The Summer Fun Program allowed our families to forget their troubles and see the Phillies play (it would have been better if they were winning but still fun), visit theme parks, spend time at a summer camp and enjoy some of Philadelphia’s great restaurants. Sixty-five families received tickets or passes, camps fees, books and games to enrich the Summer of 2013. The Mom of one of our families, who is being treated for brain cancer, told us how thrilling it was for her husband and three children to stay until the ten o’clock closing time at Great Adventure. She hadn’t been to Great Adventure since she was 17 years old and the wonderful day she spent with her family was an absolute joy!
The Breathing Room’s annual Back to School Program provided over 200 fully stocked, personalized back packs for children ranging from preschoolers to college students. Notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, glue, pens and pencils, flash drives and gift cards, were among the items given to students to start the school year off ready to go forth and learn. The school supplies were brought to St. James Catholic School Hall in Elkins Park, and on Saturday August 24, teams of volunteers arrived to begin deliveries. The drivers spread out to Philadelphia, Lower Bucks County and wide swaths of Montgomery and Delaware County. We wish to thank Father Windhaus and the St. James Catholic Parish community for their generosity in letting us use the school space, as well as over 150 volunteers who donated, packed and delivered 200 backpacks to more than 100 families. One of the volunteers making deliveries witnessed the absolute relief which flooded the face of a recipient when she received, along with the backpacks, 5 Payless gift cards and a Walmart card. Now she knows she can buy the new shoes and uniforms her older children need to start school. One less worry for Mom as she cares for her four year old in treatment.Once again, many of our drivers are part of our Young BRF Friends. These busy young adults , many of them students themselves, gave their time to help other young people get a good start to the academic year. Thank you to our college and Temple Law delivery volunteers. Our Young BRF Friends sponsored 3 Breathing Room families with tickets to the Phillies game September 3, 2013, preceded by a fun tailgate party. The Young BRF Friends purchased 16 extra tickets as a result of their fundraising effort. The Phillies lost again (oh dear) but a great time was had by all!! They even made TV as the Citizen 7!
Thank you to everyone who made our summer a great success!
By guest blogger Fran Ryan. Thanks Fran!
