“The essence of America — that which really unites us — is not ethnicity, or nationality, or religion. It is an idea — and what an idea it is: that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going.”
– Condoleezza Rice
“In America, change is possible. It’s in our hands. Together, I know we’ll get there. Look how far we’ve already come.”
— Barack Obama
Happy Fourth! #fourthofjuly #independenceday #condoleezzarice #barackobama #chestereastside

It is with great sorrow that we mark the passing on Monday of our good friend, Lewis “Pete” Washington.

Pete was involved with Chester Eastside from our beginning – he often said CEI saved him from negative distractions. He loved this agency and his community and invested his time here.

As Assistant Manager of the Food Pantry, Pete worked six hours a week, helping to stock and label the shelves and set up and coordinate the distribution process. His booming voice was perfect for commanding everyone’s attention and his gentleness came through as he calmed the bustling activity associated with food distribution.

Pete attended college as a Music Major specializing in percussion and he often sang as he worked. He loved using his gift of drumming in worship services at the Salvation Army.

Prayer was important to Pete and he invited those, who wished to do so, to join him

each week. He always reminded the group that no one who came into the pantry was a stranger, but family! He was an important part of the Chester Eastside Inc. family and we will miss him dearly.

Bev and Chuck made the weekly run from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Wallingford.The congregation sponsors a contactless drop-off 10 a.m.-2 p.m., each Sunday, then brings all the items to Chester Eastside. This week’s total – 75.1 pounds of food and 6 pounds of toiletries/cleaning supplies. Many thanks for your ongoing support. #holytrinitywallingford #foodinseccurity #toiletries #cleaningsupplies #contactless #thanks #chestereastside

Our families registered and picked up supplies Tuesday morning for virtual Camp Phoenix, which starts tomorrow (July 1). The children are divided into three groups (K-3, 4-6 and 7-9) and the projects are designed just for their ages.
Didn’t have a chance to sign up? Stop by Thursday (July 2) from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. #summercamp #supplies #art #communitygarden #yoga #creativewriting #nature #fun #chestreastside

Kids – Meghan of the Delaware Children’s Museum is back with instructions for making a Lego volcano. Eruptions away! #delawarechildrensmuseum #handson #legos #volcano #chesereastside
https://www.facebook.com/delawarechildrensmuseum/posts/10156927454492021

Great News! Chester Eastside received a $20,000 grant from the PHL COVID-19 Fund to help with our expenses for reopening. The money will be used to purchase hand sanitizers and portable Lucite panels for administrative, dining and computer lab areas and pay for a professional deep cleaning and OST staff members to organize our areas. The fund is a partnership among the Philadelphia Foundation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
and City of Philadelphia Government. Many thanks! #phlcovid19fund #philadelphiafoundation #phillysjunited #cityofphiladelphia #reopening #chestereastside

Delaware County has moved into the Green Phase. Remember a number of guidelines remain in place for everyone’s health and safety. Haircuts for all! #greenphase #healthandsafety #covid19 #masks #socialdistancing #haircuts #chestereastside

Kids – tired of Zooming? Join Meghan of the Delaware Children’s Museum each week as she demonstrates a hands-on activity that you can do at home. Start with a simple confetti cannon just in time for the Fourth of July. #delawarechildrensmuseum #handson #confetticannon #fourthofjuly #chestereastside
https://www.facebook.com/delawarechildrensmuseum/videos/306353167045520

Kids – July is the best month this summer, because that’s when our Phoenix Virtual Summer Camp is in session. It has it all – creative writing, reading, story time, STEM, gardening, math, photography, film making, yoga and fun!

Camp will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, from July 1 -31.

To register, contact Kathryn Redd at 610-990-1112 or kredd@chestereastside.org. See you there!

#summercamp #creativewriting #storytime #stem #gardening #math #photography #filmmaking #yoga #fun #chestereastside

Chester City Council, the Chester City Health Board, Delaware County Council and Chester County Health Department are hosting a free COVID-19 testing site, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, June 27 outside Chester City Hall (One Fourth Street). Residents 18 years and over are eligible to be tested. The testing is free to the public; however, residents who have health insurance are asked to bring their insurance card. Residents can drive through or walk up to the testing site. Please adhere to social distancing and wear a mask. #covid19 #chestercitycouncil #chestercityhealthboard #delawarecountycouncil #chestercountyhealthdepartment #testing #chestereastside