March 2009 Archives

The Y.O.U.T.H. Program, Inc. was founded by Debbie Mancuso in 1987 and is located on a 10-acre farm in Felton, PA, which is known as "Shady Pines Farm". This program offers educational and recreational programs, as well as animal therapy. It was created to help familiarize youth with the textile arts and teach them how to run a agricultural business. Over the years they have held fundraisers, hosted picnics, Halloween parties and field trips. The program ran privately for seven years and in 2003 became a nonprofit organization.

Volunteers are needed to assist with art projects, animal recreational therapy and fundraisers. Volunteers get to help care, train and socialize animals!

To volunteer or schedule a tour for your class or organization, please call Deb Mancuso at 717-244-8353 or email: youthprograminc.hotmail.com. Shady Pines Farm is located at 12637 Mt. Olivet Rd, Felton, PA 17322. Check out their website: www.youthprograminc.org.

The Autism Society of America York Chapter announces that 4th Annual Autism Awareness Fair will be held on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The fair will be held at York Learning Center 300 7th Avenue, York, Pennsylvania (The Old Central High School Building).

Come join the ASA of York for a day of information and fun! If you or a loved one is affected by autism this event is designed with you in mind. Join hundreds of vendors, providers, professionals, and parents for information about autism and the available services in South Central Pennsylvania.

This fair will include information about autism services available in Central PA as well as a large vendor area with service providers, autism information, raffle items and autism related products. There will also be a HUGE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA with bounce houses, slides, obstacle course, and much more!! Staff will be available for a play area drop off so parents can browse the vendor area.

This year will include a new event, the ASA York's 2009 Talent Showcase. They are interested in hearing from artists, performers, experts and authors on the autism spectrum. If you or your child has a special talent (i.e. drawing, music, writing) or an area of interest that they wish to share, this is the place. Tables will be provided for displays, and presentations. Children and/or adults on the spectrum may participate at whatever level they are comfortable (staying at the table all day is not required unless preferred).

The following questions must be answered in order to insure participation in the Talent Showcase Area.

1. Artist/Performers Name:
2. Artist/Performers Age:
3. Parents Name (if above is under 18):
4. Phone number:
5. E-mail address:
6. What is the talent or artwork that will be showcased?
7. Are you planning to display a completed work or works? If so,
a. Will you be dropping your work off and allowing us to display it?
b. Or, will you be present to discuss your work?
c. How would you like your work to be displayed (on a table, hanging, etc.)?
8. Are you planning to perform in some way or share a special interest? If so,
a. How much time do you need?
b. What would you like us to provide for you (a table, an open area, etc.)?

Please provide responses to the above questions to Stacy Kunkel no later than March 20th. You may respond via e-mail to stacy.kunkel@comcast.net or mail to Autism York, c/o Stacy Kunkel, PO Box 20566, York PA, 17402. You will then be contacted regarding specific instructions and times. A complete listing of those 'showcasing their talents' will be published prior to the event. Contact Stacy at 764-5192 with any questions or concerns.

Source: Autism Society of America York, Pennsylvania

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Philadelphia Special Needs Kids Examiner

The United Way of York is sponsoring a donation drive for the Salvation Army of York County. They are in need of art and gym supplies that are needed for the Community Center's after-school program. Children are our future; let's help them be creative!
Free pizza and subs will be offered to all who donate. Food will be provided by Domino's Pizza and Subway.

The donation drive will be held at the United Way of York, 800 E. King St, York, PA 17403, in the community room on April 4, 2009 from 11am-1pm. For more information or to participate, please call Amanda Seiffert at 717-858-2159 or email her at ams682@psu.edu.

Donations needed are listed below:

Art Supplies:

• Construction Paper
• Gymp
• Paint
• Clay
• Glitter
• Markers
• Crayons
• Pipe Cleaners
• Craft Magnets
• Beads for Stringing
• Perler Beads

Gym Supplies:

• Basketballs
• Pool Sticks for Gaming tables

The AARP Tax-Aide program, which is coordinated by The York $ in Your Pocket Coalition and the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation for low-income families (income less than $42,000) and senior citizens age 60 and over. In 2008, over 2000 federal tax returns were prepared and $1.7 million in federal refunds.

The success of these programs is a direct result of the dedication of the volunteers. All volunteers are required to take tax training and pass an IRS certification exam each year. Since 2007 tax season, the United Way of York County has provided leadership for the VITA program. AARP Tax-Aide members provide the tax training for the coalition. York College, with support from their SIFE organization, has provided a majority of the VITA volunteers as well as the training facilities for the coalition. Other volunteers are community members, including some students from Penn State-York and HACC.

There has been a significant increase in the number of taxpayers requesting appointments to have their taxes prepared this year and most of the AARP Tax-Aide sites are completely booked through April 15. Each year the number of taxpayers in York County requesting the free tax preparation services increases.

We are in need of additional volunteers to answer phones, schedule appointments, greet taxpayers when they arrive at the sites, provide assistance to non-English speaking taxpayers and prepare tax returns. To find out how you can help with the program contact the Financial Stability Partnership at Lutheran Social Services: (717) 854-3971, ext. 453. We will begin training for the 2010 tax season in November.

Information provided by Paul Brubaker, an instructor/volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide group since 2002, and an instructor for the VITA program since 2006.

The AARP Tax-Aide program, which is coordinated by The York $ in Your Pocket Coalition and the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation for low-income families (income less than $42,000) and senior citizens age 60 and over. In 2008, over 2000 federal tax returns were prepared and $1.7 million in federal refunds.

The number of requests for this program has significantly increased and availability is very limited. As a result, a special one-day event, "Tax Blitz Day" will be offered from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on March 14, 2009. IRS certified tax preparers from both the AARP Tax-Aide and VITA programs will be available for "walk-ins" only. This event will be held at the York County School of Technology, 2179 S. Queen St. (Exit 16 off I-83) in York. For information, contact the Financial Stability Partnership at Lutheran Social Services: (717) 854-3971, ext. 453.

If you cannot attend "Tax Blitz Day" and you meet the qualifications for free tax preparation, please contact either the York Area Agency on Aging at 771-9042, or the United Way of York at 771-3813 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required for tax preparation.

Information provided by Paul Brubaker, an instructor/volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide group since 2002, and an instructor for the VITA program since 2006.