Tax Services: What’s Available in Delaware County

April 15 is fast approaching, which means that Delaware County residents need to make sure that their income tax returns are completed and submitted to the Internal Revenue Service as soon as possible. Tax preparation can be complicated, and many people seek outside assistance with their taxes. The more popular options for tax preparation are a licensed professional like an accountant, tax preparation websites, or the tax payer completing the return themselves.

Completing tax returns can be critical for low-income individuals and families. First of all, avoiding submission of your income tax returns can lead to problems with the IRS, which eventually could lead to legal issues. Second of all, proper tax preparation can give low-income individuals and families money back, as well as help save money in the long run. Learning how to prepare taxes and meeting with a trusted professional can only aid those who find themselves in a dire financial state.

There is help here in Delaware County. The Delaware County Asset Development group is a coalition of community organizations that help provide families with an income less than $50,000 with free tax preparation. The coalition and its partner agencies run several VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites throughout the County that you can find here.
If you are eligible, take advantage of these resources. These services can aid you with not only your tax preparation, but give you the knowledge to prepare your own taxes as well.

Women's History Month: Ethel Waters

As Women’s History Month comes to an end, United Way celebrates the memory of another Delaware County woman who made her mark on this community, Ethel Waters. Ethel was a blues, jazz, and gospel vocalist from Chester, Pennsylvania. At the start of her life she faced great hardship; she was the child of a rape victim and lived in impoverished conditions. She was married early in life but her husband abused her, so she decided to run away and pursue a singing career. Despite the tremendous challenges she encountered at the beginning of her life, she persevered and soon garnered success as a vaudeville performer. In the 1920s she performed during the Harlem Renaissance, and continued to act in musicals and sing the blues. Ethel then became the fifth African American woman ever to have a record, and continued to record hits such as “Dinah” which got her inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. She continued to achieve great success with her performances and recordings, and later became the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for her role in “Pinky”. In 1999, Ethel was inducted into the Delaware County Women’s Hall of Fame. Ethel Waters‘s memory still permeates throughout the community because of her fame and success. However, her significance in Women’s History stems from the fact she did not let her past dictate her future; she instead let her talent and drive make her a star.



To learn more about Ethel Waters, go here.

United Way of Pennsylvania Broadcasts the Needs of PA Nonprofits

Third and State, a Pennsylvania public policy blog, featured an article on United Way of Pennsylvania’s efforts in showing the demand for nonprofits’ services as well as the effects that budget cuts have had. United Way of Pennsylvania conducted a survey which revealed that 4 out of 5 nonprofits contend that the recession increased demand. Unfortunately, the recession also included a decrease in donations, as well as significant budget cuts. That means a lack of funding for important social services in a time when they’re needed most. With the upcoming federal budget as well as state budget, there is a serious concern amongst nonprofits that they will not be equipped to provide services to many individuals and families, services that these people greatly need. In fact, according to UWP’s survey, over a third of social service agencies surveyed had to turn away people for services and almost 20% had to revoke certain services. In these hard economic times, this is devastating for thousands of Pennsylvanians!

Here in Delaware County, nonprofits are also experiencing the pressure of an increased demand and decreased funding. With more cuts being proposed, it looks like the pressure will only increase. In some areas where the population in poverty is almost at 30%, individuals need and rely on the services that these organizations provide for basic necessities such as food or shelter. If nonprofits in Pennsylvania have to revoke services and turn people away, then that also leaves people in Pennsylvania, which includes Delaware County, who are in need with nowhere else to turn and this has a devastating effect on many of our fellow citizens’ quality of life.

Please take a look at United Way of Pennsylvania’s Survey to see the pressure nonprofits have been facing to provide much needed services.

Nutrition and Delaware County

March has been established as National Nutrition Month. The American Dietetics Association sponsors a campaign every March dedicated to education and nutrition awareness. This year’s theme is “Eat Right with Color” which conveys the importance of eating nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables which are not only rich in nutrients, but in color as well. For example, instead of simply cooking foods like chicken and potatoes, try to add more color to your plate in the form of colorful vegetables like carrots or spinach. To learn more about how to add color to your plate, go here.

