Whitehall-Coplay Communities That Care (CTC) held its monthly meeting in October at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, MacArthur Road, Whitehall. The majority of the meeting covered different strategies and priorities that have been in use for the past two years, as well as brainstorming ideas for potential new strategies in order to benefit the community and students in the Whitehall-Coplay School District.

One major accomplishment CTC is known for is starting Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative. The initiative’s goal is to decrease the amount of hunger in the area, including students of the district that are in need, by collecting and providing them food.

Denise Continenza, director of CTC, said, “We strive to do with, not for the community.”

Students in the district are encouraged to complete Pennsylvania Youth Surveys, which are the focus of these monthly meetings.

“We helped to bring down teen pregnancy in the area by using data that we collected and by working with the community,” Continenza said.

The meeting discussed different events that were held around the community to help raise money for the Hunger Initiative. Recently, CTC hosted a hayride that raised $114.24, with all of the earnings going to the Hunger Initiative, as well as a horse and carriage ride that raised $800 for the same cause.

CTC also helped to start a new life skills training program at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School for the sixth-grade health classes, with special recognition to Pete Bugbee and Rich Gierula for kicking it off. In association, two students from the high school who are part of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Club attended last month’s meeting and announced they raised $90 by selling baked goods.

At the meeting, Continenza mentioned the concept of “collective impact” because it mirrors the principles of CTC.

“Collective impact is based off of the concept that no one of us can do something alone,” Continenza said.

CTC discussed its main priorities, broken down into five categories, of things they have been doing for the community. One of the main priorities is to reduce hunger among families living within the community. Some of the ways in which this is accomplished are community dinners and gardening practices, as well as nutrition-linked cooking classes, a breakfast program held at the school and Snack Pack Pals.

A second major priority is to reduce alcohol and drug use by creating programs and practices for prevention and intervention plans. Some of these include PATHS (emotional and social skill building), HOPE (keeping parents aware of what their child is doing) and SFP (Strengthening Family Program for parents and their youth). Referring to the new life skills training program and SADD Club, these also play a major role in helping to prevent alcohol and drug use within the district. Some of the programs and practices, including HOPE and SFP, tie in with a third priority, which involves parents’ role in their child’s life.

A fourth priority the meeting focused on was expanding young people’s awareness of career and vocational opportunities. It is important students are aware of the Career Education Advisory Committee and that they take time to attend the career fair and mentoring/job shadowing practices in order to help guide them along to their next big step.

CTC continues to increase positive recognition of the youth within the community. Students were able to get involved and be recognized by the community through recent events held this fall.

With next year being right around the corner, CTC is planning its next major goal.

“We want to increase the press activity within the community in order for more people to hear about all the good that the students are doing for the community,” Continenza said.