A couple of months ago a reporter from BBC America contacted BCHG. David Botti is doing an election year piece on Levittown- the story of the American dream shaped sixty years ago by William Levitt. Over the course of weeks we had conversations about the poor and working poor in Levittown and David visited the Penndel SHP site. This short film stated the truth of hunger in Bucks County: the people who are food insecure, the organizations that are struggling to keep the pantry shelves filled and community members who give what they can to make sure their neighbors do not go hungry. Please watch it and pass it on… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19762410.
On Saturday September 29, 2012 a group of 30 volunteers; alumni and staff from LaSalle University, arrived at our Penndel site to tackle some outdoor projects. I arrived a little early and was looking at the tasks on hand, shaking my head wondering how this group would get our “to-do” list done. As I was standing there the LaSalle liason, Carolyn Chirichella, arrived with rakes and t-shirts and sign in sheets and a BIG CAN-DO attitude! Carolyn was undaunted by the task list and assured me that the LaSalle team would “git her done.” I put out coffee and donuts and volunteers began to arrive.
A father and his two young sons arrived ready to work. Four generations of one family showed up and jumped right in. Many other LaSallians showed up bringing rakes, leaf blowers and chain saws! Everyone hit the ground running. The younger volunteers tackled the garden and spotted lizards and a garter snake!
Three hours later every single task was complete. That is the power of volunteer spirit- these folks tackled jobs that, in your own yard, would be overwhelming. Working together so much was accomplished! Fresh play ground mulch was spread out underneath the shelter swing set. The raised garden bed was cleaned out, weeded and made ready for spring, landscaping around the side porch was trimmed and raked and finally, a HUGE pile of brush, bushes and vines were chopped down, pulled out and bagged. Our LaSallian friends filled 40 yard bags full of organic debris.
I waited until the last volunteer drove away, thinking about these nice people I had just met; many folks had cleared busy Saturday schedules in order to volunteer. Some folks were leaving from Penndel and going to kids soccer games. One gentleman spent his birthday clearing brush. As I surveyed all that had been accomplished I thought about what a great community we have and how we really are a community willing and ready to help. And just how fortunate BCHG is to have such support from so many. And everyone works so hard and so faithfully. So LaSalle gets a shout out but this goes out to all our volunteers…your heart of giving changes everything- and I mean everything for BCHG. Volunteers really give the best gift of all…their big shining hearts!
