WHO WE SUPPORT
Fundraisers: Yardley Harvest Day Festival
Over the last several years, the membership of MWA has joined forces with the Yardley Business Association (YBA) in an effort to improve all aspects of this family event and to ensure that the arts and crafts are of the highest caliber. This joint effort culminated in the establishment of the Yardley Harvest Day Festival Committee. MWA receives a share of the fees paid for spaces by the exhibitors and food vendors pay a percentage of proceeds of the food sold that day. It is with these funds realized from Harvest Day that MWA supports the various charities in the local area – particularly those who assist women and children in crisis. Scrip Programs
This year, we started participating in the Great Lakes Scrip Program. This works very similarly to the grocery store gift program, except the array of stores and restaurants is vast. The percentage of “profit” realized by MWA for the purchase of these discounted gift cards ranges from 4% to as high as 18%. Our organization contributes this profit into the budge to support our beneficiaries. Note: You need not be a member of MWA to participate in purchasing either grocery store scrip or Great Lakes Scrip. Contact us if you wish to purchase scrip, which in turn supports our beneficiaries. Miscellaneous fundraisers Depending on what time allows, we have raised funds by holding a “Crop for a Cause” which is a scrap booking event sponsored by the membership of MWA. Funds are raised from this event, when held, by the registration fee paid by attending “scrappers” and by several raffles held that day. We have also had a bulb sale by availing ourselves of a fundraising offer from Dutch Gardens. Last Fall was the first time MWA participated in the Dutch Gardens fundraising bulb sale. Harvest Day Raffle Please visit the Harvest Day Raffle page on our website. The beneficiaries of this annual event are specifically selected each year and fund raised from the Harvest Day Raffle are distributed to those two beneficiaries. Harvest Day Raffle funds do not support our regular beneficiaries. THE BENEFICIARIES WE SUPPORT FROM THESE FUNDRAISERS ARE: A Woman’s Place This is an organization that provides emergency shelter for abused women and children. Their location is confidential and only their business office is publicized. Each month our members collect a specific item for those in need – such as personal care items, to children’s items ranging from toys to clothes. In December, the women in our group make an all-out effort to collect toys for the children and personal items for the women – all items are donated by our members. In April of each year, a check is presented to A Woman’s Place. The amount of the financial presentation is decided by the budget committee after a careful review of the amount of funds raised each year by the above listed fundraisers. Aid for Friends This organization provides meals to home bound adults. MWA provides 100-125 meals by organizing a mass cooking drive. The membership of MWA uses the kitchen facilities of a local church to assemble the trays with food donated or purchased by MWA. These prepared trays are then stored in the church freezer for distribution by Aid for Friends. Although, Aid for Friends is not presented with a check at the April beneficiaries meeting, the above listed fundraisers provide money in the MWA budget to provide the bought food items for this project. Adopt a Highway MWA provides the Lower Makefield Township roads department with our volunteer effort to “keep the highways clean”. MWA members maintain a 3 mile stretch of roadway in Lower Makefield Township. Four to six times a year (weather permitting) members patrol this portion of road and pick up litter. Our “highway” is Edgewood Road in Lower Makefield Township. PennDot has recognized us with a sign at the intersection of Edgewood and Makefield Roads in the Township. This is a service project and MWA need not budget any funds to support this. Apartment Partners In partnership with the Bucks County Housing Group, MWA provides designated supplies – such as furniture, window treatments, clothing, toys, food, etc for a family in transition. The families arethose who have been homeless then move from the homeless shelter to a program of housing where they learn to become self-sufficient. Our December collection of toys and clothing is also shared with the Apartment Partners family. The Bucks County Hosing Group that administers the Apartment Partners program is one of the beneficiaries that receives a check at our April meeting. Red Cross Homeless Shelter Our members volunteer time to cooking meals for resident, cleaning and organizing storage rooms, hosting Halloween parties for the children as well as donating items needed by the shelter or the children at the shelter. These items range from everyday items to kids cereal, swim diapers, holiday candy and costumes, school supplies, paper products, plastic storage bins, and more. The Red Cross Homeless shelter is a beneficiary that receives a check each April at our beneficiaries meeting. Bloomsdale/Fleetwing Improvement Project This organization serves the Bristol Township neighborhoods Bloomsdale Gardens and Fleetwing Estates. The collaborate with other agencies on issues such as crime and drug abuse prevention. They provide social services resource information to the residents and have recreational activities for children and young adults, ages 5-20. They are always in the need of art supplies, craft materials for summer programs and books and tutoring materials to elevate the reading level of these children. The BFIC receives a check from MWA at our April beneficiaries meeting. Crossing the Finish Line The mission of this Philadelphia based non-profit organization is to provide young adult cancer patients and their families a respite from the unyielding physical and emotional demands of cancer by providing a one-week expense paid excursion in a comfortable, secure environment. Lasting memories of this retreat help them recognize that it is their priceless lives, and not the cancer, which defines them. The goal is to strengthen the hearts, minds and souls of the courageous individuals as they battle the psychological, emotional, economic and spiritual trauma that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. This group receives a check at our April beneficiaries meeting. Last year, a major corporation matched dollar for dollar the amount presented to Crossing the Finish Line from MWA. Yardley Makefield Fire Company The Yardley-Makefield Fire Company is the sole provider of fire protection of the businesses and residents of Lower Makefield and Yardley Borough. YMFC operates two station houses and is 100% volunteer. They pay for all operating costs, equipment, clothing and training from funding and donations/fundraisers. YMFC receives a check each April at our beneficiaries meeting. Pennsbury Scholarships (2) Awarded to female graduating seniors who are in need of assistance to further their education. These individuals show scholastic excellence as well as community involvement. The Pennsbury High School Guidance Department recommends these students.
|
For several years now, we have raised funds through a “grocery store” scrip program. Several of the local supermarkets participate in this program. Our organization purchases gift cards/certificates at the supermarket at reduced cost, then sells the cards/certificates at full value (usually 5% above our cost). Our organization contributes this 5% profit into our budget to support our beneficiaries.