A Surprising Source For Your Home Projects As we start a new year (and new decade!), you may already be thinking about getting an early start on your spring house projects. One way to help stretch your budget dollars is to consider buying gently used or new items to help get your project completed. Did you know that we have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore (that’s the name t... »
BRINGING LIGHT TO THE DISADVANTAGED Light in the darkness. Since its founding in 1985, New Bethany has assisted more than 100,000 individuals in its role of providing opportunities for a secure future for the hungry, the homeless, and the mentally ill of the Lehigh Valley. And every December, many Lehigh Valley residents hear about New Bethany Ministries through “Luminari... »
Thanksgiving Day is just a few weeks away, and we’re all anticipating a table loaded with enough food to feed an army. This time of year, it’s important to recognize that thousands of people in the Lehigh Valley won’t have that kind of meal. Whether through age, infirmity, or economic situations, purchasing and cooking food for many presents challenges. Twelve hundred meal... »
Fire is an essential part of our lives. We use it for cooking, for heating, for industrial and scientific applications, for ambiance, even for many religious rites. But fire can easily become assertive and dangerous. Take the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In two days, it destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city at a cost of $222 million (about $4.6 billion today). That’s rough... »
Domestic violence often goes unnoticed, shrouded by pretenses at the surface level. The fact of the matter is that domestic violence is the number one killer of women worldwide. Does this staggering figure scare you? It should. “Globally, 6 women are killed every hour by someone they know,” says Heidi Markow of Beginning Over Foundation and TruthtotheMasses.com. “And last ... »
Modern medicine can do wonders for the chronically and seriously ill—providing radiation and chemotherapy for cancer patients, for example. But the powers of science don’t always address the internal stresses that often accompany major illnesses. That’s where St. Luke’s Healing Arts program comes in, says Kristen Ward, program coordinator. “Artistic activity helps ou... »
Because of its name, it’s easy to picture the Lehigh Conference of Churches (LCoC) as a solemn, deliberative body that concerns itself with deep theological concepts. But it’s much more than that, says executive director Dr. John “Jack” E. Felch Jr. “We are a Christian organization with an ecumenical mission,” he said. “So by definition, we work across all theological divi... »
SPOTLIGHT ON THE VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED Did you know volunteering brings physical and psychological benefits all around? The charities and beneficiaries enjoy the obvious philanthropic effects, but when you volunteer your time, you also benefit. Studies have shown that the volunteers feel many health and wellness benefits like lower b... »
Athletic pedigree hasn’t been a problem in the Arnold’s household in Coopersburg. Susan and Mike Arnold’s three daughters, Kristin, Katelyn, and Maddie—human progeny—were each first-team All-State and All-Colonial League field hockey stars at Southern Lehigh High. Between 2006-17 they collected five league, and seven District XI championships. Kristin, a three-sport athlet... »
This month, 14-year-old Ryan Baki will embark on an incredible adventure: Hiking to the peak of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world—the 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. But he isn’t doing it just for the experience; it’s the linchpin of his efforts to raise money for a global charity that benefits people in third-world countries. He arrived at this point... »
