KACS
KACS Social Services, KACS Food Cupboard, KACS Community Education, and KACS Affordable Housing programs are making headlines!
On March 12, the State House Finance Committee heard testimony at the Kennett Library from area organizations and advocates about how an additional state-level tax credit would allow Pennsylvanians to better manage their personal finances and plan for their family’s financial and educational future.
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The Empty Bowls event starts with ceramic bowls being made earlier in the year by local community groups who donate them to KACS. Those who attend the event choose their own bowl to take home as a reminder of those who live a daily existence of an “empty bowl” at the table. The main course at the fundraiser meal is soup and bread.
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), a social service organization in Kennett Square, has had a remarkable impact on their community this last year, writes Richard L. Gaw for Chester County Press.
KACS held an annual meeting on Jan. 29 at Loch Nairn Farm to reflect on the organization’s Annual Impact Report with over two hundred volunteers, staff, and community members in attendance.
It provides supportive services to the greater Kennett community through food donation, increasing safe and accessible housing, crisis intervention services, and community education.
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Just as it has done over the past several years, Kennett Area Community Service’s (KACS) annual meeting – held this year on Jan. 29 at the Greathouse at Loch Nairn Farm – served to illuminate the magnitude of work the agency does to ensure the health and well-being of the thousands of residents it helps.
Before more than 200 community leaders, KACS Chief Executive Officer Leah Reynolds thanked the agency’s volunteers, staff and Board of Directors, whose “unwavering leadership, tireless efforts and steadfast commitment to our mission have made it possible for us to grow, adapt and serve our community during a time of increasing need,” a period she said that has seen a 12 percent increase in the number of households facing poverty in southern Chester County.
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On the morning of Jan. 20, the gymnasium at the Hillendale Elementary School was filled to capacity with over 100 students from four elementary schools, their parents, their teachers and their administrators for a day of service in celebration of the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This year’s Day of Service turned the gym floor into a workshop of young artisans who made: essential items for local organizations including 69 birthday boxes for Kennett Area Community Service.
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The Mushroom Drop is a free event. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Kennett Area Community Service.
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During Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, YGBW partnered with local organizations to engage students from its Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) program. Students learned about critical issues related to hunger and housing insecurity by participating in presentations and hands-on service projects alongside local nonprofits, including Chester County Food Bank, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), Oxford SILO, Meals on Wheels, and more.
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds – who has led the agency through a debilitating pandemic, facilitated emergency housing efforts for displaced residents and is helping to steer what will become a new facility in Kennett Square – has been named KACS’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
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Upscale American fare with a focus on seasonal ingredients, much of which is grown in the redesigned “Ornamental Kitchen Garden,” is featured.
The on-site garden has more than 200 rotating fruit, vegetable, and herb crops. Whatever is not used from the garden is delivered to Kennett Area Community Service, a local food pantry that has had a long-standing relationship with Longwood.
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On Nov. 1, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds received a phone call from a prominent state official, informing her that KACS was going to receive a $775,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
While the funding was a sizable chunk of money, it was far from what KACS was seeking. In fact, for an agency that provides food, crisis services, educational programs and affordable housing for people in 22 different municipalities in the county, the grant fell $4,225,000 short of the agency’s original $5 million request to RACP which, if received in full, would have accounted for about one-third of the estimated $15 million needed to construct KACS’ planned new facility in Kennett Square.
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) announced that it has received partial funding in response to its recent request for support for its New Building Project. This initiative aims to build a permanent home for KACS, creating an anchor institution for organizations across Southern Chester County. The new facility will provide a central space for collaboration to combat hunger and homelessness in the community.
KACS initially requested $5 million from the Commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to fully implement the project. However, the organization received $775,000 through the latest round of RACP funding. The RACP, administered by the Office of the Budget, is designed to support critical projects that strengthen community infrastructure.
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“It is important for all of us to work together,” said Cheryl Miles, community housing development director at Kennett Area Community Service.
The Poverty Simulation was made possible because of the collaboration between Kennett Area Community Service, Chester County United Way, Serving Inspiring Loving Others (SILO), Oxford’s Neighborhood Services Center, CHESCO Bridges Coalition, Lighthouse Youth Center, Orion Communities, Migrant Education of Pennsylvania, Chester County Partnership to End the to Homelessness, Chester County Intermediate Unit, and United Way of Southern Chester County.
