Fraternity-Testvériség, 2007 (85. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2007-07-01 / 3. szám
BRANCH 20 ACTIVITIES Submitted by: Deneice Oroszvary, Area Fraternal Coordinator and Branch Manager; Phone: 215-493-0656; email: omnitutor@gmail.com Join Hands Day Project location: Lower Makefield Township, Patterson Farm, Yardley, Pennsylvania: Hungarian Reformed Federation of America Branch 20 together with the Boy Scouts of America cleaned the historic house (original 1830 and 1870 for addition), which is located on the preserved farmland donated to the Township by the Patterson family. The Boy Scouts did the majority of planning for the project and everyone followed their plan. By cleaning the house, we were able to push the Township a couple of steps closer to its eventual goal of turning the house into a family house, where the family agrees to put a certain amount of money into maintenance and repair every year. It will also be open to the public on certain days each year. Some people just wanted to see what was going on and see the house they had heard about. They were friends and family of the groups and stayed to help. One of our adult volunteers is a member of the Historical Society and teaches history at Temple University. She was able to explain everything to the group as they moved around the house. Because we only covered 3/4 of our goal, finishing the attic, second and ground floors, another day is being planned to come back and do the basement. Since July, Branch 20 has been involved in Operation Christmas Child and Warm Up America. The 1000 tote bags that were started early in the year have mostly been passed out to other branches and groups for their OCC boxes. About 30 bags were sent to the school in San Cristobel, Dominican Republic, where the HRC Trenton Youth Group spent a week on a mission trip this August. Two Branch 20 members attended the HRFA-sponsored picnic in Garfield. Due to the suddenly cold weather, not as many people came as were expected and there was quite a bit of food left over. The extra gulyás and bread was given to Branch 20 so that we can hold a lunch which will be a fund raiser to earn money for Operation Christmas Child. The lunch will be held on the 18th of November, when we will begin wrapping the OCC boxes. A quilt furnished by Quilts for Kids, Inc., will be raffled. Half of the money must be returned to Quilts for Kids, Inc., whose mission is to provide one of a kind patchwork quilts to children in hospitals and homeless shelters. Since its inception in 2000, Q4K has sent out over 30,000 quilts to these children, as well as wheelchair bags, fabric-covered journals, and red, white and blue quilts to the families of the 9-11 victims. The last week in October, Deneice & Julius Oroszvary made a trip to Florida. In Ocala, we spent some time with people who were willing to help finish about 50 tote bags. One was enlisted to help with sewing on future projects, and all heard about Operation Christmas Child for the first time. We attended the first Hungarian Day in Sarasota, helping a little at the HRFA table. For a first try, it was a very successful day, with over 700 attendees who each paid $5 admission. The entertainment tent had a steady stream of speakers and entertainers all day. Pony rides and face painting kept the children happy. The food was plentiful, varied, and delicious. The leader of the Orlando Hungarian School had a table displaying traditional needlework. Thirty three tote bags were left with her to be used as a fund raiser for the school. Due to health issues and a generally busy fall for everyone, our Warm Up America rectangles were not turned in, but are being saved and added to for next year. Some complete afghans are also being crocheted. Our newest project was only announced in the church bulletin this morning. The school in San Cristobel we were helping, and the surrounding town, were very hard hit by the storm Noel, which struck without warning. Although the school building was safe, most of the furniture and supplies were lost. Many of the families lost everything. A shipping container the size of a tractor trailer truck has been donated to fill with things to get to Fraternity - Testvériség - Fall 2007 JOIN I.1M' DAY it starts with us America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies MAY 5, 2007 Page 17
