This mini newsletter is a mid-year update with mark your calendar dates and important news for you to know before you delve into summer vacation mode! Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July and summer, we’ll see you in the fall!!!
We started 2024 continuing the celebration of our 10 year anniversary and countdown to our first Soiree! We are excited to announce that our first ever major event, our 10 year Anniversary Soiree brought in over $91,000! We continue to think of ways to say thank you to everyone who supported financially and showed up in April for that fun-filled night. Ashley thanked our soiree committee with beautiful swag. If you would like to purchase swag items we have:
Anniversary polos $30
Travel Tumblers $40
Journal with pen $15
Christmas Ornament with seeds $10
Share the work of The Common Place by rocking sweet swag while you’re out and about!
Summer is now here and we are still in full swing of activities with summer camp now in week 3. We will have a few groups come volunteer through our A Common Youth Initiative (ACYI) program. We are already planning for another exciting fall once supporters like you return from summer vacation.
Community News
Remembering the families affected by the mass shooting July 2023. This Wednesday, July 3, 2024 beginning at 7 pm, Salt & Light Church will be holding a memorial service to remember and love on the families and our Southwest Community impacted by this tragic event last year. Please continue to hold our community in prayer and join us here at TCP, 5736 Chester Ave., if you are in town.
Our Scholars Enrichment Program has been selected to be a part of the new Office of Student Life’s Out of School Time (OSL OST) cohort! A partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. TCP has been selected as a highly qualified partner by the District, and will now be an eligible after school option for kids in K-8! What does this mean for TCP? We are now in the District system that matches schools and principals with after school program sites. If we are matched, we will then contract with each school that expresses interest and TCP personnel will be on-site at those school(s), administering our program at those locations. This initiative is funded through the District to promote building usage and activities for kids year-round. For TCP it continues to extend our reach and get our name out beyond our community.
Bunny’s Garden
Growth comes in many ways and many forms. In the fall we were excited that Bunny’s Garden was awarded with a grant from the Garden Club of America’s Philadelphia Committee. We began conversations with the congregation of Southwestern Presbyterian to begin a new garden site on their property. Hopefest gave us the opportunity to begin that work and expand the possibilities of having enough food for our farmer’s market. This growth means we need more hands and more support at both locations. Contact Cameron Cephas, our garden coordinator, to add your name to our volunteer list or see how you can support financially or with needed supplies for our gardens to grow! https://tcpphilly.org/bunnys-garden/
Upcoming Dates
We will have our next quarterly newsletter coming out at the end of July, early August, but here are some important dates. Mark your calendars before you leave for the summer so you won’t miss out on participating in these cooler fall activities
Bookbag Giveaway – Saturday, August 24th – our annual combined event with Salt-n-Light to prepare students for back to school. Watch social media or reach out to us directly for ways to donate and volunteer.
Scholars After School Begins – Monday, August 26th – first day of school! Contact our Program Director, Huan Buam, to sign up for time to volunteer and hang out with some awesome kids.
TCP Open House- Friday, October 18th- Our first annual fall event giving people a chance to come see what’s happening at TCP. An evening to interact with our different program initiatives, learn ways to expand your portfolio and invest in this work, music, refreshments, and time to be together.
Fall Fest – Thursday, Oct 31st – In the spirit of the season, this annual event combines the enjoyment of cooler evenings with the fun of carnivals and state fairs. Come hand out treats or participate in fall games. Candy and prize donations will be needed. Contact our Program Director, Huan Baum, for more information.
Holy Rest – Saturday, November 9th – The fall Holy Rest Morning will be at John Heinz from 9:30-1:00. Come enjoy this time of rest and community.
**Note: The Run Against Hunger event that used to be held in September is canceled due to the closing of the Coalition Against Hunger. We are working on planning our own 5k in September, stay tuned for more details.
