We are saddened to learn of the passing of Bob DiMatteo, long time friend of BHA and all-around inspiring person. Bob was the founder of ASK Foods (one of the sponsors of this year's Bike Tour) as well as a leader in numerous other community betterment initiatives in the Palmyra area.
Bob's funeral will be at the Palmyra Church of the Brethren this Saturday. It will surely be a packed house due to the many lives Bob impacted, so out of respect for the family and the space needs of the funeral, we must move the Bike Tour start and finish area.
While the address of Palmyra Brethren in Christ Church is 616 W Main Street, Palmyra, PA 17078, the main entrance/parking lot is on Cherry Street next to Hitz & Spahr Auto Body Shop. (Hitz & Spahr's address is 641 West Cherry Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 if you prefer to use GPS or Mapquest to find the church.)
The start times are the same:
7:30am: Registration opens, closes 15 min. before your route's start time
8:30am: 50-mile route starts
9:00am: 25-mile route starts
11:30am: Lunch opens, followed by awards
Thanks for your patience and understanding with this change...and for everyone at both churches for all of their support through this move. We look forward to seeing you Saturday!
Last minute question? Contact Chris Fitz, Bike Tour Coordinator:
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 Golf Tournament, This Friday!
Its Mother's Day week! Which means it is time to honor your mother through our Mother's Day weekend Golf Tournament. All the details are on our Upcoming Events page. If you have any last minute questions please contact Josh Stroup, Golf Tournament Coordinator: (717) 545-1472 or jstroup31@gmail.com.
The article highlights their years of loving foster care through COBYS, the tremendous child welfare agency based in Lancaster County. Congratulations, Dennis and Ann!
Friday, April 27, 2012 Congratulations, Volunteers!
Congratulations and a HUGE thanks to many of our special volunteers who were recognized last evening at the United Way of the Capital Region's Volunteer Of The Year 2012 Awards Ceremony.
Special thanks to Janice Ruhl, Elizabeth Schwartz and Ellie Miller (absent, our prayers are with you!)--our Community Room Renovation Team--who were recognized in the group category for their work transforming our community room. The impact continues to warm our ministry, our participants and our guests. Here are Janice (center left) and Elizabeth (center right) at the awards ceremony April 26, 2012 with Jill Snyder (Highmark) and Joe Capita (United Way).
Also honored in the group category were our Childcare and Youth Mentoring Volunteers, who have--consistently week-in and week-out--developed meaningful relationships with the youth in our programs over many years. Thank you for loving and caring for our youth!
Long-time maintenance volunteer Jerry Stouffer was honored on the Adult Volunteer category for his dedicated years of service, but was unable to attend.
Here is video of the above groups receiving their awards from Valerie Pritchett of WHTM Channel 27 and Heidi Neuhaus of the United Way:
I just got back from a lunch presentation to the staff at Nationwide Insurance in Harrisburg. They hosted me along with Crystal Baxter, our Program Director, and Cyndi Tolsma and Jan Wessell, our Mentoring Coordinators, for lunch and allowed us to share the opportunities to connect with homeless families through our Bagwashi Circles Mentoring Program.
Six new volunteers signed up, and a bunch of other interest was generated in what we do. We are thrilled with the response from this community focused business. Thanks, Nationwide!
We'd love to have you ride with us May 12 at the 2012 Spring Thaw Bike Tour. You can register up until May 12, but new this year is the availability of a customized cycling jersey for riders who register early. We must place the order this week, so the deadline to guarantee your cycling jersey is TODAY, April 5 at 12 midnight. Hurry!
Thursday, April 05, 2012 Diener House Progress Update
The renovation of the Diener House is moving full steam ahead. Yesterday we hosted a group of Ray Diener's friends from Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren to work on interior framing. We are soon ready for HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors.
If you would like to help with volunteer labor or donated materials, contact Michael Palson, Diener House Project Manager, at (845) 742-6073. It will be a busy spring and summer as we complete the Diener House...join us!
Below, volunteers from Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren work on interior framing projects in 203 1/2 Hummel Street--The Diener House:
Wednesday, April 04, 2012 Mandated Reporter Training - April 14
Brethren Housing Association and Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church are partnering with PA Family Support Alliance to present:
Training for Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse
Date:
April 14, 2012
Time:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Where:
Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church 2217 Derry Street Harrisburg, PA 17104
The training will cover the following topics:
Review the elements of child abuse
Legal definitions of a child, perpetrator, and categories and indicators of abuse.
Overview of mandated reporting obligations, including how to make a report, protections for those who report, and the liability for failing to report.
If interested in attending please contact Crystal Baxter, BHA Program Director at (717) 233-6016 or cbaxter@bha-pa.org. Please register by April 9 as seating is limited.
We are excited to welcome our newest staff member, Case Manager Marilyn Bellesfield. Marilyn's role is to assist the families in our programs to develop and achieve life changing goals surrounding employment, education, parenting, relationships, health, and housing--all geared toward strengthening the families stability and self-sufficiency. Marilyn has a B.A. in Family Studies from Messiah College and 22 years of experience serving homeless families in the local human service community. Marilyn, her husband Mark, and their three children live in Etters, PA and attend Wyndamere Heights Evangelical Congregational Church. Welcome to the BHA family, Marilyn!
Had a great visit recently from Gail D'Angelo and Shawn Caulfield from the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation who are helping to renovate the Diener House for the second year in our 20/20 Vision Campaign! Thank you M&T!
9th Annual BHA Golf Tournament Friday May 11, 2012
Starting at 12:30pm;
Parline Golf Course Get Details7th Annual Spring Thaw Bike Tour Saturday May 12, 2012 Get Details