What do we mean by Connecting People with Resources to Thrive? This is Denita with her Toyota Camry (pictured on right). She’s one of our Economic Se

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What do we mean by Connecting People with Resources to Thrive?

This is Denita with her Toyota Camry (pictured on right). She’s one of our Economic Self-Sufficiency program participants, and she now has safe and reliable transportation, thanks to a generous community member who donated his vehicle. Our clients are able to get ahead because of the support from so many in the community!

Denita has been working with BCOC coach Mary for a year and a half, toward her goal of being economically self-sufficient. It is a tiresome but exciting journey. “I am so thankful for my coach. When I come in and say, I’m done and can’t handle any more, (Mary) says, ‘Come on, let’s do this!” This car will enable her family to become self -sufficient; the two adults in the household now will both be able to work full-time. Denita's goal is also to complete her AA degree in business.

If you would like to donate a vehicle, contact Eileen Albillar, Volunteer and Community Connections Manager, to learn how.

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In The News

From the Bucks County Courier Times, September 30, 2014

"Yaleet Inc., the sole distributor of Naot Shoes in the U.S., and the Tana Kaya Boutique, coordinated to donate approximately 100 pairs of new shoes to clients of the Bucks County Opportunity Council. The council is a nonprofit organization that works with families to help them create a pathway out of poverty. The shoes will be offered to participants of their Economic Self Sufficiency Program. Participants work toward educational and employment goals to reach the program’s self-sufficiency benchmarks, including earning a livable wage, having safe and reliable transportation, safe and affordable housing and keeping a balanced budget."

Watch the video here.

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Get Involved! Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

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Helping Hands- Thursday October 2, 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

8 - 10 volunteers needed to help with donations this week. Bagging produce, unloading meats and other food donations, and loading vehicles for pantries. New Britain Baptist Church, 22 East Butler Avenue, New Britain, from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Ability to lift 15 -25 lbs or more. This is an ongoing event and we can use help every Thursday at the same time and place. Upcoming dates: 10/9, 10/16.

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Event Preparation- Thursday 10/2 and Friday 10/3

We're gearing up for our gala event this weekend! If you can help Thursday morning or Friday afternoon for an hour or two, to be on-hand for any last-minute preparations, sign up in VicNet or email Eileen. Tasks are to be determined. 100 Doyle Street, Doylestown.

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Buck$Back, BCOC's free tax preparation program for low-income families.

Meet Mark, one of our wonderful volunteers, who in addition to driving to Allentown to pick-up food donations for us weekly, he also prepares taxes for Buck$Back. " As I have been doing my own taxes with (online software), I figured that it would be very easy to do other peoples taxes. As I like to do research, I ended up working on some of the difficult tax situations that we encounter each season and it has helped increase my knowledge of tax law. I was also amazed at how helpful all the other volunteers were to me. I like helping out and giving something back to my community. I enjoy all of the client expression of gratitude for providing this service to them....overall this program has been very rewarding experience for me."

Stay tuned for alerts about upcoming training sessions, to be scheduled shortly!

To learn more, visit our Buck$Back FAQ, or contact Program Manager Collin Carlone, 215-345-8175 ext. 203.

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Launch of the Opportunity Council's 50th Anniversary

October 4, 2014

Our 50th anniversary kick-off event is this weekend! We’ll be using 2 hashtags before, during and after the event. #BCOC50 and #eatdrinkhelp. Be sure to follow us, share, like and retweet all the fun photos on Facebook and Twitter!

Facebook

Twitter

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Please contact Eileen to register for the above projects, or log into VicNet.

Eileen Albillar, MSW
Volunteer and Community Connections Manager
Bucks County Opportunity Council
ealbillar@bcoc.org
215-345-8175 ext. 209
www.bcoc.org

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