Success: Success Through Engagement and Partnership

STEP News
Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission
for Community Action (STEP), Inc.
Volume 2, Issue 2 2012
Success Through Engagement
and Partnership
Partnership:
Your Pathway
to Success
Inside This Issue:
Success Through Engagement and
Partnership - CAPPA Pg. 1
STEP Homes In Need-Flood Recovery
Corporate Investors pg. 2
STEP Transportation Updates pg. 3
STEP Volunteers pg. 4
STEP Board of Directors pg. 5
Community Collaboration - 4 C’s Café pg. 6
Engagement:
STEP donated a former transportation vehicle to CAPPA to increase
accessibility to high-quality after school programming.
After school education benefits schools, taxpayers and corporations and
is an investment in the community’s future.
Success:
“The van has allowed CAPPA to meet a need
these families have for both transportation
and access to high-quality afterschool
programming for their children.”
Holly Doyle, CAPPA Executive Assistant
Pay It Forward pg. 7
Celebrating Eugene Mohr pg. 7
STEP, Inc.’s mission is to engage diverse individuals, families, and
communities in the pursuit of social and economic success.
Housing Options Pathway
$50,000 Investment by Two Corporate Partners to
STEP’s Homes In Need—Flood Recovery Program
On June 1, 2012, STEP, Inc. received a
$25,000 check from PPL.
From left to right are: Traci Lowe, CFO STEP, Inc.; Teri MacBride, Regional
Community Relations Director - PPL; and
Terry Roller President & CEO - STEP, Inc.
“To me the great thing about working with
STEP is knowing that the contributions don’t
just go to some program, but they go through
STEP to help individuals. When you see a nice
note of appreciation from people that have
been helped, it lets the donor organizations like
PPL understand working with STEP makes a
difference and we are happy to do that.”
Teri MacBride
Regional Community Relations Director
PPL
If you would like to consider making an
investment in our community via STEP, Inc.
contact us at 570-326-0587.
Page 2
On June 12, 2012, STEP, Inc. received a $25,000
check from M&T Bank.
From left to right are: Deanna Wells, CRA Officer M&T Bank; Ronald Frick, Vice President - M&T Bank;
Terry Roller, President & CEO - STEP Inc.; and
Traci Lowe, CFO - STEP Inc.
Independent Living Pathway
Moving Forward: STEP Transportation Updates
“During the last ten years, STEP has
provided almost 1.4 million one-way trips
and has logged over 10 million miles
meeting the transportation needs of
seniors, the blind, and others with physical
and intellectual disabilities. This service
helps them remain independent.”
Rick Mirabito, State Representative,
in a speech to House
Appropriations Committee
All 35 STEP vehicles are wheelchairaccessible, with 10 new Shared Ride
vehicles equipped with cameras for
customer safety.
Step Transportation service covers the largest
geographic area in the state, a total of 2,135 square
miles in Lycoming and Clinton counties.
Future Improvements
“The Shared Ride program is utilized
heavily by persons with disabilities,
low-income families and many
others in my district to provide
transportation to places of
employment, care facilities, and
medical appointments.”
Excerpt from State
Representative Mike Hanna’s
letter to Secretary, PA
Department of Transportation
STEP Transportation has applied for a New
Freedom Grant that will provide each Shared Ride
vehicle with a GPS system for enhanced service.
In partnership with River Valley Transit, STEP has
applied for a grant for two small transit vans that
will run on compressed natural gas.
STEP is partnering with local businesses to extend
operation hours to better meet employer and
employee needs.
For other details, including information on
fare structure, visit
www.stepcorp.org/transportation_services
Page 3
1,400 STEP Volunteers
Contributed 68,500 Hours
Valued in Excess of $1.4 million *
Volunteers with STEP Office of Aging, part of the Independent Living Pathway, were honored with banquets
in Lycoming and Clinton counties during May.
648 STEP Office of Aging volunteers contributed 50,478 hours transporting 110,141 home-delivered
meals, leading exercise and wellness programs, providing insurance counseling, visiting homebound seniors,
ensuring against elder abuse, and so much more.
Patti Nau from the Loyalsock Montoursville Center received the George C. Meck Award for the most hours,
volunteering 1,232 hours just a year after her husband Thomas had won the same award.
Seven APPRISE insurance counselors met individually with 299 seniors and conducted group
presentations to 2,282 seniors, enabling them to better understand and access medicare and prescription
drug coverage.
Shirley Ranck was recognized for 42 years of service to the Meals on Wheels program that enables seniors to
continue residing independently in their own homes.
The monetary value of STEP’s Office of Aging volunteer services exceeds $1 million.
Head Start
and Early
Head Start
Volunteers
were
honored at
a picnic
sponsored
by the
Head Start
Policy
Council.
* Based on research completed by Independent Sector, Pennsylvania’s
estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $20.86 per hour.
Page 4
757 parents and community Head Start
volunteers provided training, program
planning and governance, evaluation, and
assistance with classroom activities.
Head Start and Early Head Start volunteers,
as part of the Early Learning Pathway,
contributed 18,083 hours.
The economic value of Head Start and Early
Head Start’s volunteer services equals
approximately $377,000.
STEP Board of Directors
Community Investment Stewards
From left to right are board members: Lonnie Gamble; Carolyn Bullock, secretary;
Terry Roller, president & CEO; David Stone, chairperson; Commissioner Joel Long;
Leonora Hannagan, vice chairperson; Elizabeth Manlove; Russ Kimura, treasurer;
Lori Weigle; Robbie Cross; and Commissioner Tony Mussare.
