Grands Stepping Up launches Operation Warm 2020 to keep kids toasty this winter
HAVERFORD » The temperatures outside may still be summer-like, but Delaware County’s Grands Stepping Up launched a campaign this week that’s focused on keeping children warm during the cold months ahead.
Operation Warm 2020, running now until Wednesday, Sept. 30, is the organization’s community effort to collect warm clothing and blankets for children in the county who need winter coats, hats, socks, throw blankets, slipper socks, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes are needed for children, from infant to size 18.
Grands Stepping Up is a Delaware County-based organization that assists local grandparents and other kinship guardians who are surrogate parenting, raising their grandchildren, primarily due to the opioid epidemic, incarceration, mental health issues, death, illness or other issues that make the parents unable to fulfill their traditional parenting roles. The organization provides moral support as well as a network of resources and assistance
with everything from attaining diapers and clothing to offering guidance on education, housing and legal issues. GSU takes a holistic approach by offering programs that support grand-families financially, psychologically, legally and socially.
The nonprofit organization also works to educate local government, school districts and healthcare professionals about the complexity and needs of grand/kinship families.
In an effort to keep their grandchildren out of the foster care system, many grandparents opt to raise their grandchildren, but struggle to afford, not only the basic human needs, but also things like school supplies, sports equipment, music lessons, winter coats, apparel, and more. Operation Warm is the latest effort to fill this need, right in time before the change of season and arrival of chillier temperatures.
GSU, founded by grandparent Karen Barnes of Drexel Hill, is a no-judgement zone, helping grandparents in all situations and from all backgrounds. No one will be turned away, she says.
Earlier this year, GSU partnered with the Llanerch Hills Chapel, a non-denominational Christian church at 1516 Myrtlewood Ave., Havertown, to open Denis’ Pantry and Clothing Closet. It takes a village to support local grand-families and the community has been there since Denis’ Pantry opened in May to stock its shelves with food, baby equipment, clothing and other necessities that grandparents may need in their day-today struggle to make ends meet.
Just over the past several weeks alone, Denis’ Pantry received donations of backpacks and school supplies from Nativity BVM’s PREP Program of Media, as well as a donation of 1600 books, book shelves, protective masks and baby items from Girl Scout Troop 51108 of Havertown under the leadership of Melissa Carroll and Carla Vanwinckel.
Other ongoing support for Denis’ Pantry has come from Gayle Oddi of the Delaware County Department of Human Services who held several food drives this year, as well as Faith Kwaszkiewicz, the president of Individuals Aiding In Emergencies, Kristen Taylor of the Haverford Township Recreation Department, Maria Kollar of St. Marks Food Pantry in Broomall, the Peterson Insurance group of Havertown, Long and Foster of Media, the Mike Mullholland Team, as well as Havertown and Bryn Mawr locations, Tim Carroll of the Dennis Kelly AOH of Havertown, and volunteers Chelsea Barnes, Roe Lohr, Lorna Laffey, Pixie and John Hunter, Amie Cannon, Kathy Baggio, Betty Barnes, Latasha Hall, Jess Bordas, and GSU executive director Kathryn Meloni Esq.
“We are thrilled to report that the pantry has given over $25,000 worth of in-kind donations to our clients who reside in Delaware County,” stated Barnes. “We look forward to all of our drives for the rest of the year - Operation Warm, Thanksgiving, and Holiday Giving. We are always in need of more volunteers. Anyone who is interested can private message us on our “Grands Stepping Up” Facebook page. We are so grateful none of this would be possible without the generous people and businesses in Delaware County.”
Operation Warm dropoff bins will be all month at the following locations:
St. Mark’s Church, 2220 S. Sproul Road, Broomall; Paddy Rooney’s Pub, 449 West Chester Pike, Havertown; New Liberty Baptist Church, 3210 Concord Road, Aston; Llanerch Hills Chapel, 1216 Myrtlewood Ave., Havertown; Mt. Zion CME Food Bank, 701 Felton Ave., Sharon Hill;
Eddystone Borough, 1300 E. 12th St., Crum Lynne; Interstate Auto Electric, Inc., 2545 Market St., Aston; Delaware County Bar Association Vestibule on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 335 W. Front St., Media; Newtown Square Fire Co., 2 Charles Ellis Lane, Newtown Square, bins on side of firehouse; and TSC All Stars, 2 Raymond Drive, Havertown.
Local grandmother Gina Cappelli said, “I am a single grandmother raising my three grandchildren, ages six, three and one, and I am very grateful for having Operation Warm. I am astounded at the preparation and hard work that Karen Barnes and the other volunteers have shown through this pandemic, while we are all unemployed. I am so, excited that my grandchildren will be warm this winter with hats, coats and scarves. I am so grateful for the donations.”
“Operation Warm is a drive to benefit every needy child in Delco,” Barnes stated. “This will assist all of GSU grandchildren, as well as every Delaware County child in need, due to Denis’ Pantry’s collaboration with the Llanerch Hills Chapel. We are so grateful to everyone who wishes to donate to keep our Delco kids warm this winter!”
Operation Warm distribution will be Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 10-11, and Oct. 17-18. Grandparents and others in need of winter coats and warm apparel for their children, can send an e-mail to hello@grandssteppingupinfo.com with “Operation Warm 2020” in subject line, and include number of children in household, their dates of birth and gender, the items requested and sizes.
Grandparents raising their grandchildren are encouraged to reach out to GSU for support and information on community resources by calling Barnes at 610-355-6362. All calls are strictly confidential. For more information on GSU, visit www. grandssteppingupinfo. com.