Welcome to the “The Link” - the online newsletter of The Open Link. It’s been a bit of time since we’ve had an e-newsletter but with a new website and so much happening, we wanted a platform to share it with you. After all, it is you, our community, that makes this work possible.
Since starting December, I’ve been busy working to learn about the community and its needs. I am continuously in awe of how the Upper Perk Valley takes care of each of its residents and I have been incredibly touched by the kindness and generosity the community has shown me. I’ve also been focused on how we might better meet the needs of the valley moving forward. As we settle into our new fiscal year that started in July, we’ve set out an ambitious agenda that includes expansion of pantry services, focus on supporting the unhoused in our community and working with collaborative organizations to bring more financial understanding and literacy to the community.
Our work this summer has focused largely on the Summer Kids Meals Program. This program is open to any child in the Valley 18 and under. While we continue to distribute meals 4 days per week to our surrounding areas of Hereford, East Greenville, Pennsburg, Red Hill and Green Lane, through August 16, we have already seen many record number days where we’ve provided 160 bags of food for kids in the community. Each bag has two breakfasts and two lunches to help children meet their nutritional needs while out of school. Last year we provided more than 13,000 meals and, at this pace, we think we will provide even more this summer. Approximately 29% of the Upper Perk School District children qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunch, so we know that there is tremendous need to fill that gap in the summer. Thanks to the generosity of our many supporters, we managed to raise more than $12,000 to provide meals to Upper Perk kids.
In addition to the Summer Kids Program, you may have also seen some news about the work of the Upper Perk Homelessness Coalition in the local press. The Coalition and The Open Link are working together with Pennsburg borough to open a Code Blue warming shelter at the Pennsburg UCC in winter 2024-2025. For those not familiar with the term, Code Blue is a weather alert called by Montgomery County when the temperature reaches 32 degrees or below or weather circumstances are dangerous enough that someone could freeze to death by being exposed to the elements overnight. Moving forward, we will update you each month about our unhoused neighbors and ways you might help.
Finally, as we open this new chapter at The Open Link, we close another by bidding farewell to Linda Connell as she retires after 38 years of service. Linda has been the heart and soul of The Open Link for many years… As such, she’s met and worked with thousands of Upper Perk Valley residents, helping with everything from navigating Medicaid applications to accompanying someone to court for a domestic violence incident. If you see her, please thank her for her services. This community would not be the same without her. There is no one that can replace her knowledge, passion and true heart for our mission, but we will continue on as best we can.
To do so, we have promoted Laura Dzugan to Program Director, Brooke Harvey to Nutrition Services Manager and James Winthers to Food Pantry Coordinator. Soon, we will be hiring some more pantry and program support to help meet the needs of our neighbors. Check out our careers section of the website if you are interested in working with The Open Link.
Thank you for opening the first edition of our online news. We hope to fill your inbox each month with information that helps you help your community!
