---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: REAL Life Community Services <sunny@reallcs.org>
Date: Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Subject: Fall into September with our latest news and updates! 😁
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

September 2023

Fall into September with our latest news and updates!

WELCOME EMELIA!

Help us extend a warm welcome to our newest team member!

We're thrilled to have her on board as a social worker, bringing her passion for making a positive impact in people's lives.

Emelia is a Licensed Social Worker and holds a Master's of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. Emelia grew up in the Cocalico School District and now lives nearby. Emelia enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and watching the Phillies.

Emelia's favorite Bible verse is John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less".

If you see her around, welcome her to our staff!

Coming soon...

Save the dates 10/1/23-12/31/23

Thanks4giving Year End Campaign

This year, we have decided to do our own fundraising with the Thanks4Giving year-end campaign that is beginning October 1 and will continue through the end of the year. We would like to invite you to help us meet our $300,000 goal by prayerfully considering a generous year-end donation. We cyclically do not receive donations from April through August, so we strive to raise at least half of our annual budget during the fall year-end season. Your gift will be stewarded to the best of our ability to meet the needs of those struggling in the Cocalico School District.

We appreciate the Knights of God Foundation for collecting over 600 pounds of food for Warehouse 916! Thank you for helping us connect the community to HOPE!

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 13th at 6:30PM

Faith and Family Night at the Denver Fair

Click here to visit the event link.

Wednesdays, 9AM to 11AM

Young at Heart

All events are free and are for individuals that are 60 and older. Coffee, chatting, games, speakers and MORE! Come out and get to know others in your community! Learn more here.

Wednesdays, 6:30PM to 8:30PM

Griefshare

Monday, 8-9PM

Alcoholics Anonymous

at the Lighthouse Community Center

All are welcome!!!

Power Packs Registration now open— Cocalico School District families that qualify for free and reduced lunches also qualify for Power Packs, a weekly educational program with a healthy recipe, the main ingredients to make that recipe, and a couple of staple food items. Know someone in need of food? Click this link to learn more or register.

Client Testimony

This is Cheryl! Cheryl is a volunteer here at REAL Life Community Services. We are so blessed with volunteers that really care.

This past month, we had a single mom without transportation that needed a ride to her oldest child's kindergarten orientation. REAL Life contacted cheryl to help, and the kindergartener made it to orientation on time.

During the appointment, Cheryl shared with the single mom that she would be available if this mom ever needed another ride. Mom said thank you and continued her week.

A week or so later, mom's toddler needed to get to the ER for a possible emergency with his eye. When the ambulance came, they would not let the mother take her kindergartener in the ambulance with her and the toddler. Like any good mother, she could not leave a 5-year-old alone in the apartment. This single mom called all her local contacts and could not find anyone to take her and her child to the ER to be with the other child. She called her new friend, Cheryl, who had helped her to kindergarten orientation and that wonderful soul helped her through that traumatic evening. The single mom said that she offered Cheryl gas money to help cover that expense, but Cheryl refused any money. This prompted the single mom to call REAL Life and tell us how blessed she was. We are so proud to have volunteers that go above and beyond the call of duty to serve our clients and connect the community to Hope.

If you would like to bless the community just like Cheryl has, fill out our volunteer application. We would love to have you join us in connecting the community to HOPE!

This month, our Young at Heart group got to spend some time with Twinkle and Kia, two beautiful golden retriever's from Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue! They had a great time getting to play fetch, petting the dogs and learning all about DVGRR!

Back to school!!

What a wonderful evening we had at National Night Out! We loved seeing everyone in the Cocalico Community come out to enjoy a great event! We handed out 100 free backpacks full of school supplies to kids in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Were thankful to UGI Utilities and Bench Dogs for helping us supply all of these items!