Kiwanis of Norriton Circle

06/01/2020

02/05/2020

Kiwanis Spotlight on Cole Manor Staff for February Mr Roger Velasquez

“My name is Roger Velasquez and I am the Health and Physical Education teacher at Cole Manor Elementary School in the Norristown Area School District. I received my BS degree in Health and Physical Education as well as my Master’s degree in Childhood Studies and Literacy from West Chester University. I began my teaching career as a Physical Education teacher in the Reading School district where I taught for seven years at the elementary school level before the Norristown Area School District hired me in the fall of the year 2000. In addition to teaching Health and Physical Education, I have had the pleasure of being involved in various activities and projects such as raising funds for the American Heart Association via the “Hoops for Heart” and “Jump for Heart” Fundraisers. I also served as a mentor for Cole Manor fourth grade students in an after school program at Cole Manor called the Manor Club. My fondest memories of Cole Manor are a result of the Field Days I helped organize as an end-of-the-School year activity. It has been a pleasure to play a role in encouraging students here at Cole Manor to become life-long learners.”

02/03/2020

"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." - Shirley Chisholm
Our table has unlimited seating.

01/31/2020

Paper or plastic? Neither- Help Kiwanis by purchasing this reusable bag and following the directions on back of the tag to donate $1.00 of the purchase price to Kiwanis of Norriton Circle.

01/30/2020

Concerned about PLASTIC POLLUTION? Want to help
the kids in Norristown? Now you can do BOTH! Go to any Giant, buy the reusable bag pictured below and follow the directions on the tag. Name Kiwanis of Norriton Circle as your recepient and a $1.00 will find its way to support our mission.
“Kids need Kiwanis” and Kiwanis needs you.

01/29/2020

Be a Miracle Worker- join Norriton Circle Kiwanis or just help make someone’s day better!
( Thanks to Peace Love and Smiles for this beautiful thought)

01/25/2020

Join us 1/28 6:30 pm at Spanky and Louches. Hillcrest Shopping Plaza near Dunkin’ Donuts on Germantown.
Great people, Great Food and a Great Cause.

SPANKY AND LOUCHES
Save 5% on Slice, the pizza app.
Valid 1/3/20, 8:00 AM - 1/31/20, 11:59 PM
Save by ordering on Slice - a pizza app that costs less for independent pizzerias like ours. This way, we can save our regulars a few bucks, too.

01/24/2020

The Giant located in Blue Bell on DeKalb Pike has authorized Norriton Circle to receive a $1.00 when you purchase the reusable bag pictured. You must tell the cashier that you want the $1.00 to be donated to Norriton Circle or it will go to the default charity of the month.

01/22/2020

Why Kiwanis Needs YOU!

REACHING OUT TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S HOMELESS
REACHING OUT TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S HOMELESS

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From The Philadelphia Inquirer
By Carolyn Davis
June 20, 2013

The largest Montgomery County homeless shelter was full one recent day. That might surprise some, since Montgomery County has a reputation for affluence and residences big and resplendent enough to host royalty.

The people staying at the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital aren't so picky. They just want a bed, a blanket, and a meal until they can get past their troubles.

People like 51-year-old Harriett Marlin of Cheltenham Township, who sat at a table in the day room, her bag of yarn and knitting needles beside her, and the book she was reading, Crocheting for Dummies, in front of her.

"I was evicted from my home because I didn't pay my mortgage," she said. Actually, it was her mother's home and her mother's mortgage. Marlin was living with and taking care of her ailing mother.

When the older woman died, Marlin found herself broke, bewildered, and, eventually, homeless.

County officials are taking a new approach to helping people like Marlin, who have lost their homes or are teetering on that precipice.

Representatives of the Montgomery County commissioners and its Department of Housing and Community Development have been talking with other government offices, philanthropies, and nonprofit organizations about the "Your Way Home Montgomery County" initiative.

The county has always had programs for the homeless, said Kathy Phifer, director of the housing department.

"To be perfectly honest, we were doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results – and the results weren't changing."

The initiative features nonprofits and county offices banding together with Phifer's department. Foundations also are partners in an effort to offset shrinking federal dollars.

The county already has a Homeless Prevention Center hotline. By the end of the year, those who call it should be able to be referred to community-based housing resource centers.

The effort then uses a service model called "progressive engagement."

Agencies will work to move people from shelters or transitional housing to permanent homes as quickly as possible. People will receive fewer resources over a longer period of time, Phifer said, rather than getting 24 months of help and then a wave goodbye.

Once people are in stable housing, agencies will continue to give them support for a period, tailored to their needs.

Suburban poverty in the Philadelphia region increased about 40 percent between 2000 and 2011, according to a study from the Brookings Institution.

"So many of these families find themselves living not just paycheck to paycheck, but one paycheck away from poverty," Commissioner Josh Shapiro said. That crisis can be triggered by a big medical bill or the loss of a job.

Statistics give a snapshot of a single day in the county. On Jan. 30, 185 people were in shelters, and an additional 266 were in transitional residences, for a total of 451 adults and children. Thirteen others in shelters were classified as "chronically homeless individuals."

To read the full story, click here.

Teaser/Summary
County officials are taking a new approach to helping people who have lost their homes or are teetering on that precipice.

01/20/2020

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We are passionate about helping the children and families in our community make progress. Kiwanis does this EVERY DAY.
Join us 1/28 6:30 pm at Panera on Germantown and Swede.

01/17/2020

Norriton Circle Kiwanis is proud to join the "Why I ❤️ Norristown Campaign." Schools are the building blocks of any community . Each month we will feature a different member of The Cole Manor Staff as a way to
show our appreciation for their contributions to the community.
The first teacher in the Spotlight is Ms Sarah Rathgeb - School Librarian.
"My name is Ms. Rathgeb and I am the librarian at Cole Manor Elementary School! This is my third year being the librarian and I could not love my job more! I am currently going to graduate school at Cabrini University to get my Masters in Education. I run the school newspaper called the Healthy Comet and help with Reading Olympics. I also serve on the board of the Parent Faculty Club!
The Cole Manor library is the place to be! A typical day in the library consists of a read aloud with a corresponding activity. Students are also checking out books every week! Lessons may also include partner or group work and videos to help teach certain topics.
Each year there are two book fairs held in the library. During library time, students can shop the book fair to add books to their home library. Students can also donate money in a coin challenge during the book fairs to help buy books for the library.
Each month students focus on a different theme or topic. Some of these themes or topics include Fall, Christmas Around the World, Winter, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Spring, Internet Safety, and Poetry.
The students also spend time learning about the author that will be coming to visit the school. We have an author or illustrator come visit every year in the spring. Last year, we had author and illustrator Lee Harper give presentations to the students. This year we will be welcoming Rachelle Burk!"
Norriton Circle Kiwanis appreciates the difference teachers like Ms Rathgeb make in our community.