There have been many events around Delaware County that have been indicating the importance of nutrition in our foods. The Delaware County Hunger Coalition and DIFAN held its annual Hunger Conference earlier this month entitled “The Challenge of Feeding Our Diverse Communities in Delaware County.” The conference emphasized cultural differences in food and the need to address food and nutrition in a culturally sensitive manner. Also this past week was the grand opening of a permanent location for the Chester Co-Op, now located on the Avenue of the States. The Co-Op is a community owned grocery store in Chester that provides residents with access to nutritious and fresh foods like locally grown fruits and vegetables, among others. The Chester Co-Op will be significant in providing residents in an area with no grocery store with the ability to feed themselves with foods that will provide nutritional sustenance. Not only are events like the Hunger Conference and the Chester Co-Op’s opening making nutrition a priority, but also food pantries throughout the county are ensuring that foods donated are lower in fat and contain nutrients necessary to lead a healthy life. Delaware County is clearly trying to make nutrition a priority!

Nutrition and Delaware County

March has been established as National Nutrition Month. The American Dietetics Association sponsors a campaign every March dedicated to education and nutrition awareness. This year’s theme is “Eat Right with Color” which conveys the importance of eating nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables which are not only rich in nutrients, but in color as well. For example, instead of simply cooking foods like chicken and potatoes, try to add more color to your plate in the form of colorful vegetables like carrots or spinach. To learn more about how to add color to your plate, go here.

There have been many events around Delaware County that have been indicating the importance of nutrition in our foods. The Delaware County Hunger Coalition and DIFAN held its annual Hunger Conference earlier this month entitled “The Challenge of Feeding Our Diverse Communities in Delaware County.” The conference emphasized cultural differences in food and the need to address food and nutrition in a culturally sensitive manner. Also this past week was the grand opening of a permanent location for the Chester Co-Op, now located on the Avenue of the States. The Co-Op is a community owned grocery store in Chester that provides residents with access to nutritious and fresh foods like locally grown fruits and vegetables, among others. The Chester Co-Op will be significant in providing residents in an area with no grocery store with the ability to feed themselves with foods that will provide nutritional sustenance. Not only are events like the Hunger Conference and the Chester Co-Op’s opening making nutrition a priority, but also food pantries throughout the county are ensuring that foods donated are lower in fat and contain nutrients necessary to lead a healthy life. Delaware County is clearly trying to make nutrition a priority!

Best Wishes for Chester Youthbuild

Youthbuild of Chester provides economically and socially vulnerable young adults with the opportunity to expand their communication, education, and work skills. The benefits participating students receive are two fold. First, students are placed on construction sites where they help build and implement more affordable housing in Chester. These activities enable students to learn and develop vocational skills in the construction business while also expanding on their own personal leadership abilities. Second, students also have access to an educational aspect of the program which consists of high school diploma preparation, GED preparation, and basic skills development.

To date, the Chester’s Youthbuild has served over 230 young adults ages 17 to 24, many of whom were single parents, homeless, former drug and alcohol users, once involved in criminal activities, or receivers of federal assistance. Chester Youthbuild provides these at-risk young adults with an opportunity to get their education, give back to the community, and become eligible for future employment.

Soon Youthbuild of Chester will have to end its services due to the fact that it is not yet a state-approved program. Youthbuild has been a great program in the community, giving Chester youth the opportunity to advance their own futures and make important contributions to the community’s housing. Although the program is closing, there is promise of it reopening upon state approval. United Way hopes that this important program will return to Chester and continue supporting the youth of Chester, as well as give many families access to more affordable housing.

For more information, please visit Chester YouthBuild’s Website: Chester Youthbuild

Women's History Month

Not only is this month “Read Across America” Month but it is also “Women’s History Month”. All of this month, people are celebrating the tremendous impact that women have made throughout history. Women have been an integral part in all of our lives, communities, and histories. Like many other groups in society, women have a history of tremendous achievements that at some point were ignored, but now are commemorated.

This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Our History, Our Strength”. Throughout history, women have persevered and shown their ability to face and overcome adversity. Thus, this month, United Way wishes to celebrate the women here in Delaware County who have helped shape our community. Several times throughout this month we will feature unique women who have left their mark on women’s history as well as our community.

Today’s Woman from Delaware County’s History is Polly Frazer. Polly Frazer lived during the revolutionary war, and was married to an officer in George Washington’s Continental Army. Her husband was a spy for Washington and after the Battle of the Brandywine was captured and imprisoned by the British Army. Two days after the Battle of the Brandywine, Frazer’s house was surrounded by 250 members of the British Army. While the rest of her household left and hid, she waited and faced the British Army. When interrogated, she stood her ground and did not give up the whereabouts of any of Washington’s men. The British ransacked her home, threatened her, and one of the British men even attempted to strike her; but still she never wavered.

