Youth Groups: Other Ways You Can Help Us

Breakfast Bags- Fill clear plastic bags full of non-perishable items that the shut-ins can use for breakfast.  The most important item is a homemade greeting card to brighten the shut-in's day.  Last year 30,000 breakfast bags were made, allowing many of our shut-ins to have three meals a day (along with the free homecooked meals and soups we provide).  Call Aid For Friends 215 464-2224 and we'll mail you a flyer on the program.

Making Meals and Soups- Many schools and youth groups cook for us on a regular basis.  Archbishop Wood School in Warminster cooks so many meals that they needed an additional freezer.  You must be able to freeze all meals and soups before they are transported to a freezer site.  AFF supplies the 3 compartment trays, plastic bags, menu sheets and soup containers.  

Clean Teams- High School and College students can go out with one of our staff members to clean the home of a client. Clients are not able to do what they once did, so often times their living places tend to be cluttered and dusty. A clean home makes them feel better also. Call Tom Wallin 215-464-2224 if your group can help.

Food Drives- Many schools and youth groups collect canned goods at different times of the year.  Fr. Judge High School and Lincoln High School do drives at Thanksgiving each year. These raw foods are used by our group cooks to make meals in large quantities.

Pennies For Friends Campaign- Thousands of dollars are raised each year by this fundraising campaign.  Clear plastic gallon jars are placed in schools, stores, banks etc... The Anne Frank Elementary School puts one penny jar in each of their 25 classrooms.

  Visiting - Juniors and Seniors in high school who drive might be interested in visiting a shut-in once a week.  You can work with a friend, but one of you must drive.  This is a very rewarding type of volunteer work.  If you can make a commitment of at least a couple of months call Tom Wallin 215 464-2224.

Work in Our Office- Young people are needed each day to box meals, stack freezers and assist drivers carrying meals and supplies in and out of our huge warehouse.  If you live anywhere near the Far Northeast Philadelphia office and have to/want to do community service of this type please call Steve Atkinson at 215 464-2224.  The CYO Girls Basketball team from St. Anselm's Church committed to sending three youngsters each Monday after school.

Collect Gifts of Warmth- All shut-ins on our program receive new gifts at the holidays.  Items needed include: lap robes, afghans, slippers, warm socks, pajamas etc. Collect Orange Juice "Sips"- We send orange juice to the neediest of our shut-ins but there are times during the year when we can't - because of the expense of the product and delivery.  These drinks contain vitamins and minerals that the frail elderly need. Come Up With Your Own Ideas- At Exton Elementary School, students in different grades do different projects: younger kids write letters, older kids make muffins etc ... At Archbishop Ryan High School students make breakfast bags centered around a theme: Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day etc...

 Collect Toiletries - The School for the Arts (CAPA) at 901 S. Broad St. collected ten boxes of shampoos, soaps, etc... for our clients.  They will be packaged and distributed to our shut-ins.  The money saved can then be put toward utilities and medicines.

                 Whatever you do, please let us know so we can share it with others.

  With any questions 215 464-2224

12/21/07