This is a great example of neighbors helping neighbors. Senior residents of the Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center located at 4712 Chester Avenue recently raised money to help one of the largest emergency family shelters in the area, Families Forward Philadelphia, get school supplies for their clients.

Renaissance residents and staff created a donation box crafted as a box of “Renaissance” Crayons. Staff, visitors, and family members dropped off items in the lobby, and a traveling store was made available for all residents interested in using bingo winnings to make donations. 

On August 29th, staff and administration from Families Forward, including Jason Miller, Grace Hightower, and Della Harris, came to meet with the Renaissance residents to accept the donations on behalf of the children at Families Forward. Residents Triphena Stevenson, Irene Austin, Carrie Steed, and Mary McKenzie were delighted to greet them and send along all of the supplies necessary for a great school year.

Forty-eight percent of the clients at Families Forward are between the ages of 5 and 17. In the past, Renaissance’s residents have raised money to help place children in summer camp programs with their annual Dance-A-Thon, and held various fundraisers such as pin sales. Another very successful outreach is their Annual School Supply Drive. This year’s drive was the facility’s most successful one yet.

Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is home to over 100 residents. Many of these residents spent years as contributing members of their respective communities, some in the immediate neighborhood.

(Photo courtesy of Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center)