Edible Schoolyard Project

If you are looking for edible education lessons that students can complete at home, you’ve got to check out the Edible Schoolyard Project! There you will find educational resources – created specifically for this time of distance learning – that engage students in understanding how food is deeply connected to so many parts of our lives.

They are developing and posting new lessons every week to support students, families and educators. Be sure to check back frequently! You can also subscribe to their newsletter or Facebook page for more updates!

Nonprofit Grants and Funding Resources

Do you work for a nonprofit and are looking for funding during this uncertain time? Check out the links below to find funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal level!

The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations gives a breakdown of the loan options available through the CARE Act here. They also created a list of funding opportunities at the federal and state level as well as foundations funding relief that can be found here.

Candid created a list of funds for Coronavirus relief that are available for a variety of areas of the country. They also have news and other information about funding during the Coronavirus for foundations as well as nonprofits found here.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has information about emergency loans for Coronavirus relief that can be used by nonprofits and small businesses. They included a checklist as well so you can see if your nonprofit is eligible.

The Chester County Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund provides flexible resources to Chester County nonprofits that are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of this outbreak.

The Chester County Economic Development Council is also offering grant management for grants that stimulate job creation and economic growth within the region. For more information, click here.

Tot Chef & Me Free Cooking Class!

Staying at home? Learn fun and healthy ways to prepare meals and involve the whole family!

Coatesville Center for Community Health will be holding Tot Chef and Me classes starting on Thursday, April 9 at 4 pm on Facebook Live!

This week’s class is Snack Attack! Learn how to make DIY Microwave Popcorn, Apple “Cookies”, and DIY Granola. There will be time during and after the live class for questions. The video will also be available after the class on Coatesville Center for Community Health’s Facebook page.

The first 25 families to register will receive the ingredients needed to make the recipes. To register and learn more, email totchefandme@gmail.com with the following information: Parent’s name, phone number, name and age of each child participating, and any food allergies or diet restrictions.

Resources for Nonprofits

Looking for ways to sharpen your nonprofit’s skills while working from home? Here are a variety of resources you can use to learn many new skills or hone old ones.

Foundation Center by Candid is offering free access to their Foundation Center Essentials during this time for nonprofits to search for funding opportunities.

This valuable resource includes: 

  • 103,000+ expanded grantmaker profiles
  • 300,000+ key decision makers and leaders
  • Searchable 990s and 990-PDFs
  • FDO Workspace

If you need more in-depth information on a foundation than FDO Essential can provide, please email us at ref@ccls.org and one of our librarians can send you the full Funder Profile from Foundation Directory Online Professional.

Grantspace by Candid is a great place to find training to build your nonprofit skills as well as documents and eBooks related to non-profit topics. Whether you’re looking for help with fundraising, proposal writing, governance, or even starting a nonprofit, they have you covered! Trainings include Introduction to Finding Grants, Introduction to Proposal Writing, and much, much more!

Candid is also offering some other great resources to use that you can access here.

Pennsylvania Associations of Nonprofit Organizations are offering a website with links to webinars, funding resources, and tips for working from home or remotely.

The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University is offering free access to their Video Learning Library.

How to Access Benefits during COVID-19

If you lost a job or your hours were cut because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, cash assistance (TANF), or heating bill assistance (LIHEAP).

If you need to apply for benefits or need to apply for additional benefits, please apply online using Compass, by downloading the MyCompass mobile app, or by calling 800-692-7462. All of Pennsylvania’s County Assistance Offices are closed to the public, but they are processing applications.

If you don’t have paperwork from your job (such as pay stubs or a letter about your hours), you should explain your loss of income in your own words. You can do that in the comments section of Compass.

If any of your benefits are cut (Social Security, SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and / or LIHEAP) or your application is denied, contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA or call their helpline at 877-429-5994 for free legal aid.

For more information about what is needed to apply, check out this video by Maternal and Child Health Consortium.

LGBTQ+ Youth Support Groups

The Phoenixville and West Chester area LGBTQ+ youth support groups (also known as SPOT and Rainbow Phoenix) are continuing to meet virtually via Zoom! 

These meetings will be primarily for LGBTQIA+ identifying youth ages 14-18 and are facilitated by trained staff and volunteers from Planned Parenthood Southeast PA in partnership with the LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County. If you are interested in joining our virtual meetings or have any questions please contact us at spot@ppsp.org 

Tour Museums Virtually!

Wish you could get out of the house but know you should stay inside? Why not take a virtual tour of a museum! Below are a few of our local museums that are offering online tours and learning!

Academy of Natural Science Online Exhibits and Science From Home

Barnes Foundation Collection and Take Out (virtual art talks)

Brandywine River Museum of Art Virtual Tours

Elmwood Park Zoo Zoo School Live

Jenkins Arboretum: Jenkins at Home

Longwood Gardens Virtual Garden Tours

National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tours

Philadelphia Zoo at 2 Facebook Live Series

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Virtual Tours

Valley Forge National Historic Park Virtual Tours

As well as a lot more across the world!

2-1-1 Referral Service

Chester County residents are encouraged to use 2-1-1 for accessing referrals to a variety of services and resources. This includes assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
2-1-1 is a free and confidential service where you can speak to a live person 24/7. There are over 150 languages to choose from and an expert navigator will guide referrals related to:

  • Homeless Services
  • Housing / Shelter
  • Food / Meals
  • Health / Dental
  • Clothing / Household Items
  • Substance Use Disorder Services
  • Disability Services
  • Employment / Income / Financial Assistance
  • Family
  • Mental Health
  • Older Adults
  • Transportation

Get Book Recommendations from Novelist Plus!

Are you looking for what to read next? Need some suggestions based on your favorite books, authors, or series? Novelist Plus has you covered!

NoveList connects readers to their next book by making recommendations for what to read next. It covers non-fiction and fiction as well as book suggestions for readers of all ages, from young picture book lovers to adults in the mood for an intense historical fiction title.

One of the most popular features is read-alikes. If you have ever read a book and wanted to find another just like it, NoveList makes it a breeze to find your next great read. In addition, recommended reading and award-winning book lists are available in NoveList. It also has extra content like reviews (both professional and reader reviews), book discussion guides, curriculum guides, and other book-oriented articles.

NoveList will become your one-stop shop for all of your reading needs and wants!

Second Town Hall for Small Businesses in Chester County

Please join the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce tomorrow, March 27th, at 11 am for the second in a series of Telephone Town Halls for all Chester County business owners and managers impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This session focuses on preparation for navigating and applying for the federal and state programs created to help businesses survive the COVID-19 crisis.

Register at https://event.conferencegroup.com?eventIdentifier=6777469F-8784-4414-BD7E-D6584DBD3801