AGAPE Receives $5,000 Grant to Support Local Communities in Need
AGAPE is excited to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the Pearls with a Passion Fund through the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP). This generous grant will go a long way in helping AGAPE continue its mission to ensure no one falls through the cracks in the communities it serves—Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties.
The grant will specifically support AGAPE’s efforts to provide essential feminine hygiene products to local schools and through their monthly distribution programs. This initiative aims to reduce absenteeism in schools and workplaces, ensuring that girls and women have access to necessary hygiene items so they can thrive without worry.
Karla Alexander, AGAPE’s Executive Director, expressed her gratitude: “Thanks to the support of FCFP and the Pearls with a Passion Fund, we can continue providing vital services to our friends and neighbors in need. We’re truly grateful for this opportunity.”
About AGAPE
AGAPE, Love From Above To Our Community, is a faith-based nonprofit serving individuals and families in need across Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties. From food and clothing to shelter and financial assistance, AGAPE provides a range of essential services to the community while respecting the dignity and confidentiality of those they serve. AGAPE also partners with other organizations to offer education, networking, and referrals to additional resources. Learn more about AGAPE and its mission on their website.
How AGAPE Supports Sustainability and the Environment
At AGAPE Love From Above to Our Community, we’re committed to being more than just a source of assistance for those in need in Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties. We’re also dedicated to doing our part to protect the environment. From accepting donations of clothing and household goods to adopting eco-friendly practices within our organization, we’re constantly seeking ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability in our community.
The Importance of Clothing Donations for Sustainability
Did you know that Americans throw away over 13 million tons of clothing each year? With fast fashion and overconsumption driving an overwhelming amount of waste, landfills are filling up with textiles that take hundreds of years to decompose. But donating unused items—like clothing and household goods—not only provides much-needed resources to those in need but also helps reduce environmental impact.
Here are a few ways clothing donations support sustainability:
- Less Clothing in Landfills
Most clothing today is made from synthetic materials, which can take centuries to break down in a landfill. By donating your clothes, you extend their life and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills each year. Plus, you’re directly helping individuals in need access clothing they may be unable to afford. - Fewer Wasted Resources
The production of new clothing consumes significant natural resources—just one pair of jeans requires around 1,800 gallons of water to make! By keeping clothes in circulation through donation and recycling, we help limit the demand for new clothing production, conserving precious resources like water. - Reduced Chemical Pollution
The growing process for cotton, a major component of many textiles, is highly pesticide-intensive, contributing to soil degradation and water contamination. Additionally, textile manufacturing often involves toxic dyes and crude oil by-products. Donating clothes reduces the need for new textiles to be produced, ultimately lowering the environmental impact caused by harmful chemicals.
AGAPE’s Commitment to Sustainable Practices
Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond accepting donations. AGAPE is taking several proactive steps to minimize our environmental footprint:
- Solar Panels: We plan to install solar panels on our facility in October 2024, to harness clean, renewable energy to power our operations.
- Recycling Metals and Cardboard: Besides household goods, we actively recycle metals and cardboard, ensuring these materials don’t end up in landfills.
- Energy-Efficient Food Distribution: During our food distributions, we’ve implemented a trolley system to transport food boxes. This allows us to keep our facility’s large truck bay doors closed, conserving cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, reducing energy usage.
Why This Matters
By focusing on sustainability, AGAPE isn’t just helping individuals and families in our community—we’re also playing our part in protecting the planet. Whether it’s through reducing waste, conserving resources, or adopting energy-efficient practices, we’re working to ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
We encourage everyone to join us in our efforts! If you have unused clothing or household items, consider donating them to AGAPE. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need while helping the environment at the same time.
More About In-Kind Donations to AGAPE
AGAPE is grateful to receive non-monetary donations in the form of drop-off (in-kind) donations. AGAPE is open to accept drop-off donations during business hours, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Free pick-up service is available for appliance and furniture Donations. Contact us at (570) 317-2210 to schedule a pick-up or to plan to drop off donations outside of our normal drop-off times.
Food Donations
You can join AGAPE’s efforts to alleviate hunger in Columbia, Montour and Northumberland Counties by donating food. The need is great; AGAPE is currently serving over 700 families or households each month. All donated items are distributed to families facing food hardships via our weekly Daily Bread meal, supplemental emergency food boxes and/or in partnership with the Columbia County Food Bank. Needed donations include spaghetti sauce, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned meats, boxed meals, side dish items and condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.). We can also accept donations of fresh and frozen produce, packaged meats and dairy products, however, due to limited space, please contact us at (570) 317-2210 or dailybread@agape-pa.org to make arrangements.
Create a Facebook Fundraiser to Support AGAPE
Facebook makes it easy to fundraise for your favorite nonprofit. Here are some simple, step-by-step directions on how to set up a fundraiser to support AGAPE on Facebook!
Create a Facebook fundraiser for AGAPE Love From Above To Our Community
- On your computer, log in to Facebook.
- To the left of your newsfeed, click Fundraisers.
- Tip: If you don’t see Fundraisers on the left, then click See more.
- On the left, click Raise money.
- Click Nonprofit.
- You can either:
- Type: AGAPE: Love From Above To Our Community into the search bar (look for the purple heart!)
- Select AGAPE: Love From Above To Our Community
- On the left, enter:
- The goal amount of money you want to raise
- The currency you want the funds to be in
- You can also set an end date for your fundraiser, name it and say a few words about why you want to raise funds for AGAPE.
- Click Create.
You’ll see a screen pop up where you can invite your friends to donate to your fundraiser, share your fundraiser in your feed, or donate to the fundraiser yourself.
If you’re not ready to do any of those things, click Not now.
FUN FACT: You don’t have to reach your goal for AGAPE to receive the funds!
If you’d prefer to donate online using PayPal or a Debit or Credit Card? Click here.
Every donation makes a difference to our neighbors in Columbia County, Montour County, and Northumberland County, PA. We are so grateful for your support!
AGAPE is Seeking a Volunteer Coordinator
Position: Volunteer Coordinator (Volunteer Position)
Hours: Flexible, must be able to work Thursdays and at least 2 other days a week (days are flexible except Thursday).
Skills Required:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong computer skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain organized files
- Willingness to train on and maintain AGAPE’s Volunteer database
- Ability to multitask
- Able to solicit volunteers for day-to-day operations as well as special events
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and manage volunteer activities and schedules
- Maintain accurate and organized volunteer files and database
- Communicate effectively with volunteers and staff
- Recruit and solicit volunteers for various roles and events
- Assist with the planning and execution of special events
Additional Information: For more details or to apply, please email: volunteer@agape-pa.org
For more volunteer opportunities, visit: https://agapelovefromabove.org/you-can-help/
Join us in making a difference in our community!
AGAPE Leadership Transition
Exciting Leadership Transition at AGAPE! After 15 years of dedicated service to our community, our beloved Executive Director and Founder, Eileen Chapman, is retiring. We are deeply grateful for Eileen’s visionary leadership and the legacy she leaves behind. As we enter this new chapter, we are thrilled to announce that General Manager Karla Alexander will step into the role of Executive Director, and Jan Albertson joins us as the new Director of Operations & Finance. We know AGAPE is in good hands and look forward to continuing our mission!
Contact Information:
Executive Director Karla Alexander – execdirector@agape-pa.org
Director of Operations & Finance Jan Albertson – opsdirector@agape-pa.org
Eileen Chapman – founder@agape-pa.org