Although she plays a small role in Delaware County history, she is still a prime example of strength in women’s history. When faced by 250 men, threatening her and stealing her possessions, she remained brave and steadfast in her loyalty. In 1997, she was inducted into the Delaware County’s Women’s Hall of Fame where her legacy and story continue to impress Delaware County residents.

To read more about other inductees into the Delaware County Women's Hall of Fame, please go here: Women's History Month

March 2nd is Read Across America Day!

The National Education Association has named March 2nd “Read Across America” Day in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. This day means to emphasize the importance of parents reading to their children, especially during children’s younger years.

Here at United Way, one of our Initiatives is Born Learning: which emphasizes early childhood development. This means encouraging learning and parental involvement in these critical early years to further a child’s potential and future possibilities.

In honor of Read Across America Day and National Reading Month, United Way is holding a book drive across Delaware County! We will be collecting books for children ages 0-6 for Parenting Workshops we are helping sponsor with the Women’s Resource Center, J. Lewis Crozer Library, and Delaware County Family Centers. Donation boxes will be placed in various schools and organizations around the county, but if you can’t seem to find one you can donate to us directly by contacting the number below. Our Born Learning Book Drive is happening all month so if you see one of our donation boxes please make sure to donate to a great cause: Delaware County children’s futures.

Today's Guest Blogger: Madeline Bialecki!

Madeline Bialecki is the Executive Director of the Delaware County Literacy Council. The DCLC works with adults who wish to read, write, speak, and understand English so as to improve their communication skills and enable them to participate more fully in society. For more information please go to their website.

Hiatus

I am the Executive Director of the Delaware County Literacy Council in Chester, PA. Last January, one of our volunteers asked me to blog about adult education for an on-line magazine. Every week, I dutifully submitted an essay—for about four months. I have not submitted anything since last spring.

Then this past fall, the United Way put out a call for bloggers, and it struck a chord with me—I could start blogging again. At about that same time, I read something by a woman who said she had been on “hiatus” from blogging. It sounded so intentional.

I thought, “I have been on hiatus, too;” but there was no intentionality about it. I just stopped writing, or rather, I stopped submitting. The essays kept rolling around in my head—sometimes I even wrote them down—but I did not upload.

Even encouragement from people who read my blog was not enough to get me submitting again.

After a while, there was also the embarrassment factor with the person who had asked me to blog. Once a few weeks had passed, I was too embarrassed to send an email apologizing for my missing blog entries. And then more time passed, and….

What does this have to do with adult education? Many of the adults who come to the Literacy Council have been on hiatus, but it is usually called dropping out. There were often no immediate consequences when they dropped out of school; those came later when work options were seriously limited.

Then they come to us to pick up on their education. Many are faithful to their tutoring sessions, bur for some, life gets in the way—or fear or discouragement or some setback. At first, they call their tutors to cancel sessions, but eventually they stop calling and just stop coming. While the consequences may be real, the motivation and dedication needed to stick with their education may be lacking. And, that motivation needs to come from within.

The truth is that almost one-half of the people who initially contact us to ask for help will not stick with it long enough to achieve their goals. Some won’t even show up for their first appointment to be assessed. Others may come once or twice. Only half will come long enough to improve their skills.

Like me, many of them may be embarrassed once they have missed an appointment or a few sessions. Like me, other people’s encouragement may not be enough to motivate them.

Last week, I went to the on-line magazine site and saw my name was still there along with the pieces I submitted last winter. It was enough to get me to send my mea culpa email and ask if I could start submitting again. I wasn’t forgotten or deleted—I was just on hiatus.

The Delaware County Food Resource Guide

In Delaware County there are several organizations that address the hunger needs in our community. These organizations offer residents access to food, as well as provide opportunities to donate and volunteer.Thanks to the help of several Delaware county nonprofits, this information has been captured and organized into a simple resource guide.

Below you will find the Delaware County Food Resource Guide. In this guide you will find a comprehensive a list of all agencies addressing the hunger and nutritional needs of adults, children and families throughout Delaware County.

The Delaware County Food Resource Guide contains the following information:

- Name of the Organization
- Address of the Organization
- How to Contact the Organization
- Hours of Operation
- Type of Services Provided
- How to Apply for these Services
- Who is Eligible for these Services
- If a Referral is Needed for these Services
- What to Bring to your First Visit

Feel free to access the guide here and for further questions call United Way at (610)874-8646

Delaware County Food Resource Guide