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Programs
Supportive Services
18th Street Community Church: Sanctuary House
www.sanctuaryrecoveryhouse.org
Providing affordable housing for individuals who struggle with substance abuse, in order to give them a path to clean and sober living.
AASD Adult Education Program: HSE: Pathway to a Brighter Future
Investing in the future of Blair County adults who lack a high school diploma by awarding HSE (High School Equivalency) scholarships to pay for the cost of GED subtest exams necessary to earning their High School Equivalency Credential.
Ben Blessed: Meal and Hygiene Outreach
www.facebook.com/benblessedaltoona
Providing transportation, meals, clothing, and hygiene items to the local homeless population, enabling an opportunity to offer further assistance and guidance regarding how to raise their standard of living and get back on their feet, despite any unfortunate circumstances they face or have faced.
Blair Emergency Services Chaplain Platoon: B.E.S.C.P.
Providing special events: a First Responders Picnic and Children’s Christmas Party in support of serving and caring for the individuals (and their families) who serve our communities.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown: Getting Ahead
Walking beside those in poverty, homeless, or nearly homeless, to introduce strategies and tools to become self-sufficient, allowing them to have a choice to get ahead.
Center for Community Action: New Beginnings Baskets
www.centerforcommunityaction.org
Providing basic household items to clients enrolled in Center for Community Action’s Blair County reentry programs, helping them to build a new life, free from drug abuse and crime.
Families United for Change: C.C.’s Boutique
www.familiesunitedforchange.org
Assisting women with essential necessities, including clothing, coats, socks, shoes, and personal hygiene items after successful completion of a treatment program.
Tyrone-Snyder Public Library: Socialize Our Salute
Supporting a social group for veterans that will help foster a core support group in a substance-free environment for local veterans centered around the veteran experience, adding an opportunity for them to interact with support animals.
Youth Programs
Altoona Area School District Foundation: Project SOAR (Study, Overcome, Achieve, Reward)
www.aahsalumni.org/page/projectSOAR
Identifying and coming alongside students and offering financial assistance to pursue a post-secondary education, given that they meet program guidelines and participate fully in the program.
ArtsAltoona: After School Arts Program (ASAP)
Offering free, consistent arts programming for youth in Elementary and Middle school throughout each school year, enabling youth to make positive decisions and to discover and nurture their talents and passions.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Blair County: S.M.A.R.T. School-based Mentoring Program
Helping to create and support matches between mentors and mentees in all of the SMART School/Site-based Mentoring Programs throughout Blair County; thus providing children with meaningful relationships to help reduce the likelihood of substance abuse, criminal mischief, school absenteeism, and violence.
Booker T. Washington Revitalization Corp.: Garden Heights Playground
Providing the community with new parks and playgrounds in underserved neighborhoods of Altoona, creating safe spaces for children of all abilities.
Central Blair County Park & Recreation Commission: Veterans Memorial Field Pitching Machine
Utilizing a new pitching machine for Veterans Memorial Field for youth to use, further providing their goal of quality recreation, parks, and programming opportunities to the citizens of Central Blair County and the City of Altoona.
Evolution Expressions: Arts for Healing
Providing quality, strength-based, preventative, therapeutic programming for youth with the purchase of art supplies for trauma-focused arts related activities to help at-risk youth combat the effects of trauma through the use of art techniques.
Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation: After School Program
Providing educational materials, incentives, healthy snacks, field trips, and individual assistance to youth at-risk enrolled in three after-school programs held within the low-income housing developments of Evergreen Manors and Fairview Hills, as well as Overflow Church.
Home Nursing Agency Foundation: The Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program
www.homenursingagency.com/services/childrens-services/healing-patch
Providing peer support groups held twice monthly during the school year for Blair County children and their families who have suffered the death of a loved one, as well as Blair County in-school groups, called Patch Clubs.
JMC Altoona: Rise Above Athletic Program
www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=jmcbasketball
Offering youth athletics, aimed at engaging youth and strengthening community ties, as well as improving perceptions of law enforcement by hosting quarterly clinics featuring police and other role models’ participation.
Morrisons Cove Memorial Park: Stay Drug Free at Spring Cove
www.morrisonscovememorialpark.org
Offering drug prevention and mental wellness events for area youth, partnering with the local community to encourage positive life choices and making good decisions.
Nehemiah Project: Kids Connect
Providing an after-school program for youth in low to moderate income families throughout the week along with a meal and snack each day with the purpose of bringing value to the lives of youth in the local community.
Northern Blair County Recreation Commission: Youth Sponsorship Program
Working with at risk students or those in need, by providing programming/activities that promote a healthy lifestyle while also being educated on drug and alcohol awareness.
Refuge Youth Network: Weekly Campus Meetings
Providing consistent programming for teens at several campuses across Blair County throughout each week, as a fun and formative alternative.
Roaring Spring Community Library Association: Board in the Library
Offering a collection of games that foster collaboration, critical and strategic thinking, as well as creativity during game days and events held by the library, leading to more supervised time for youth and building stronger families.
The Door Student Services: Operation Recreation & Inspiration
Providing field trip transportation, sports/recreational equipment, and youth incentives/rewards to give local youth a positive alternative to the streets as well as daily interaction with adult mentors.
The R.O.C.K. at 2nd Avenue: The R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Community Kids)
www.2ndavechurch.org/the-r-o-c-k
Offering a program held on Wednesdays for youth in Pre-K to 12th grade, which provides a home-cooked meal, gym/physical activities, the arts, and age-appropriate small groups that encourage healthy living.
Tyrone Area School District: Arts Elevate
Providing an opportunity for an after-school arts connection program aimed at creating an environment to support disenfranchised and disconnected students through mentorship and art.
Young Life of Central Pennsylvania: Young Life Camp
Helping high school students to become part of a community and attend Young Life Camp, even if they financially cannot afford the cost of camp otherwise.
Family Support
AASD ELECT Program: ELECT (Education Leading to Employment & Career Training)
Providing pregnant and parenting teens nutritious meals at special events, as well as providing them with necessities for their household, and ensuring students have safe and suitable strollers/safety items for their children.
Altoona Area Public Library: Focused on Foundations
Offering a playgroup for children, birth to age 3, which teaches the parents/guardians about their child’s early development, identifying developmental delays, and how to obtain early intervention services.
Blair Regional YMCA: Family Y-Nite
Helping low-income families attend family-based activities that bring families together in a fun, safe, affordable, and drug-free environment which provides food, resources, art, music, and crafts for all.
Overflow Church: Jefferson Park Community Engagement
Providing neighborhood outreach events at Jefferson Park such as community cookouts, clean-up days, community meals, trunk or treat, and Easter egg hunts.
United Way of the Southern Alleghenies’ Family Resource Center: Parents as Teachers & Parent Education Classes
www.unitedwaysa.org/family-resource-center-blair-county
Providing the parent education programs Parents as Teachers (evidence-based home visiting) and Parent Education Classes to strengthen families.
YES to Kids: Family Movie Night and Summer Drone Camp
Promoting and offering affordable, enriching opportunities for children and their families to enjoy together, fostering positive development and strengthening family bonds, and decreasing the perpetuity of engaging in negative behaviors.