2013 Summary
Community Outreach
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organizations and individuals and PCCO member church congregations, during 2013 PCCO has been able to provide the following assistance to local residents:
Back to School Backpacks 80 children
Octorara Area Food Cupboard OAFC 3001 individuals in 994 families, cumulative Oct thru Dec
Winter coats 450 coats
Thanksgiving (OAFC) 360 frozen turkeys with trimmings
Thanksgiving Day 202 cooked dinners with dessert
Electric bill 21 families
Heating oil 6 families
Rent 30 families
Water bill 2 families
Miscellaneous 3 families
Emergency Food 15 to 25 families per month
PCCO Christmas Giving 316 children
To all who worked to make this outreach possible and to everyone who contributed in any way - thank you, thank you, thank you. May God bless your generosity throughout the year.
Back to School Backpacks 80 children
Octorara Area Food Cupboard OAFC 3001 individuals in 994 families, cumulative Oct thru Dec
Winter coats 450 coats
Thanksgiving (OAFC) 360 frozen turkeys with trimmings
Thanksgiving Day 202 cooked dinners with dessert
Electric bill 21 families
Heating oil 6 families
Rent 30 families
Water bill 2 families
Miscellaneous 3 families
Emergency Food 15 to 25 families per month
PCCO Christmas Giving 316 children
To all who worked to make this outreach possible and to everyone who contributed in any way - thank you, thank you, thank you. May God bless your generosity throughout the year.
Christmas Giving - December 13 Parkesburg Presbyterian Church
PCCO conducted its Christmas Giving Program for local children of PCCO clients on December 13 at the Parkesburg Presbyterian Church. Gifts were provided to 316 children thanks to the generosity of congregants of member churches and monetary donations from local businesses and organizations.
Not only did the church congregations purchase presents and return them in record
time, they did a magnificent job of wrapping them – they looked GREAT as the pictures below show. To all who worked to make this program a success and to everyone who contributed in any way - thank you, thank you, thank you. May God
bless your generosity during the Christmas season and throughout the New Year.
Thanksgiving Turkey Dinners Distribution - November 28
Thanksgiving was an awesome day! We packaged 204 meals, delivered the meals with smiles and home made cards for all to enjoy. Thank you to the 100+ volunteers who made Thanksgiving for our neighbors in the Parkesburg area. We could not have done this huge endeavor without the churches coming together. Thank You
Blessings,
Diane Sager and Pat Softchin
Thanksgiving Day Dinners Committee Co-Chairs
Blessings,
Diane Sager and Pat Softchin
Thanksgiving Day Dinners Committee Co-Chairs
Grand Opening of The Parkesburg Point Youth Center
The Parkesburg Point Youth Center unveiled its new center aimed at transforming and empowering the youth of Parkesburg and surrounding areas at its Grand Opening Event on Sunday, November 17.
The event featured an inspiring keynote address, “Gifted Hands,” from Dr. Benjamin Carson, M.D., who told his inspiring journey from an inner-city youth to a top pediatric surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33.
Dr. Carson is the president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments, was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists, and was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends.”
The event featured an inspiring keynote address, “Gifted Hands,” from Dr. Benjamin Carson, M.D., who told his inspiring journey from an inner-city youth to a top pediatric surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33.
Dr. Carson is the president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments, was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists, and was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends.”
PCCO Winter Coat Drive
PCCO collected winter outerwear on October 6 and distributed it to anyone who
needed winter clothing on October 10th at the Church of the Open Bible. Over 200 adult coats, 250
children’s coats, 16 pairs of boots as well as an assortment of hats, scarves,
gloves and mittens were donated by individuals and organizations,
including OAFC. Thank you to our donors as well as to the members of
Church of the Open Bible for the donation of their time, talent and treasure.
There are folks who will be warm this winter because of your generosity. Coats
that were leftover were given to the Bridge Academy in Coatesville who distributed the coats in their area.
PCCO Fall Car Show
The PCCO Fall Car Show was held on October 13th from 1-5pm at LC Auto Body 5547 West Lincoln Highway, Parkesburg. Over 35 antique and restored cars vied for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. The event raised $346 and 291 pounds of food for the benefit of the Octorara Area Food Cupboard and $322 for the benefit of the Parkesburg Point. Thank you to our sponsor, LC Auto Body, to the participants and all who attended and helped with the event.
First Annual Atglen Community Day
On September 14th, the Atglen park was filled with games, food, crafts and lots more! The event was sponsored by Penningtonville Church and the Atglen Public Library. Approximately 750 people enjoyed the activities of the day including a dunk tank, a sword swallower, display of fire trucks, an antique auto show featuring 35 cars, apple pie baking & eating contests - something for everybody to enjoy. Pastor Jason Link won the adult apple-pie-eating contest (perhaps his appetite was fueled by the time he spent in the dunk tank!).
Back To School Backpacks
Backpacks with school supplies were provided to over 80 children in grades K thru 6 at the Octorara Primary Building. For each grade, teachers identified the supplies that were needed and PCCO member churches purchased the backpacks and supplies, relieving the client families of the need to purchase these items. Episcopal Church of the Ascension and Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church coordinated the event.
Military Families & Veterans Appreciation Day May 4, 2013
Over 900 chickens were prepared and 700 meals served. Approximately 150 veterans attended including veterans from the VA hospital in Coatesville.
PCCO Spring Car Show - May 12
This event raised $658.63 and 219 pounds of food to benefit OAFC. Thank you to our sponsors LC Auto Body and Advanced Auto Parts of Thorndale, to the participants and all who attended and helped with the event.
Parkesburg Mennonite Church Outdoor Missions Festival
On Saturday, June 1, the parking lot of the new Parkesburg Point facility at the end of West Main Street was filled with a tent, a Bouncy House, a Dunk Tank, children standing in line for face painting, and people visiting with their neighbors. The event was an Outdoor Missions Festival held by Parkesburg Mennonite Church along with six other area Mennonite Churches. Everyone who attended on Saturday also enjoyed a free chicken barbecue dinner with about 200 people being served.
Worship was also an important part of the event, with services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a praise and worship band from the seven churches, and sermons by Nelson Okanya, President of Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions. There was also a designated area for people desiring special prayer.
It was the desire of the churches sponsoring the event to take church outside the four walls of the church building and come alongside the lives of people where they live. From this vantage point the weekend was a great success. But many from the churches also left the weekend asking themselves, "Where do we go from here?" The weekend was one small step in finding ways to bring Jesus to those around us.
Worship was also an important part of the event, with services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a praise and worship band from the seven churches, and sermons by Nelson Okanya, President of Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions. There was also a designated area for people desiring special prayer.
It was the desire of the churches sponsoring the event to take church outside the four walls of the church building and come alongside the lives of people where they live. From this vantage point the weekend was a great success. But many from the churches also left the weekend asking themselves, "Where do we go from here?" The weekend was one small step in finding ways to bring Jesus to those around us.
Piano Concert Benefit for Octorara Area Food Cupboard (OAFC)
A piano concert performed by Ah and Vinh Le (teenager children of an OAFC volunteer) was held on July 27 at the Parkesburg United Methodist Church, 411 First Avenue in Parkesburg to benefit the Octorara Area Food Cupboard.
Approximately 75 people attended and donated 350 pounds of food.
Approximately 75 people attended and donated 350 pounds of food.