Board members not pictured: Randall Allison, Alan Anderson, Marie Harris,
Wilfred Knecht, and Katie McCaslin.
Governance Responsibilities of STEP’s Board of Directors include:
Overseeing the community action program (CAP) with the 3rd largest budget* of the 43 CAPs in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Managing the investment of an annual budget of approximately 35 million dollars into the community
Supervising the executive staff, who provide leadership for more than 300 employees and 1,400 volunteers
Ensuring quality assurance for service delivery within the geographical footprint of 20 of Pennsylvania’s 67
counties
Guiding organizational areas including mission and programs, policies, and risk management
*
2011 Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) Annual Report and Community Services Block Grant Summary
Page 5
Community Collaboration Pathway
Success Through Engagement and Partnership
Partnership:
Clinton County
Community Connections, Inc
Inc..
Leading the Way…
Lycoming
Lycoming--Clinton Joinder Board
Engagement:
LCJB
4 C’s Kitchen Staff present the daily menu.
Clinton County Community Connections has established a café utilizing a state-of-the-art commercial
kitchen located in STEP’s Clinton County Community Center.
The café, formally known as the 4 C’s, offers mentoring, skill training, and support geared toward
competitive employment.
Instruction includes food preparation, customer service, teamwork, and money management.
The establishment and operation of the 4 C’s Café provide our seniors, staff members, families, and the
community with a culinary option.
Success:
”The 4 C’s Café represents a true community
partnership between the Lycoming-Clinton
Joinder Board, STEP and Clinton County
Community Connections. Our collective
vision of the Community Center’s
tremendous opportunities is here today in
the Restaurant Training Program.”
Deborah Duffy, Executive Director
Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board
“I am honored that Clinton County
Community Connections was chosen by
Deborah Duffy. STEP and Clinton County
Community Connections is a win/win for the
people utilizing the Community Center.”
Scott Moore, Executive Director
Clinton County Community Connections
Customers enjoy lunch.
Page 6
Pay It Forward
The Unconditional Gift
A lovely handmade quilt, the work of the Mill Hall Senior Center quilters, helped create a lasting memory
for the wife of a gravely ill man who was a hospice patient at the Gate House. His wife snuggled with him
beneath the comforting quilt during their last moments together. After the man’s death, his wife was able to
keep the quilt, which became a further source of comfort for her. The Mill Hall Senior Center quilting group
recently received a heartfelt “thank you” from this family, who was touched by the quilters’ unconditional
gift. This story is just one reminder of the many things we can do for total strangers that will mean so much
to them later. Thank you to those who touch the lives of others!
Mill
Hall
Senior
Center
Quilters
Celebrating Eugene Mohr local Muncy Artist
Friday, April 27, STEP, Inc. partnered with the Muncy
Main Street Program’s Last Friday Committee and the
Muncy Professional Business Association to host the
Art Walk of Muncy. The topic of the Art Walk was
Muncy native Eugene Mohr’s murals and paintings. His
murals grace wall space throughout Muncy, including
the Opera House and Fort Brady Hotel. STEP, Inc. is
fortunate to have a collection of murals that was
salvaged from the former Muncy Inn. STEP’s collection
of Mohr’s murals was enhanced by a donation of
framed paintings received from the Grenoble Family in
1995.
Painting donated by the Grenoble Family was displayed during
the Art Walk of Muncy.
Being able to bring the paintings
and murals back home to Muncy
was a great experience, and we hope
to find a permanent home for them
in the future.”
Rachelle Abbott
STEP Director of Planning
Page 7
Join AmeriCorps
Challenging Opportunities
A Community Collaboration
Pathway to Success
27,764.50 hours of service provided this year so far with an
economic value of $579,168.
AmeriCorps members can build your organization’s capacity and provide
direct services to better meet critical community needs.
Terry E. Roller, President & CEO
Traci Lowe, CFO
STEP, Inc. Board of Directors
David B. Stone, Jr. - Chairperson
Leonora Hannagan - Vice Chairperson
Carolyn W. Bullock - Secretary
“The Williamsport Area School
District’s partnership with AmeriCorps
has been a very productive experience.
The partnership has worked so well for
us that several of the volunteers who
came to us in prior years are now
District employees.”
David C. Wright
Director of Student Services
Williamsport Area School District
Find out how to
host an
AmeriCorps
member or
become one
yourself. Contact
STEP Inc. at
(570)326-0587
Russell G. Kimura - Treasurer
Randall J. Allison
Alan Anderson
Robert Cross
Loni Gamble
Marie Harris
Wilfred Knecht
I highly recommend the AmeriCorps program. The
member who served during the past year at the
Clinton County Housing Authority came to us with an
outstanding background and a robust skill set. The
programming and enrichment she offered to our
residents would have otherwise not been available.
The benefit is worth tenfold the cost.
Jeffrey E. Rich, Executive Director
Clinton County Housing Authority
Joel Long
Elizabeth Manlove
Katie McCaslin
Tony Mussare
Lori Weigle
2138 Lincoln Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: 570-326-0587
1-800-346-3020
Fax: 570-322-2197
Email: step@stepcorp.org
Website: www.stepcorp.org
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Please contact STEP, Inc. at 570-326-0587 for
information about how you can make an investment in
your community.