Lower Providence Supervisors Present $154,750 in Donation Checks

Five local nonprofit organizations were presented checks by the Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisors, at the Nov. 15 regular meeting.

According to Township manager, Richard Gestrich the donations are an annual effort by the township to support local nonprofits, particularly the township’s ambulance service and fire department.

This year, the nonprofit organizations and the donated amounts are as follows:

Visiting Nurses Association - $3,000

Presented by Lower Providence Board of Supervisors member Jason Sorgini to Richard Cirko, executive director of the Visiting Nurses Association.

“This support helps us in terms of moving forward with various programs we have throughout our agency and dealing with Lower Providence Township residents,” Cirko said.

According Cirko, the Visiting Nurses Association’s programs provides such services as personal care and home support for elderly to remain in their homes; a nurses child care center, where the agency is the primary care provider to children in CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program); as well as with its Personal Navigator program, which assists individuals in need of financial aid with their medial needs.

Victim Services Center of Montgomery County - $750

Presented by Lower Providence Board of Supervisors member Jill Zimmerman to Lauren Peterson, volunteer coordinator of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County.

According to Peterson, Victim Services provides counseling, advocacy and education programs to reduce crime in the county and to support victims.

“Without these generous donations, like the ones from Lower Providence, the victims would be left to fend for themselves in the dark through the myriad of legal systems and left to the trauma themselves,” Peterson said.

Lower Providence Senior Center - $1,000 and Lower Providence Community Center Ambulance - $50,000

Presented by Lower Providence Board of Supervisors member Colleen Eckman to Tom McAneney, executive director of the Lower Providence Community Center Ambulance, and Janet Azzara, president of Lower Providence Community Center Ambulance.

Eckman presented two separate checks for the senior center and the ambulance center, acknowledging the ongoing work for the township’s seniors and those in need during a medical emergency.

“We like to pride ourselves with providing a top-notch EMS service and we couldn’t do it without the support of the community that we serve,” McAneney said.

Azzara added that big news for the center may be in the works for 2013, and that residents should be on the look out for a commercial announcing such news.

According to sources speaking to Patch prior to the presentation meeting, such news may be linked to a potential relocation of the township community center and ambulance service, from its location at 101 Hillside Ave. in Eagleville.

Lower Providence Volunteer Fire Company $100,000

Presented by Lower Providence Board of Supervisors vice-chairman Don Thomas to Jackie Rittenhouse, president of the Lower Providence Volunteer Fire Company.

Rittenhouse informed the supervisors that prior to the check presentation that evening, the board of trustees for the township fire department also met, and discussed operation bills.  She said that approximately half of the township’s donation will immediately go toward paying such bills.