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ACLAMO Family Centers Newsletter
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Providing our community with the services and skills for success
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December 20111
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Feliz Navidad 2011 
From The Executive Director:
It's hard to believe that it has been one year since we began sending out our monthly ACLAMO e-Newsletter.
Despite cutbacks and struggles, it has been a privilege and pleasure to serve with so many dedicated staff, Board members, volunteers, children and parents. On this, our 35th year of service, we will share with you our many ideas on how to celebrate this milestone, and invite your active participation.
From all of us at ACLAMO Family Centers, along with the families and the children we serve, we wish you and yours a very blessed Christmas, Holiday Season, and prosperous New Year.
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 Nearly 1,000 Toys Distributed at Annual ACLAMO Toy Fiesta
For over 30 years, every December, ACLAMO has joined with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign to distribute gifts to the children of local families. Due to the tough economy, it became clear that we would need a larger facility to accommodate the families for this year's event. Thanks to our partnership with Calvary Baptist Church, the Fiesta was held in the Main Hall of the church, located one block west of our Norristown office. Pastor Douglas Avilesbernal welcomed us to his beautiful space for this Christmas tradition. The crowds assembled early and continued winding around the church building throughout the morning of December 17th. A record number of families arrived, and nearly 1,000 gifts were distributed. Georgina Scott, with her daughter Angelina and three other young children, shared her sentiments: "We had been putting all our savings into paying for a new apartment, and we didn't know how we were going to afford gifts this year. The toys you gave us will enable all my children to have a Christmas - my daughter, Angelina loves her new doll! "  | | Angelina with her new doll |
As with previous Fiestas, we had help from many volunteers, including the Jenkintown High School Spanish and French classes, led by teacher Richard Detwiler, and the Plymouth Whitemarsh Spanish Club, headed by teacher Rich Madel. "Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to give back to the community," said Madel. "My students and I are grateful to ACLAMO for organizing this." This year's event had a new and festive addition. Members of the Norristown Chorale added their beautiful music to the day. "We love doing this! Events like this allow us to bring music to our community," said Chorale Music Director Robyn Slough. All of us at ACLAMO wish to thank so many individuals and groups who helped make this event such a great success.  | |
The Norristown Chorale sang holiday songs while families received toys and gifts.
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Lowes Helps Brighten the Season at ACLAMO
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Kirsten McDonald, head cashier, displays a beautiful tree donated to ACLAMO by a local Lowe's Home Improvement Center.
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For the third year in a row, the Plymouth Meeting Lowe's donated a beautiful Christmas tree to ACLAMO. Our thanks go out to Lowe's for their faithful support. The tree graces the main lobby of our Norristown office. The children love to play around it! We keep the tree and decorations in the lobby for a few weeks in January, so please feel free to come by, take a look, and get to know more about ACLAMO. |
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ACLAMO Moms gathered canned goods to give to needy families.
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ACLAMO Moms Give Back to the Community Victory Christian Fellowship Gives a Christmas Party In an effort to show their gratitude and in the spirit of the season, mothers who participate in ACLAMO's Even Start Adult Literacy program gathered non-perishable food items for families in need. The goods were donated to Victory Christian Fellowship Church to be distributed by members of the congregation.
In what has become a Holiday tradition, Pastor Lisa Crenshaw and the church Women's Group held a Christmas party for the children and mothers in ACLAMO's programs , providing gifts and goodies. "Victory Christian Fellowship has been a friend of ACLAMO for many years and has helped us in numerous ways," said ACLAMO Executive Director Juan Guerra. "We are extremely grateful."
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Victory Christian Fellowship Women's Group celebrates the holidays at ACLAMO.
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Montco's Early Intervention Unit Gives Gift Certificates
 The staff and personnel of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit's Early Intervention Program gave ACLAMO more than $350 worth of supermarket gift certificates to be distributed to area families. Speech Pathologists Michele Jervis-Schultz, Annie Brown, and Mary Grace came to ACLAMO this month to present the gift. "We wanted to help ACLAMO in your service to adults and children," said Jervis-Schultz. "We wholeheartedly support your efforts for the community." We are grateful to the MCIU Early Intervention Unit for their generosity. |
Personal Profile: Ursinus Student Volunteer Travis Maider
Travis Maider, a sophomore at Ursinus College, is the new Volunteer Coordinator of Ursinus students to ACLAMO's After-School program. Travis coordinates the 20 to 25 Ursinus student volunteers who come to ACLAMO each week from 3:30 to 5:30 to help the children with their homework, tutor them in challenging academic subjects, and become role models by establishing lasting friendships. "These kids are fantastic," Travis, 19, who started volunteering at ACLAMO last year. "They have really well-developed personalities. I feel as though I have become more their friend than a tutor. Most are anxious to learn, and for those who aren't, I make them learn anyway!" Through his involvement at the Ursinus organic farm, Travis plans to eventually work on environmental causes, but also believes education is part of his future. Travis grew up in a family that values education. His mother is a public school social worker and his father is a second-grade teacher. "We look forward to Travis's continued involvement and are grateful for his commitment to the children," said ACLAMO Lead Teacher, Marla Benssy. "Travis has been a real blessing to our program." |
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This year ACLAMO celebrates its 35th year of providing economic, educational, health and cultural opportunities for low-income residents of Norristown and Pottstown, especially those of Spanish-language heritage.
ACLAMO stands for Accíon Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County, or the Latin American Action Committee of Montgomery County. ACLAMO is derived from the Spanish word "aclamar," which means "to acclaim."
ACLAMO Family Centers ACLAMO Family Centers
512 W. Marshall Street 515 Walnut Street
Norristown, PA 19401 Pottstown, PA 19464
610-277-2570 610-970-2134
aclamo.org
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