The Community Calendar is a weekly feature of the Community Courier.
Local clubs, civic organizations, nonprofit agencies, schools, etc., that would like to have events or meeting date information published, should contact the Community Courier in writing at least two weeks before the event. No items will be accepted over the phone.
Send news releases to Engle Publishing Company, Community Courier, P.O. Box 500, Mount Joy, PA 17552 or fax them to 717-892-6024. Calendar items can also be emailed to ffulton@engleonline.com. For more information, call 800-800-1833, ext. 7592.
Those who have events that are canceled may submit the information to townlively.com/submit-cancellation. Readers may access the cancellations by visiting townlively.com/cancellations.
Churches and faith communities that would like their online services published in the Community Courier may email the details to ffulton@engleonline.com.
Virtual Fundraiser
The Arc of Chester County's biggest fundraiser will be a virtual one this year. The annual Bubble Walk, Run & Fun event will take place on Sunday, May 17. Participants are being asked to virtually set out together at 9 a.m. on May 17 to complete a 1 mile or 5K on a course of their choosing. A social media campaign will post achievements throughout the day with the hashtags #ArcRunningStrong and #ArcCCWalkingStrong.
A registration fee will be charged. Proceeds will benefit The Arc, which serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each registrant will receive an Arc race package, including a customized drawstring bag, T-shirt and bubbles, to be distributed after the event when conditions are safe.
For more information on The Arc of Chester County or to register for The Arc virtual Bubble Walk, Run & Fun event, visit http://www.arcofchestercounty.org/wrf2020
Girls In Action Summit
High school girls are invited to participate in the second annual Girls in Action Summit being presented by the Chester County Fund For Women and Girls. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be a virtual summit on Monday, May 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. Keynote speaker will be Mo'ne Davis, who was one of two girls who played in the 2014 Little League World Series.
During the summit, participants will be able to connect virtually with fellow teens throughout Chester County, learn about the Girls Advisory Board (GAB) girls' grantmaking and leadership program and hear from leaders of local nonprofits about how COVID-19 is impacting the women and girls they serve.
Each attendee will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize. For more information and to register, visit http://www.eventbrite.com and search for "Girls In Action Summit."
Penn State Webinar
Penn State Extension is hosting free a webinar titled, "Ag Profitability: Farm Financial Management, Cow/Calf/Beef Production" on Tuesday, May 19, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. The webinar will be held via PSU Zoom and is open to all interested.
This free webinar is designed to help beef producers better understand the business side of the operation, including income statement, production costs and cashflow. Participants are asked to register by Tuesday, May 19, at http://www.extension.psu.edu.
Blood Donors Needed
The American Red Cross is asking healthy people to consider donating blood after a number of blood drives have been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus.
The Red Cross is facing a severe shortage and is asking people to make an appointment to donate blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting http://www.RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).
Online Story Time
Berks County Libraries is now offering its Story Riders story time program online. Ms. Alison will present a live story time every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m. She will also read a chapter from "A Tale Dark and Grimm" on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. To view story time, visit http://www.facebook.com/bcplstoryriders.
Crow's Nest Preserve
Crow's Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, which is a Natural Lands nature preserve, remains open to the public as a place to engage in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running, which are considered allowable individual activities as part of the stay-at-home orders for Pennsylvania.
Social distancing must be maintained. If the parking lot is full, visitors should come back to the site at another time. All public facilities, including restrooms, are closed to the public until further notice. For more information, visit http://www.natlands.org/crows-nest-preserve.
Help Center
The Berks County COVID-19 Help Center is open for residents via email at COVID@countyofberks.com or by calling 610-320-6150. Staff members will be answering phones and responding to emails seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Multilingual services are available.
Trails Open
The Berks County Parks and Recreation Department offices are currently closed. All events are postponed or cancelled, and reservations are cancelled through Sunday, May 31. However, the trails are open for passive recreation, keeping social distancing requirements. For more information, call 610-372-8939.
Online Church Programming
The following local churches are offering online services: Church of St. Benedict in Mohnton, http://www.churchofsaintbenedict.com/mass; Hopewell Church in Elverson, http://www.hopewellchurch.org; Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, http://www.brick52.org/news-and-resources; Honey Brook Presbyterian Church, http://www.honeybrookpres.org; Honey Brook United Methodist Church, http://www.facebook.com/honeybrookumc; Conestoga Mennonite Church in Morgantown, http://www.youtube.com/user/ConestogaMennonite; Morgantown Community Church, http://www.morgantowncommunitychurch.org/COVID-19; and St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Birdsboro, http://www.stmarkbirdsboro.org.
Donations Sought
Conestoga Mennonite Church (CMC), located at 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, is now a drop-off location for "Twin Valley Hero Masks." Community members are welcome to sew masks at home, specifically following the pattern guidelines provided by WellSpan Health. To view mask-making instructions, visit http://www.wellspan.org, click on "I Want to Help" and choose the blue box that reads "Handmade fabric masks pattern (with improved instructions)." The masks will be distributed to local health care workers.
"Hero Mask" donations, as well as donations for the Twin Valley Food Pantry, which operates out of CMC, can be dropped off at the church office on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Items that are needed by the pantry include sugar, cereal, paper products, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and bars of soap, as well as beverages such as soda, water and fruit juices that do not require refrigeration.
For additional information, call the church office at 610-286-9124 or email admin@conestogamc.com.
Leave a Review