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Cheryl Miles, Community Housing Director for Kennett Area Community Services, captured the summit’s essence in her opening remarks: “We live in a very progressive county. The population is growing, and the number of businesses is increasing. Yet, there’s another type of growth in Chester County.” She emphasized the barriers many face, including “limited resources, unfair housing practices, skyrocketing mortgage and rental rates.”
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The speakers will share their insights on homelessness and community solutions.
(including Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds)
The topic will be “Strengthening Together”.
There will also be an opportunity to learn about the impactful work being done by Safe Harbor to address homelessness.
The evening will include a Call to Action as guests discover how they can contribute to making a positive change in the community.
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – assisted by community donations and led by a tireless and dedicated staff -- Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) provided food, housing, and social service support to those in our community who most needed it.
As the needs of those less fortunate in Chester County grow, so will KACS, which is currently in a capital campaign to raise $15 million for the construction of a new, 24,000 square-foot facility on West Cypress Street. Kennett Square Life recently spoke with KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds and volunteers Anne Moran, Lynn Majarian, and Will Majarian about the project, its early benefactors, the improvements the new building will bring, the message of the campaign, and the dreams for its future.
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KENNETT SQUARE, PA — A new state funding grant of $75,000 will aid Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) in supporting homeless prevention programs and housing stability initiatives in southern Chester County. State Rep. Christina Sappey and State Sen. John I. Kane announced the funding on Thursday.
Supporting Homeless Prevention
The funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund. KACS plans to utilize this grant to enhance its Emergency Assistance Program, which addresses housing crises faced by families and individuals in the region.
Comprehensive Housing Support
KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds outlined the various ways the funds will be used. The organization intends to bolster efforts in several key areas:
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11 organizations working to prevent homelessness and promote housing affordability in communities across Chester County were awarded the funds.
WEST CHESTER – Eleven organizations working to prevent homelessness and promote housing affordability in communities across Chester County were awarded more than $3.1 million in total state funding to support their efforts, state Sen. Carolyn Comitta announced.
“Investments in promoting housing affordability and preventing homelessness benefit our entire community,” Comitta said. “When every resident has a safe, healthy place to call home, our economy thrives, public safety improves, and our neighborhoods and municipalities flourish.
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Thornton, PA – Senator John I. Kane (Delaware/Chester) is proud to announce grant funding for two food banks within Senate District 9. Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) has been awarded $26,650 and the DELCO Food Project has received a grant award of $50,000.
This funding has been made possible through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. This initiative aims to bolster community organizations in their efforts to provide fresh, healthy food to those in need.
Senator John I. Kane shares his support, saying, “It’s a great feeling to see this funding reach deserving food banks in our district. These organizations work tirelessly to serve our community, and I am always eager to support them in their mission. It is through their work that we can help the folks who don’t know the source of their next meal. Together, we can work towards a future where no one in our district and our Commonwealth goes hungry.”
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KENNETT SQUARE–Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) has a new president.
The organization recently elected Ana Amarante-Craig, Esquire, the first Hispanic/Latino President of the 70-year-old non-profit.
The “super volunteer” in the community pointed to her parents for inspiration.
Amarante-Craig came from very humble beginnings. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico and her parents were from the Dominican Republic.
“My father was a doctor of the people,” she said. “He never said ‘no’ to anybody who came to the clinic.
“You were going to be seen whether you had coverage or not and my mother never said ‘no’ to the community.”
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WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Food Bank was awarded $50,000 in state funding to continue to fight hunger and increase access to healthy, nutritious food in our community, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
The funding comes through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
“The Chester County Food Bank and its network of hunger relief partners distribute millions of pounds of food each year to families and residents in need,” state Senator Carolyn Comitta said. “This investment will help ensure that its staff and volunteers can expand their efforts to address food insecurity and ensure everyone in our community has access to nutrition they need to thrive.”
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Harrisburg, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced awards of more than $2.07 million to 57 food banks, pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens across Pennsylvania through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grants. Today's grants demonstrate the Shapiro Administration's commitment to fighting hunger and food insecurity and increasing access to healthy food for Pennsylvanians, wherever they live.
"Pennsylvania enjoys an incredible bounty of natural resources and generous communities willing to help feed those in need," Secretary Redding said. "Expanding the capacity of community organizations to supply fresh, healthy food to families in need is a key element of Shapiro Administration's strategy to invest in a healthier, more secure Pennsylvania."
