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ACLAMO Family Centers
Holiday Newsletter
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Providing our community with the services and skills for success
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Holiday Special Issue 20121
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¡Feliz Navidad
Prospero Año Nuevo 2013!
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Little Reily Prieto shows off his Santa suit at
ACLAMO's Toys for Tots event.
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From The Executive Director:
To see the face of a baby is to remember the hope that every year brings. Just last month, due to a decrease in donations, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign called us to say that they would have to limit this year's donations to a several hundred rather than their usual truckload of more than 1,000 toys. Knowing our yearly Christmas party brings over a thousand children, we sent the word out to our friends. The outpouring of support, along with a last-minute surge in donations, was tremendous! Each child who came to our event last Saturday left with a new toy and a smile on their face.
In this our holiday issue, along with donated toys, you will see how a very generous community has given everything from Christmas trees, coats, gloves, and food items, to monetary gifts. The spirit of good will is alive and well!
On behalf of our staff, our volunteers, our benefactors, and the families we serve, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, joyous holidays and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Please remember ACLAMO in your year-end gift.
Gracias!
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ACLAMO's Christmas Community Fiesta
The crowds began assembling at 7 a.m. By 9 a.m. there were hundreds of families waiting around the block outside of Calvary Baptist Church on West Marshall Street in Norristown. ACLAMO held its annual Christmas party, a toy distribution Fiesta, on Saturday, December 15th, continuing a 30-plus-year tradition.  With the beautiful sounds of Christmas provided by The Norristown Chorale, the children and families were treated to cookies and gifts. We were pleased that there were just enough toys to meet the need, with more than 1,000 toys distributed.
Our thanks go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign, Pastor Douglas Avilesbernal and Calvary Baptist Church. Other organizations helped make the day a success, including Bryn Mawr and Ursinus colleges, Plymouth Whitemarsh and Jenkintown and Radnor high schools, the MONTCO Human Services community,
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Toy Drives for ACLAMO
MONTCO Aging and Adult Services' Toys for Tots Campaign
Joanne Kline, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Office of Aging and Adult Services, presents ACLAMO's Executive Director Juan Guerra with donated toys gathered at the annual Holidays Around the World event. Gifts were collected from all the offices represented at the MONTCO Human Services offices. These toys were distributed at ACLAMO's Christmas party for the community on Saturday. "We are extremely grateful for the generosity of so many," Guerra said.
Radnor High School Arrives Bearing Gifts
The Radnor High School Hispanic and Culture Clubs collected nearly 100 toys to donate for ACLAMO's event.
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ACLAMO's Families Give Back to Community
As has been the tradition for the last several years, ACLAMO's mothers who participate in our Family Literacy program have come together to give back to the community. This year our families gathered non-perishable goods to give to needy families. Seen here is Ed Crenshaw, Pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship, receiving a portion of the donated food which will be distributed to those less fortunate in his congregation. We are grateful to our families, and to Pastor Ed and Victory Christian Fellowship.
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ACLAMO Children and Parents Visit Local Senior Citizens
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Four-year-old Andy receives a hug from a senior in the Alzheimers unit.
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The parents and children enrolled in ACLAMO's Family Literacy Program visited the local MONTCO Senior Activities Center in Norristown to exchange some holiday cheer.
Our families opened their concert singing English and Spanish versions of "Jingle Bells." Many of the Mexican families in Norristown cannot afford to visit their grandparents in Mexico, whom they revere and miss, especially during the holidays. For these families it is a special treat to spend some time at Christmas with local abuelos and abuelas. Likewise, the seniors' faces lit up when our children arrived bearing tidings in English of "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
It was a heartwarming experience to see everyone clapping together as our group ended their visit singing "Feliz Navidad."
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PNC Bank Gives $10,000 Donation to ACLAMO
Nelson Acevedo, Vice President of Community Development of PNC Bank, presents Juan Guerra a $10,000 check from the PNC Foundation. This gift will help ACLAMO support its Family Literacy Programs. |
King of Prussia Rotary Donates $1,500 to ACLAMO
King of Prussia Rotary President, Carl Pinto, presents Juan Guerra a check for $1,500, accompanied by prior president, Ernest Zlotolow, at their weekly lunch meeting. This gift represents a club donation of $1,000, and a $500 contribution through their affiliate Gundaker Foundation. "In this holiday season, ACLAMO is deeply appreciative of the King of Prussia Rotary Club's ongoing support of our programs," Guerra said.
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CoventryCares Donates Winter Gloves for ACLAMO Students
This holiday, Danielle Peereboon of CoventryCares delivered donated gloves to ACLAMO teacher Linda Maldonado for the low-income children of Norristown. |
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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 Latin American Action 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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