Art Therapy and Art Show

This summer we had some great art therapy interns from Cedar Crest University who worked with our community members. We are thankful for interns and volunteers who are willing to use their skills and expertise to provide care and healing to our community members.

Art therapy provides a safe way to approach traumatic memories through the use of symbols and images. It integrates both the left and right side of the brain which helps individuals to express emotions, memories, trauma, logic and creativity; all while using your body.

At the end of the summer, we held an art show to display what our community members created!

Thank you First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union!

RCI has received a $8,000 grant from the First Commonwealth “WE Thrive LV” Foundation Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. These funds will be used to support our Community Building Center, which serve as a safe, welcoming, daytime space where our most vulnerable neighbors can find support, connection, and friendship. We continue to be grateful for unexpected partners that want to collaborate and do good in our community!

Thank you to the PPL Foundation!

RCI has received a $2,500 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will be used to support our Community Building Center, which serve as a safe, welcoming, daytime space where our most vulnerable neighbors can find support, connection, and friendship. Thanks to the collaboration of our incredible partner organizations, our community members can also access a growing suite of critical services through the CBC’s Service Hub.

We are grateful for this new partnership with PPL, and for all they do to support our broader community!

Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports organizations working to create vibrant, sustainable communities; promote diversity, equity and inclusion; and empower each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in eastern and central Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit pplcares.com.

Summer time fun!

Summer is always bubbling with activity and fun around here. It’s a time to create good memories and get outside. This year we had several memorable events for our community members.

In June we hosted our first-ever Rummy Tournament at the Community Center. We had 12 people sign up, all competing for bragging rights and a Walmart gift. We weren’t sure which people were more excited about, bragging rights or the Walmart gift card. The games were tense and there was a lot of smack talk heard around the table. After the group stage, only 3 were left and the battle was on. It was a hard fought game, but in the end only one left with the title of “Rummy Champion”, and that was Gus. He was beaming with pride.

Also in June, we hosted our Annual RCI Village BBQ Picnic in West Park. Over the past year, we added 4 new households to the housing program so this picnic was packed. We ate BBQ chicken, mac’n’cheese, coleslaw, potato salad and lots of yummy desserts. It was a good time for the new residents to get to know others in the housing program. We even found out that two residents were friends from long ago and had a nice reunion. We never know how our community will come together, but it’s nice to know our circles are always smaller than we think. To top off the evening, we got to enjoy some good Blues music!

And lastly, we had our Annual Day in the Park on July 8. The event started first as a way to celebrate the Olympics, but everyone enjoyed it so much that we decided to turn it into a yearly event. Our Zumba volunteers provided gift cards to purchase food and supplies and Johnny’s Bagels donated pastries for desserts. There were hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, coleslaw, and pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory. For games this year we had Can Jam, Mini Golf putt-putt, Hula Hoops, Noodle Javelin, and Soda Chug from a baby bottle. It was great weather and everyone enjoyed themselves!