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KENNETT SQUARE, PA — State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, has announced a free Drive-Thru Shred Event scheduled for Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Unionville High School in Kennett Square. This timely initiative offers residents of the 158th Legislative District a secure method to dispose of sensitive documents, highlighting a proactive approach to data protection and recycling.
The prevalence of identity theft has escalated in recent years, with millions of Americans falling victim annually. The Drive-Thru Shred Event directly addresses this concern by providing a community-based solution that not only ensures the secure destruction of personal information but also advocates for the recycling of paper materials. “I am happy to provide a safe and secure way to dispose of sensitive documents and personal information while also promoting sustainability by recycling paper materials,” said Rep. Sappey, underscoring the dual benefits of the event.
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In June, I will have the pleasure of walking my daughter Kayleigh down the aisle and giving her in marriage to a young man named Jack that she began dating in their early days at Kennett High School. Jack will have just completed a history teaching degree and Kayleigh will soon follow with a degree in theology.
It has been satisfying to watch them as they puzzle through what the future will look like. He is interviewing for jobs in Nashville, and she’ll continue to pursue education in the years ahead. At some point, we hope that kids will enter the picture and perhaps they will find their way back to the area to be closer to family. As much as I would love to welcome them back to Kennett, they have their eyes on Lancaster, where housing options are much more affordable and plentiful.
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There has been a lot of talk about affordable housing (re: “Make Housing More Affordable in Kennett Borough,” that was written by Luke Zubrod and published in the April 24 edition of the Chester County Press).
When I hear solutions offered by non-profits with a record of returns on investment, I listen eagerly. When I hear solutions offered by for-profit businesses, I listen more critically, especially for Trojan Horses. These are solutions that might look great at first glance but that, if unwittingly adopted, wreak havoc once inside our neighborhoods. Consider Zubrod’s push for relaxing regulations limiting Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the Borough of Kennett Square. How do you assure quality in ADUs squeezed above garages scattered across the borough with a hodge podge of landlords?
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), elected Ana Amarante-Craig, Esquire, President of the 70-year-old organization. This is significant because this marks the first Hispanic/Latino person to lead the organization.
Ana is a Partner and Trial Attorney at the law firm of HGSK, P.C. In Chester County, she has served as a longstanding volunteer of LCH Health and Community Services and is part of their Mission Advancement Committee. She also volunteers in the counties of Philadelphia and Berks. In 2023, she was selected by Governor Shapiro to represent Chester County for a two-year term as part of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. Within that Commission, she co-chairs the Leadership Development Committee. Most recently, she was selected as the 2024 Chester County Bar Association Community Service Award Recipient.
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KENNETT SQUARE, PA — As it gears up for its 25th season, the Kennett Square Farmers Market (KSQ) is looking stronger and more vibrant than ever. This perennial community institution continues to nurture locals through growth, connection, and a shared sense of belonging much like the fertile ground that gives birth to the bountiful produce the community loves and cherishes.
From its new location outside Borough Hall, it promises the freshest produce, handcrafted goods, and unique finds from the area’s best farmers and artisans. If the location rings a bell, it’s because 600 S. Broad has been the home of Kennett’s popular events like the Kennett Brewfest, Winterfest, and Clover Market.
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KENNETT SQUARE, PA — It’s time for women to put themselves first and prioritize their wellness. Co-founder Sarah Nurry succinctly captures the essence of the upcoming EmpowHer Women’s Wellness Retreat set to take place on April 28 at the luminous Kennett Library, situated in the heart of Kennett Square.
The EmpowHer event, described by co-founder Kara Gibbons as “a truly transformative sisterhood,” is more than just a retreat. It is an invitation for women to engage with their wellness while forming lasting insights, and embracing a collective energy of love and support.
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The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors approved two motions at their March 6 meeting related to the Kennett Area Community Service’s (KACS) planned new facility on West Cypress Street in Kennett Square Borough.
The first motion grants approval of the development plan for the agency’s proposed one-story, 29,527-square-foot building, 14,135-square feet of which will be used for professional offices and 10,392 square feet that will be designated as a food cupboard. Each project will be completed in phases, and an additional 5,000 square feet is being proposed to be constructed at a late date.
The total 5.61-acre site – located in both Kennett and New Garden townships -- will also include parking area improvements, as well as public water and sewer service. Access to the proposed property will be from two entrances on West Cypress Street, with one in New Garden and the other in Kennett.
