DV Journal

From a press release

On Saturday, December 17th, 2022, Operation: Upper Darby Elves Collaborative Toy Drive brought joy in the form of over 600 donated toys to Upper Darby children from six Upper Darby schools – all from the vision of some very caring Upper Darby High School students.

Now in its second year, the Upper Darby Collaborative Toy Drive inspires high school seniors to bring happiness to elementary school students during the holiday season. The Upper Darby Arts and Education Service Club joined with the Upper Darby Collaborative to coordinate ‘caring for the little ones’ across the Upper Darby community.

The Upper Darby Arts & Education Service Club is a student-led club through partnership between the Foundation and the Upper Darby School District.  Since the beginning of this school year, the club’s more than 200 members have logged over 900 hours in collaboration with 13 local nonprofit organizations known as the Upper Darby Collaborative.

The Collaborative was created to unite Upper Darby nonprofits that serve its diverse populations. The UDAEF began this group so that nonprofits could coordinate services, avoid duplication of efforts, and provide meaningful conversation for the betterment of each other and our community.

“These are the Upper Darby High School kids that need to be on the news,” remarked Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation Director of Creative Educational Programs, Jennifer Schoener. “These amazing students put so much of their time into making their community a welcoming place for others. They are proud of their school and neighborhood and they are eager to work together to make more opportunities for others. This is the Upper Darby I want people to hear about!”

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From a press release

Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware and Chester) and Sen. John Kane (D-Delaware and Chester) presented a ceremonial check Tuesday representing a $2 million state grant secured through their support for the construction of a new Upper Chichester Library.

The funds come from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

“Obtaining funding for a new library has been one of the most important objectives during my first term in office,” Williams said.  “Through tenacity, the library team in Upper Chichester has been serving, mainly, the children of our community from a two-room storefront in a small shopping center.  This new funding will help them build a much-needed, state-of-the-art library.  I want to thank the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for awarding this very worthy project.”

The RCAP funds are dedicated to building the library’s new structure which will make the facility ADA compliant, add safe open spaces for all, community rooms for local organizations to use, and new technology to advance literacy and learning, and accommodate more computers.

In addition, the new one-story library building will contain three study rooms, a historical/archive room, a book sale room, children’s area, coffee shop and outdoor patio.

“Families of Upper Chichester deserve a library where their children can learn and grow. I am so thankful for the local businesses and private donors that have helped the Upper Chichester Library get to this point, and we will need them further to match this state funding before it may be used. I look forward to seeing this project become a reality after so much work by devoted community friends,” Williams said.