Chesco Single Moms Gather For Picnic Day With Kids At Caln Park

THORNDALE, PA — Single moms and their kids headed to Caln Park in Thorndale recently to enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly activities, a resource fair, and free school supplies.

The Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference, title sponsored by Benchmark Federal Credit Union, capped off a series of spring and summer events with its first-ever, free, Outdoor Family Fun Day on Aug. 14. A free lunch was provided by Mission BBQ at the picnic.

"We understand many hard-working moms have had to reinvent aspects of themselves, or their lives, to overcome challenges faced during the pandemic," said Conference Co-Chair Matrie Johnson. "We wanted to recognize their experiences and help them connect with other single moms as well as the resources they need."

The 9th Annual Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference kicked off its programming in May. Among resources and information offered was a Benchmark Federal Credit Career Talk with career coach Jamelah Henry, Mental Health with therapist and LCSW Dalissy Washington, and Health and Beauty Hour with Mary Kay. Rebecca Worthington, Vice President of Community Relations at Benchmark brought Top 10 Savings Tips to single moms. The Conference's free workshops are archived on the conference website.

Worthington called 2021 "the year of moving forward." She said, "We're here to ensure that moms remain resilient and feel supported while they work to reach their goals, whether it’s furthering their careers, nurturing mental health, or achieving financial stability."

The Chester County Community Collaborative explained it organizes the Chester County Single Mothers' Conference for the more than 9,000 single mothers who reside in Chester County. Devoted to empowering single moms in their role as the sole provider for their families, events are free to all single mothers who register.

The Chester County Community Collaborative is a collection of non-profit agencies and independent interests working for the betterment of single mothers in our area. The following organizations are part of the collaborative: Good Samaritan Services, Home of the Sparrow, North Star of Chester County, Chester County Intermediate Unit, Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County, YMCA of Brandywine Valley, and volunteers from the community.

Since 1940, Benchmark Federal Credit Union has evolved to provide its members with complete financial services including free checking accounts, vacation and holiday club accounts, loans, certificates, money market accounts, and individual retirement accounts. Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Chester County is eligible to join Benchmark Federal Credit Union. For more information, call (610) 429‐1600.

To learn more about the Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference call 484-402-4685 or email singlemotherscc@gmail.com.

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