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The more than 100 residents, elected officials and local stakeholders who attended the Kennett Area Community Service’s (KACS) annual meeting on Jan. 31 received a rolling wave of encouraging news about the agency’s progress from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 31, 2023, a period that was highlighted by the success of its empowerment programs and a 45 percent increase in revenues from individual, business, faith-based and sponsorship donations.
The event, which was held at the Kennett Borough Building, provided a summary of KACS outreach and impact that saw the agency provide services for 2,102 households (6,1010 individuals) and generate a value of $2.4 million throughout 22 municipalities in southern Chester County, including a high of $432,618 to New Garden Township alone.
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KENNETT SQUARE — The Red Cross is helping meet the basic needs of approximately 55 residents displaced by Tuesday’s blaze, at Spruce Apartments, located at 131 S. Union St.
The Red Cross set up a shelter at the Kennett High School. The school was closed to house residents from the three-story multifamily apartment building, which had 12 units.
The shelter opened at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13. As of 7 a.m., there were 34 people housed. Fortunately, the Red Cross was able to close the shelter at 7 p.m. that same day thanks to the generosity of Kennett Area Community Services (KACS), which transitioned the families into hotel rooms for one week (or more if needed). KACS is also working with the families who can’t return to their homes with help finding new housing.
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KENNETT SQUARE — Approximately 55 residents were displaced Tuesday morning by an electrical fire at Spruce Apartments, 131 S. Union Street.
The Red Cross set up a shelter at the Kennett High School to assist residents. The school was closed Wednesday to house residents from the three-story multi-family apartment building with 12 units.
No injuries were reported. The fire was declared under control at 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday and all units were cleared by 5:27 a.m. on Wednesday.
All streets have been reopened.
Community partners are working diligently to secure temporary housing for displaced residents.
Fire Companies responding: Kennett Fire Company; Longwood Fire Company; Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company; Avondale Fire Company; and West Grove Fire Company.
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WEST CHESTER – For many, the holiday season is a time for sharing meals, gifts and quality time with family and friends. At the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, it is also a time to share with neighbors in need.
“It can be stressful for many families to navigate the cost of living amidst the festivities at this time of year,” explains Laura Mackiewicz, Director of Volunteer Engagement for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine. “At the Y, we want to be part of the solution, enabling our community to come together in acts of giving this season.”
YMCA Members are uniting across the association as sponsors for the Thanksgiving Baskets and Holiday Angels programs, which provide meal kits or holiday gifts to more than 1,700 children and their families. In addition, youth enrolled in the YMCA’s Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) programs collected shelf stable foods to support community members experiencing hunger and homelessness in Chester County.
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Waived two requested subdivision and land development ordinances and one stormwater ordinance related to the proposed construction of the new, 29,527-square-foot building along West Cypress Street in Kennett Square, that will be known as the new Food Distribution and Emergency Assistance Center for Kennett Area Community Service (KACS). As referenced in an Oct. 19 review letter submitted by AECOM that analyzed the land development plan for the project, the township is requesting a waiver to allow that plan to be submitted in its final form, and to address all issues related to stormwater in the Oct. 19 letter.
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On Thursday, November 9th, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) accepted the donation of its first home to be used as affordable housing. KACS received the designation of Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) from Chester County this May. After that announcement, an anonymous donor came forward and offered a property for KACS’s new housing initiative.
KACS is developing a systemic approach to providing homes that treat housing not as a commodity but as a human right. Across Chester County and beyond, the rising cost of renting and buying a home has placed tremendous burdens on our neighbors in communities throughout the region. KACS hopes to be part of a collaboration across the region, seeking a unified vision, goals, and set of strategies to better rise to this challenge.
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Chester County Commissioners, represented by Commissioner Josh Maxwell, in partnership with the Allies for Housing in Chester County, hosted a legislative gathering this week at the Chester County Government Services Center. The goals of the gathering were to hear examples of lived housing experiences and to explore ways legislators and community groups can work together to ensure affordable, equitable, and accessible housing is available to all residents of Chester County.
The legislative gathering served as a follow up to a similar gathering held one year ago. This year’s event featured a historical perspective offered by Cheryl Miles of Kennett Area Community Services, and elected officials’ responses to the housing crisis from West Chester Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste and Conor Johnston, Constituent Advocate from the office of US State Representative Chrissy Houlahan.
