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March 2023

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Hello,


Picture Berks Healthy is only a couple weeks away! This newsletter highlights the artwork created by students at 13th and Union Elementary School in Reading for the inaugural Picture Berks Healthy Art Contest. Please take the time to vote for your favorites!


Thanks for reading!

Picture Berks Healthy's Inaugural Art Contest

In the early planning stages for this year's Picture Berks Healthy, we decided to do a community art contest. After talking through a bunch of ideas, it seemed best to start small, with one group of children at one school. We reached out to 13th and Union Elementary School in Reading, which is not too far from our Rockland location. Marcie Fenstermacher, the art teacher there, was excited about the idea and incredibly helpful every step of the way.


Third and fourth grade students were invited to submit artwork with the theme "What a healthy and happy community looks like." All students who participated received a BCHC coloring book as well as swag donated by Alvernia University and Penn State Berks.


You can view the artwork by clicking the button below, and vote for your three favorites. Public voting will end on March 10 after which the Picture Berks Healthy committee and other celebrity judges, including some of our sponsors, will choose the winner from among the top vote-getters.

View the Entries in the Picture Berks Healthy Art Contest!

We are Grateful to our Picture Berks Healthy Sponsors!

Click Here to Get Your Ticket for Picture Berks Healthy!

Sponsorships Fund Workshops for Non-Profits

Picture Berks Healthy has always included an art component, recognizing that healthy lifestyles and communities are influenced by a variety of factors. Physical health, our specialty, is one of these factors. Creativity and imagination - art - is another. Art has many health benefits. For example, drawing and painting can lower your stress level and relax you.


With these health benefits in mind, we use a portion of the funds received through sponsorships at our Monet level to fund a glass-blowing workshop at the Goggleworks for other community organizations we partner with. This is a fantastic way to work with other local non-profits in building up the health and well-being of our community.


Power Kunkle Benefits Consulting sponsored a workshop for Dayspring Homes. Residents drew pictures and one picture was chosen to be brought to life as a work of glass. It was an enjoyable time for all who attended.

We are proud to work with business such as Power Kunkle (and all our sponsors) and other non-profits such as Dayspring Homes (and many more) to improve the health and well-being of the entire Berks community!

SPARKS Foundation Partners with Blankets of Hope to bring Science Kits to youth who visit Berks Community Health Center

This is from Berks Weekly, reporting on another exciting partnership BCHC is benefitting from:


"The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation has announced their partnership with Blankets of Hope and Berks Community Health Center. Thanks to a $1,000 donation by Berks County nonprofit Blankets of Hope, 100 STEM kits will be provided for youth who visit Berks Community Health Center.


“Science Explorers powered by The S.P.A.R.K.S Foundation is thrilled to be able to provide 100 STEM lessons for youth who are affiliated with Berks Community Health Center. Our mission at The S.P.A.R.K.S Foundation is to inspire young minds within our local communities through our award-winning, inquiry-based lessons,” said Alec Reinert, Director of Business Development & Operations at Science Explorers.


He added, “We are excited to continue collaborating with pillars of our community such as Blankets of Hope and Berks Community Health Center. We hope to continue this collaboration for years to come.”


Speaking to these pillars of our community, Marc Goldstein President & Founder of Blankets of Hope said this partnership was a no-brainer. “Blankets of Hope has always believed in collaborating with other organizations and in this case, it was a no-brainer to partner with two organizations we love to support to better serve the youth in our community.”


“Berks Community Health Center is so grateful for Blankets of Hope’s sponsorship for 100 STEM kits for our pediatric patients,” said Deborah Hartranft, Director of Development and Communications at Berks Community Health Center.

These kits will make a true impact on the youth of our community. “Our patients often come from low-income, disadvantaged homes and often do not have access to STEM activities outside of school. These kits are not only an educational tool for the children, they also provide a great activity for them to enjoy with their parents or caregivers” said Hartranft."


WFMZ also shared the story.

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Check out the latest "BCHC Presents" on bctv.

In this episode, Jeannie Stephen, CRNP; Dori Goulden, Registered Dietician, and host Debbie Hartranft discuss risk factors for heart disease and lifestyle changes to reduce your risk on Berks Community Health Center Presents.


Free Yoga Classes

Join us for free yoga classes on Thursdays at 6:30 at our Rockland location (Rockland Community Room - 1110 Rockland St. Reading, PA 19604). This is Yoga for all levels and includes stress reduction techniques. Participants must wear sneakers or bare feet and bring their own mat.



Class sizes are limited. To register, call BCHC Outreach at: 610-988-4838 ext. 4074.


Sponsorship for the program provided by UPMC. Additional funding provided by BCHC Employee Giving Program. 

Click Here to Make a Donation to BCHC

Thanks for reading!


May your day be healthy and happy,


Your friends at Berks Community Health Center

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BCHC Mission


To improve access and the health of our community through the delivery of coordinated comprehensive services for all residents of Berks County regardless of their economic status.


BCHC Vision


To have all residents of Reading and Berks County lead healthy lives through the delivery and coordination of affordable, comprehensive and culturally-sensitive patient- and family-centered healthcare.


BCHC Values


To achieve our mission and realize our vision, we embrace the following values:

  • Respect for People
  • Quality
  • Integrity
  • Community Focus


Board of Directors 2023

Jay Wagner, Chair

Susan Pichini, Vice Chair

James Spencer, Treasurer

Valerie West, Secretary

 

D. Michael Baxter, MD

Julia Becker

Margarita Caicedo

Meredieth Carrier

Denise Johnson

Nick Marmontello

Missy Orlando

Gary Rightmire

Mark Stone

Rosa Velez