Community Teams Up To Help Kennett Square Youth Center Kids

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — A Kennett Square church, a women's group, and the Chester County Sherriff's Office teamed up to help a community center continue helping kids with homework and then getting them home on a bus safely.

Students from the Garage Community Youth Center in Kennett Square boarded their school bus and headed "Safely Home," with help from the Chester County Sheriff's Office, Unionville Presbyterian Church, and the Iota Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. — an African American woman's service organization.

Waving as students from the learning pod at the Garage left the building recently, Chester County Sheriff Fredda Maddox and Unionville Presbyterian Church's Rev. Annalie Korengel gave New Year greetings. And, they also gave money. Understanding the need for education and support services during the pandemic, they provided funds for the Garage's evening bus trips home the week of Christmas and the first week of school in 2021.

"The Chester County Sheriff’s Office works for the protection of Chester County residents every day," said Fredda Maddox, Chester County Sheriff. "We also care about the safety and education of children. A holiday initiative that contributes to both at a time when neighbors and non-profits need extra help was important to us, the women’s sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha alumni, and the congregation of Unionville Presbyterian Church. So we collaborated on the project, 'Safely Home.'"

The project, initiated as "Safely Home for the Holidays," originally had scheduled a socially distanced send-off including Santa and Mrs. Claus the day before the Christmas holidays. In the interest of public health, however, the visit was rescheduled for the new year. Unable to return to Kennett Square on Jan. 5, the Claus family sent well wishes as they rested at the North Pole after hectic holidays.

The Garage Community Youth Center in Kennett Square and Avon Grove serves students grades six through 12 who come to centers in Kennett Square and Avon Grove for homework assistance, Wi-Fi for schoolwork, and midday food.

With an increase in costs of transportation associated with cleaning costs and precautions against COVID, the Garage seeks additional sponsorship of bus trips for 2021. To find out more about transportation sponsorship opportunities contact Kristin Proto at the Garage, at 610-444-6464, or email Kristin.proto@garageyouthcenter.org.

Anyone interested may also contact Carol Hart Metzker at the Chester County Sheriff’s Office at 610-793-4387, or Rebecca Brain, Chester County Public Information Officer at 484-798-8710.