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WEST CHESTER — Kennett Area Community Service’s (KACS) plans to build a new, larger facility to house its food cupboard, emergency assistance, and other programs recently got a major boost thanks to $100,000 in state funding secured by state Senators Carolyn Comitta and John Kane.
Comitta and Kane worked together to secure the grant funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, to support architectural and engineering costs related to the non-profit organization’s new building project.
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Philadelphia native Cheryl Miles is the Community Housing Development Director at Kennett Area Community Service, a nonprofit committed to serving families and all individuals in the fight against hunger and homelessness in the Kennett area. Miles, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from West Chester University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, credits her colleague and friend, Matrie Johnson, with having the biggest impact on her career.
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Kennett Township supervisors granted conditional use approval for Kennett Area Community Services to build a new facility.
“It gives this small nonprofit, after 70 years in this community, a permanent home,” said KACS Executive Director Leah Reynolds.
The new building, located along West Cypress Street in both Kennett and New Garden townships, would be 29,257 square feet and would allow KACS to become a food distribution hub, offer showers and laundry facilities to homeless families, create offices that partner agencies can use for free, and more, Reynolds said at Wednesday’s Kennett Township supervisors’ meeting, during which a conditional use hearing was held.
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Inflation is taking a bite out of everyone's budget but according to KACS, the Kennett Area Community Center, increased costs are forcing some people to make tough choices: “Do I buy food or medicine? Pay this month’s rent or utilities?” And even KACS needs help.
According to a press release, an increasing number of Chester County residents are looking for help with food, utilities, rent, and mortgage, and some are homeless or imminently homeless. From May 2022 to May 2023, the service organization reports their numbers almost doubled — from 494 households to 935 — coming to KACS Food Cupboard for help. Of those 935 households, 52 are first-timers needing assistance.
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Food, housing, and other essential, life-sustaining necessities are expenses that many of our neighbors are unable to balance – forcing them to answer questions like “Do I buy food or medicine? Pay this month’s rent or utilities?” KACS programs, especially KACS Food Cupboard, are experiencing a significant increase in cases – many more residents are coming to KACS for assistance with food, utilities, rent, and mortgage, and some are homeless or imminently homeless.
In May 2023, the KACS Food Cupboard (a.k.a. Kennett Food Cupboard) provided food to 935 households – a 189% increase from May 2022. Of these 935 households, 52 households came to KACS Food Cupboard for the first time.
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Diversified, LLC, a Wilmington-based financial planning firm, hosted a charity golf event to benefit Kennett Area Community Services (KACS) on May 22nd at DuPont Country Club. KACS serves the Kennett area by providing food and housing. With the help of generous sponsors and attendees, Diversified has raised over $32,000 for KACS.
Diversified is managed and co-owned by CCO David Levy and President Andrew Rosen. “We’re proud to partner with a charity like KACS that benefits so many people in our local community.” said Andrew. “This will be a fun event for our community, and it supports a wonderful cause, so we’re excited to see everyone there.”
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Program aims to create long-term solutions to the affordable housing shortage.
KACS is thrilled to welcome Cheryl Miles, a seasoned social worker, community champion, and advocate for racial and social justice to our leadership team as our first Community Housing Development Director. Cheryl will lead KACS efforts in creating and implementing activities associated with the NEW KACS Housing Initiative.
Miles began her professional career as an Outreach Worker for the City of Philadelphia’s Homeless Program. Her knowledge, expertise, and experience in working with adults and families experiencing homelessness developed and mirrored the Nation’s evolution of understanding and addressing homelessness across the country. In doing so, she worked in direct care with street outreach, in emergency shelters, transitional housing, rehousing, Housing First, prevention, and diversion programs.
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds gave the supervisors a post-pandemic update on the organization that included its work in providing emergency housing assistance; crisis and case management services; its food cupboard; its association with several local agencies; and the workshops it provides.
The community’s need for food, Reynolds told the board, continues to be staggering. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, KACS Food Cupboard provided food to 4,119 individuals: 427 seniors, 2,350 adults and 1,342 children, who received over 616,002 pounds of food.
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Perhaps the dirtiest and ugliest secret in this county of wealth and prosperity is that for all of its wealth and prosperity, Chester County has buried the vast and deep pockets of its poor so far beneath the rich soil of its landscape that they have become an invisible population.
They exist on the periphery of our county’s brilliantly-designed concepts of progress – beneath all of its plans for the new century and every last blueprint that has been waxed poetic by elected officials, architects, builders and business leaders. They have been afforded little opportunity. They do not have a family that provides for their every need. They often live in the makeshift squalor of inadequate dwellings that are easily susceptible to flooding and neglect.
