Let's Help the YWCA's Literacy Program!

The past few months have flown by for Belle & Chloe!  The weather was beautiful this Spring and Summer and the girls enjoyed it!  Now, that it is getting cold again, we are back to one of our favorite indoor activities - cuddling up with a good book! 

Reading is one thing that anyone can enjoy and is a free way to escape for a bit.  I know that my library card has been getting used pretty hard the past few weeks, along with my Kindle.  Unfortunately, there are people that cannot partake in this pastime, as they were never taught how to read. 

Fortunately there are programs such as Pottstown YWCA Employment & Literacy Services Program that focus on providing these individuals with the tools they need to learn to read.  Learning how to read opens up doors that these people didn't know existed.  For example, learning how to read can give a person the motivation they need to further educate themselves and graduate from high school or college and earn more money. 

Here is a summary of the program for the YWCA's site:  The YWCA Employment & Literacy Services Program provides education and training to assist individuals in achieving self-sufficiency educationally and economically at no cost. Illiteracy, lack of educational achievement (high school diploma/GED) and lack of employment experience are significant barriers to gainful employment, economic security and advancement, and self-sufficiency. Educational programming (literacy and job readiness training) empowers adults with the knowledge and skills to advance their educational and economic status.

So, how can YOU help?  It's simple:  provide your name and email address here


An annoymous donor has agreed to donate $1 for every name and email address that the Pottstown Mercury's bloggers are able to collect, so this costs you absolutely NOTHING!   This is truly a selfless act and Belle and Chloe appreciate your help! 

Thank you again for your assistance!  Belle and Chloe will be back with more adventures soon!

WOW! You HAVE to Read About the Latest Donations

Today we took Chloe to Patt Veterinary and were amazed at all of the food in the boxes.  There were 2 bottles of laundry detergent and 33 food items! 

Our next stop was to Pet Valu, which had 1 bottle of laundry detergent and 6 pet items. 

Chloe's favorite stop was Joe Paw's Bakery, as she got to visit with Barkley.  Joe Paws gets 4 paws up from both Chloe and Belle, as they had 77 human items and 8 pet items.  We were amazed at how much food was dropped off since we were there last!

Since the back of our Jeep was full, we dropped off the above items to the Boyertown Multi Service Center.  They were really appreciative, as laundry detergent is much needed. 

Now that we had an empty trunk, we had to fill it up again! 

First stop: Boneyard Joe's.  Jen and Eric have been amazing with their efforts to help us fill the Media Lab, as they offer a discount to customers who donate items.  Today they had 5 human food items and 5 bags of pet food.  However, the best part of picking up here is that it gives me and the hubby an excuse to order from  there.  Boneyard Joe's food is soooooo good and so inexpensive that we cannot resist!  Belle and Chloe double dog dare you to drop an item off there and not order food...because it simply cannot be done!  The food is that good and the people are pretty awesome, too. 

Our last stop today was to Pottstown Roller Mills and we were shocked at how much food they have collected.  There were 92 human items, 22 pet items and 6 bottles of much needed laundry detergent. 

Thanks to the Community's generosity, we have another full trunk of items to donate to the Pottstown Cluster in the morning!  PLEASE keep the donations coming!  There are so many people and their pets that need help and would appreciate any donation you make, no matter how large or small! 

Update on Chloe

Chloe made it through her spaying like a rock star.  Dr. Singh at Patt Veterinary said she did really well and her vet tech, Rachel, said she was a good girl in her crate until we came to pick her up.  She had the surgery on Thursday and was back to normal on Friday, except for wanting to scratch and lick her stitches.  So far, the cone of shame is only needed at bedtime and when we are not near her.  She is doing a good job of listening when we tell her to leave her stitches alone.  Belle is being a good big sister and not being too rough with her!  I cannot wait until these 10 days are over with and we can go back to the dog park, though! 

Boneyard Joe's Continues to Amaze Belle and Chloe and a New Location to Drop Items Off At!

Eric and Jen, the owners of Boneyard Joe's in Pottstown, contacted me thru this blog when they heard about our Fill the Media Lab food drive because they wanted to help.  When I called Eric, he was enthusiastic and thanked me for letting them be a part of this.  No, Eric, thank YOU for helping!  As the collection efforts have continued, Eric and Jen have been offering discounts to customers for donating items at their location.  As if this wasn't enough, they also asked Clothes to Home to become a collection site for the drive and are offering customers discounts if they come in with a business card to show they were at Clothes to Home to donate items.  In my opinion, these acts of kindness could not be topped, but then Eric and Jen managed to top themselves by donating enough bulk food items for 150 people to enjoy a spaghetti dinner and also some bulk condensed soup that should feed around the same amount of people.  If you read this and happen to stop in to Boneyard Joe's to donate an item (to get the 10% off, say Charlie sent ya!), please thank Eric and Jen for their kindness. 

As I mentioned, Clothes to Home in Bechtelsville is now a dropoff location for our Fill the Media Lab food drive.  You can drop off human or pet food or laundry detergent there.  Their address is:  822B Route 100 in Bechtelsville. It is the shopping center with Dunkin' Donuts and Subway.  I have heard really good things about this business from friends, so drop off some of your dirty clothes while you are there!  Their hours are:

Monday - Friday:  8:30 am  to 6:30 pm
Saturday:  8:30 am to 3pm

As always, thank you so much for your support, as we try to reach 20,000 items to help area Pantries!

Wow! The donations keep coming!

When I dropped Chloe off for her surgery on Thursday morning, I was amazed to see that Patt Veterinary Hospital's boxes were getting full again!  There were 20 cans of much needed cat food,  6 bottles of laundry detergent and 23 food items!  The Boyertown Multi Service Center was very happy to receive all of the items, especially the laundry detergent, as there is a great need for it.  Please consider donating some next time you are in the area.

After Patt, I stopped by Pet Valu and continue to be amazed at the kindness being shown to our furry friends.  There was one extra large bag of dog food, 50 bags of cat and dog treats (including Pill Pockets for sick dogs that need to take medicine!), 4 big bags of dog food and 1 bottle of laundry detergent.  The Pottstown Cluster was really happy for the animal donations, as they are in desperate need of cat food. 

Please continue to donate whatever you can whenever you can, as both people and animals are in need of food.  Belle and Chloe thank you for your support! 

Here are some pictures of the food collected!

Wish Chloe Good Luck!

Chloe goes in to be spayed tomorrow morning, so please wish her luck by commenting on this status!  In preparation for 10 days of limited activity, we went to the dog park in Birdsboro a few times over the past week.  Here are some pictures for you to enjoy from March 8th! 

The Customers of Boneyard Joe's Come Thru Again!

After dropping off the 125 pounds of food, plus other items that were donated by one of Boneyard Joe's customers to the Pottstown Cluster, I was notified by the owner that another customer made a huge donation due to her couponing skills.  Belle and Chloe give Brianna Hagner four paws up for donating much needed baby food and other items to our Fill the Media Lab drive. 

This pickup at Boneyard Joe's included: 1 bag of cat food, 23 food items, 98 baby food items and 18 toiletries.  I am blown away by the kindness of Boneyard Joe's customers.  Please keep the donations coming to all of Belle and Chloe's donation locations! 

While you are purchasing items to donate, PLEASE consider buying some cat food, as the Pottstown Cluster really needs it.  Even if you donate one can of food, it will help!  Belle and Chloe want there to be happy and healthy cats around town to chase!  :)

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Fill the Media Lab drive!  Here are pictures of the pickup from Boneyard Joe's!