merion Mercy that matches their interests.
Close to 100 high school students take part in the summer programs while elementary school students and incoming freshmen are also eager to explore Merion’s welcoming campus. In addition to several coed options, many of the summer offerings are just for girls and allow prospective students the chance to get to know the campus and experience the school’s programs firsthand.
Additionally, the all-girls Summer Academy is a fullday, four-week program designed specifically for girls entering grade eight. The Summer Academy helps students begin the transition from an elementary school to a college preparatory high school program. Students take courses such as pre-algebra, language arts, study skills, and public speaking. There is also a fitness class built in that includes options such as volleyball and yoga.
For more information on any of the summer programs, visit www.merionmercy.com/summerprograms.
Delloso hosts e-cycle and shred event Saturday
State Rep. David Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park, will host an E-Cycle and Shred event, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 13, at Norwood Fire Co., 336 Chester Pike, Norwood.
The event has a limit of four bags or boxes of paper documents per household. All paper documents will be safely shredded and then recycled. Magazines and newspapers will not be accepted.
Electronic devices will be strictly limited to desktop computers/towers, laptops, tablets, hard drives and smart phones. No other devices will be accepted.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office has agreed to bring the Drug Take Back Van for residents to safely dispose of expired or unwanted prescription drugs.
In an effort to keep the public and volunteers safe during this health pandemic, residents are asked to wear a mask when interacting with volunteers. Residents are also asked to remain in their vehicles so volunteers can unload their documents/electronics from the trunks of vehicles.
Questions and details on the event can be found by contacting Delloso’s office at 610-534-1002.
Kearney hosts student roundtable on racism and bias
State Sen. Tim Kearney,
D-26 of Swarthmore, will hold a virtual student-led roundtable on racism and bias in schools on Thursday, March 11 from 7-8 p.m.
Kearney will be convening high school students from across Senate District
26 for the discussion. Superintendents, school board members, teachers, staff, and community members are invited to listen and watch. If interested, community members can register at www.SenatorKearney.com/Roundtable. Those who register will be emailed a link to join the event.
I brought my 68-yearold immigrant father to live with me permanently with the intention of caring for him. He was completely dependent. Halfway through the year, I got angry, told him to move back and vowed to myself I would never ever care for him again. It wasn’t that he did anything wrong; I don’t know why I got so angry.
He wound up living alone, being helped by his friends. I visited him, but I became disconnected. I knew he was suffering, but I couldn’t bring myself to bring him back to live with me. I was extraordinarily cruel, and it hurt him deeply. I let his green card lapse. He passed away two years later.
Since then, I have been overwhelmed with guilt. As a son, I should have cared for my father. I am depressed over my actions. I am a horrible son. I have been crying and asking for forgiveness. Please tell me how I can move forward.
— Guilt-ridden
in the West
DEAR GUILT-RIDDEN » Performing the role of caregiver is an enormous undertaking. While it can be rewarding, it can also be exhausting, unrelenting and stressful. Caregivers have been known to lose their tempers because of the pressure, but because you had bitten off more than you could chew, your reaction was extreme.
If you are religious, talk about this with your clergyperson. If you aren’t, please consider scheduling some appointments with a licensed mental health professional who can help you more fully understand what happened between you and your father and help you cope with your guilt. And in the future — once you are able — consider atoning by volunteering for a charity that serves the elderly.
DEAR ABBY » I have been married to a functioning alcoholic for more than 30 years. He was once funny and nice and a good dad. But over the years he has become unbearable to live with. He doesn’t shower or brush his teeth. He was always mainly a beer drinker, but now he is drinking hard liquor and stays drunk most of the time he is awake.
I told him I thought he was depressed and a severe alcoholic, and he should talk to his doctor, but he refuses. He walks around cursing under his breath, and nobody wants to be around him. I keep him off the road when he has been drinking, but I’m terrified he will hurt someone. I am pretty sure he is drinking on the job, and I’m scared he will hurt himself. I am ready to leave him, but afraid that if I do, he will be completely lost. Please guide me.
— Lost in the South
DEAR LOST » You don’t need me to tell you that your husband is in bad shape. I don’t know what his job involves, but if he’s interacting with others, I am surprised he can get away with having such poor hygiene and being stoned on alcohol.
Because he refuses to talk to his doctor about this, you should. I hope you are beginning to realize that, on the path he is on, you cannot “save” him. I have mentioned Al-Anon many times in my column. The organization is an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous and was started to help families and friends of individuals who are unable to control their drinking. You will gain insight about what to do next if you attend some of their meetings. Find one by going to al-anon.org/info.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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