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Go ahead. Just imagine it.
The heater is broken, the rent is late, and the refrigerator is almost empty. And your next paycheck won’t be available for another three days.
Thankfully, somebody cares and is there to help.
The KACS food pantry in Kennett Square resembles a medium sized supermarket.
Kennett Area Community Service, or KACS, is there to help. KACS focuses on supplying basic human needs, such as food security, housing stability and a path forward to educate adults, in Southern Chester County.
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Kennett Area Community Services (KACS) focuses on basic human needs: food security, housing stability, and a path forward through educational workshops for adults in Southern Chester County. While the KACS Emergency Assistance Program has been extremely important to our community, we cannot only rely on short-term fixes to the systemic problem of housing instability.
KACS is poised to become a developer of affordable housing in Southern Chester County by gaining the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) designation. This designation empowers KACS to economically invest in residential properties in our service area that will become permanent, sustainable, affordable rental options for low-income families.
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Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU) partnered with the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating their newly-relocated Kennett Square Branch (in the Longwood section of East Marlborough) to 891 E. Baltimore Pike. An abundance of members, friends, and the community-at-large were onsite for the event.
As part of the celebration, FMFCU Foundation presented a check to Kennett Area Community Service in the amount of $2500. Leah Reynolds, Executive Director (KACS), was proud to accept the donation to further their work in the community, connecting neighbors in need with food, shelter, and a path forward.
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Jocelyn Pacitto and Janelle Benson of Kennett Square introduce their children to books provided by Arts Holding Hands and Hearts at a fair housing celebration on April 11 that invited 15 area agencies to provide housing-related information to guests. The event, held at the Mary D. Lang Elementary School and sponsored by Kennett Area Community Service and State Rep. Christina Sappey, recognized April as National Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act that prohibits housing discrimination.
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Leah’s pursuit of finding first light drew her to photography. Blending great pictures with powerful quotes is one of her gifts.
This week we make A Place in the Conversation for Leah Reynolds.
Leah returns to share her passion for photography and good literature. If you follow Leah on FB, you know she has a gift for blending powerful images with quotes that make you think.
In this episode, Leah shares how what drew her to photography and how bringing the two mediums together feeds her soul.
Caring for others comes naturally to Cheryl Miles. Devoted to bringing about lasting change, Cheryl has united the community around a number of important issues affecting marginalized groups in Chester County.
Cheryl is a social worker with over 30 years of experience advocating for some of society's most vulnerable populations. After earning her BSW from West Chester University and MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, she is now the Community Housing Development Director for KACS.
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“Some are taking off and some are landing,” to repeat an airplane analogy that Casa Guanajuato organization is using as they recruit the younger generation for their Executive Board. Gonzalo Cano is the newly elected President; Roberto Ayllon, Vice President, and Lenda Carrillo, Secretary.
President, Gonzalo Cano’s day job is serving as a case manager at Kennett Area Community Services (KACS. ) He reports that he experiences firsthand the mental health issues that arise when a new migrant arrives without knowing the English language or how to fit into the American culture.
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Kennett Area Community Services executive director Leah Reynolds joins Nick and Dan to share how KACS serves our community.
Leah shares the need within our community, the work of KACS, and how you can join in to help.
The truth is often the most bitter pill to get down.
When Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds spoke at the organization’s annual Empty Bowls fundraiser in February of 2020, she told the audience that 550 community households were using the services of the KACS Food Cupboard every month.
When Reynolds speaks to the audience who attends KACS’ 12th annual Empty Bowls event on Feb. 24, she will inform them that 550 has grown to 748 and shows very little signs that it will ever decrease.
Sharp against these alarming statistics and in the growing reality that reports a surge in homelessness in Chester County, the importance of the agency’s largest fundraiser is not lost on Reynolds.
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KENNETT SQUARE Many pastors in Chester County are demonstrating that they truly can work together across denominational lines to meet a dire community need. During this Lenten season, 11 congregations...
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On the evening of September 26, 2022, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) Executive Director Leah Reynolds met before the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors. She came with a seven-page power point presentation, telling statistics and a fair request.
The agency’s resume was thick with progress: In 2022, as southern Chester County’s only agency of its kind, KACS provided housing and crisis support, food and a path forward for 1,648 households and 4,601 individuals who live in the Oxford Area School District, the Avon Grove School District, the Kennett Consolidated School District and the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.
