Presents for Patients in 2009 and 2010
2010 Advent Collections will be donated to:
By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, we empower them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope.
With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need. It's called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.
We are currently collecting items for the Linus Project, including old linens, yarn, fabrics, batting, craft store gift cards, note cards, and stamps. Please bring your donations to Ascension. For more information:http://www.projectlinus.org our inception in 1995.
March of Dimes
Their mission "is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight."
American Cancer Society...
And the winner is...
Last summer, the children of Ascension designed "vacation" boxes in order to raise money for the American Cancer society. Members were asked to "vote" for their favorite vacation spots by donating coins to the vacation box of their choice. Choices included Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York City, Paris, France, the beach, and Disney World.
Disney won!!
What fun we had on Sunday, November 1st, during our celebration luncheon as we presented the donations to The American Cancer Society, totaling over $400! We had a Disney themed luncheon, and "toured" countries around the world, just like Epcot. Many thanks to the Ascension Women's Group for organzing such a wonderful event!
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Benedictine Place provides safe, affordable housing to homeless mothers while they complete educational programs to regain a production place in society. Last Easter we held a donation drive to make "Baskets of Love" for the mothers and their children.
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Highmark Walk for a Healthy America, May, 2008
Variety, The Children's Charity, is near and dear to our hearts. Variety's vision is to insure that every child with disabilities is provided with enabling equipment, assistive technology devices and the opportunity to participate in social, educational, artistic, and recreational activities enjoyed by other children.
Variety's mission and vision is furthered by serving children with disabilities without discrimination in Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
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World Hunger is another one of Ascension's many ministries, a way to help others. For more information, go to
www.elca.org/hunger.
Throughout the year, Ascension Lutheran Church also holds food drives. Donations are made to the Food Pantry in McKees Rocks.
Allegheny Valley Schools
Allegheny Valley School is known for its outstanding community residential environments and therapeutic programs for children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. They are one of the largest providers of care for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the state of Pennsylvania, operating more than 125 facilities and programs in nine counties.
Each Easter and Christmas season, Ascension has purchased all of our flowers through the Allegheny Valley Greenhouse, supporting this wonderful organization.
Recently we've found other ways we all can help...
Campbell’s Labels
Help AVS buy classroom equipment and accessories by saving and sending in your Campbell’s labels. The equipment received through the program helps to enhance the programming we provide to the individuals at AVS. Simply save your Campbell’s proofs of purchase with Labels for Education logo and send them to Kelly Gremba, Allegheny Valley School, 1996 Ewings Mill Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108. (The following items contain the proofs of purchase and the Labels for Education logo: Campbell soups, V8 Splash® Beverages, Campbell’s Supper Baked® meal kits, etc.) NOTE: Ascension members can bring in their labels to church, and the office will coordinate getting them to AVS.
GoodSearch/GoodshopSupport AVS while searching and shopping on the Internet with GoodSearch.com. The money raised will be contributed to the Capital Development Fund. Use
www.GoodSearch.com like any other search engine – the site is powered by Yahoo! Designate Allegheny Valley School as your charity of choice and click “Verify.” From then on, each time you use GoodSearch, $.01 will be contributed to AVS.
GoodSearch.com also includes GoodShop, an online shopping mall. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to the user’s designated charity – averaging 3% of the sale, but going up to 20% or more. Be sure to designate Allegheny Valley School as your designated charity!
Gordon Food Service
Support AVS while shopping at Gordon Food Service (GFS) stores. AVS has signed up for GFS’
Partnership and Savings Program. There is no membership fee or card to join. Simply shop and indicate to the cashier that you are shopping to support Allegheny Valley School. GFS will track your purchases and each purchase made will result in a contribution to AVS. The money raised will be contributed to the Capital Development Fund.
Giant Eagle Apples for the Students
This program enables AVS to purchase educational equipment for programming in Western PA. If you and your family/friends shop at Giant Eagle and have not yet registered using their school ID # 0017, please have your Advantage Card ready and call 1-800-474-4777 or visit
www.gianteagle.com. The program begins annually at the end of October and runs through mid March. Please note that only purchases made during the program period can be credited to AVS.
Recycle Your Used Cartridges
Please save your used printer, fax and copier cartridges as well as old cell phones and send them to Allegheny Valley School. AVS earns money for the Capital Development Fund simply by recycling these used cartridges and cell phones that were destined for the trash. (Please note that we cannot accept Epson cartridges or cartridges that have already been recycled.) Cartridges and cell phones can be sent to Kelly Gremba, Allegheny Valley School, 1996 Ewings Mill Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108.
Shop at Target
Shop at Target using your REDcard (Target® VISA® Credit Card, Target Credit Card and Target Check Card). Target will donate 1% of purchases made at Target stores and at Target.com and will donate 0.5% of Target VISA purchases made outside of Target. To apply for a REDcard, please visit your nearest Target store or apply online at
www.target.com/redcard. Designate AVS’ school ID # 126464 by calling 1-800-316-6142, using the store kiosk or visiting
www.target.com/tcoe. This program will help to raise money to AVS’ Capital Development Fund which will enhance the services we provide.