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NEW GARDEN — Folks across the region are rising up to help others this holiday season.
People, who can, may certainly help the homeless or those less fortunate with gifts for children, food and gas gift cards, said Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz.
“We should always remember our seniors too and support our local senior centers that offer so much within our communities for seniors year-round. Check in on your elderly relative or neighbor and make sure they are OK. Bring them a dish you make yourself. They will love you for it,” she said.
From New Garden to West Chester and elsewhere, people are donating toys for children whose families are struggling financially to make ends meet this December.
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WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chester County Bar Association, awarded $204,500 in grants to local non-profit organizations.
All grants will help support the foundation’s mission to help Chester County Citizens understand, gain access to, and benefit from our legal system by providing support for programs and services related to the law.
Chester County Bar Foundation President John Fiorillo and the Foundation’s Board carefully reviewed grant applications from dozens of local 501c3 organizations.
Fiorillo said, “due to the generosity of the Sponsors and Donors who have given to the Bar Foundation this year, we were able to support some great charitable initiatives.”
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KENNETT — November brings the return of a traditional season in holiday charitable giving across Chester County and around the nation.
For the second consecutive year, The Flats at Kennett is holding a food drive to support people struggling with hunger in the region. The donation will be made to the Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) to help support its local food pantry.
“Our goal is to collect more than a van full of items most in need for the KACS food pantry,” Kathryn Sylvia, The Flats at Kennett community manager.
“The Flats will be matching a certain percentage of the donations,” she added.
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The group, comprised of Chester County elected officials, representatives of community nonprofits, and local advocates met to hear testimony and a call to action. Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell, in partnership with several nonprofit community organizations, hosted a legislative gathering, at the West Chester University Graduate Center. The goal of the gathering was to share some of the voices heard during recently held housing focus groups, and to explore ways legislators and community groups can work together to ensure affordable and accessible housing is available to all residents of Chester County.
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By Richard L. Gaw —
It is as dramatic as it is barren, and it tells the absolute story of a local crisis without uttering a single word.
Up and down the shelves in the storage and shopping areas of the Kennett Food Cupboard at Kennett Area Community Services on West Cedar Street, the metallic steel rows are normally filled with the essential items needed by the families who use the agency’s services. Baby wipes. Diapers. Jelly. Fresh vegetables. Rice and beans. In the years before COVID-19, an average of 550 families used the Food Cupboard every month, and 90 percent of the food was donated.
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KENNETT SQUARE—Hundreds of underprivileged students will not go to school unprepared this year thanks to a Longwood Rotary Club book bag project. The bag and supplies are expected to save each parent about $70.
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AVONDALE — When the floodwaters of Tropical Storm Ida hit the borough, 86 people became displaced.
Advocates of civil and social service organizations attended the Borough Council meeting on August 19 to report to the council the human effects of the latest flooding in Avondale.
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1,400 pounds of food donated; over $16,000 raised
KENNETT SQUARE — When the remnants of Hurricane Ida blew through Chester County in early September, gratefully, the residents who live at Kendal~Crosslands Communities and the staff members who work there were safe and secure. However, quickly they realized their local neighbors were not and felt called to assist.
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Copious amounts of rain and wind from Hurricane Ida led to flooding and the displacement of 86 residents from Avondale Apartments in Southern Chester County. Some of the tenants experienced up to three feet of water in their first-floor units.
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Everyone knows that an organization is dependent on many roles and persons to carry out its mission. In most cases, Kennett Area Community Services would be the first to say that they are a small but mighty organization because of their hard-working staff, Board and many volunteers. They have regularly served 550 families with 900 children on a monthly basis with food items for a 7-10 day supply.
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Kennett Area Community Service (KACS) has been looking for a new home to continue to serve those in the community who need assistance in meeting their basic needs. KACS is a nonprofit organization based in Kennett Square Borough that operates a food cupboard and provides a variety of services to individuals and families in need. That search for a new, larger home has intensified in the last year as KACS has seen a significant increase in requests for assistance as families have navigated through the challenges of the pandemic.
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On Nov. 7, 2018, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors announced that the township had completed the purchase of the Spar Hill Farm, a 103-acre property at the confluence of Burnt Mill, Center Mill and Old Kennett roads.
At their online meeting on March 17, the board voted to donate one of those acres back, for the best of reasons.
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