Successful
Actions of Valley Grange - PA
Valley Grange, located south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has 102 members which has been fairly stable in the last five years. However, membership participation and community involvement has changed, according to Joyce Snyder.
“Three years ago we started having Longeberger Basket/Boyd’s Bear Bingo once a year. Our proceeds go to a different charity each year. We’ve given to ARMS, which is a Christian home for mentally challenged adults. It’s a place where parents know their adult children will be cared for after they pass away. Another year we gave to New Life for Girls, a Christian-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation home for women. Their children can live with the women while they are in de-tox. This year we donated our proceeds to Highmark’s Caring Place, where children, teens, and spouses can get grief counseling after a loss of a parent or spouse.”
In addition to supporting various community-based programs, Valley Grange also partners with organizations to offer programs. “We do a bicycle safety program in partnership with the American Trauma Society. We set up a bike safety course in our Grange Hall parking lot right after school lets out in June. . Our Grangers distribute flyers to all the area schools. Kids’ bikes are checked for fit and that all the ‘nuts and bolts’ are secure. It takes about 20 of us to help with the course, and then we serve free hot dogs and drinks to the kids. The American Trauma Society provides the course and the flyers. They also fit helmets and offer helmets for sale for $10. Our only cost is for the flyers and food. We like to get the fire company, sheriff’s department there, and if we can get them, we like to have our Life Lion Helicopter – a Medivac unit out of Hershey Medical Center – to land while the kids are there.”
We do clothing drives for local organizations to prevent use and abuse of drugs and alcohol. We collect cell phones that are then programmed to dial 911 only and are given to battered persons so they can get emergency help.
“This year we made up hurricane projects, creating health and clean-up kits. These included a bucket, mop, towels and that sort of thing – for the less devastating hurricanes. We coordinated our efforts with local charities who sent them to Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.”
“We adopt families at Christmas and throughout the year. We participate in highway clean-up.”
“We do a major fundraiser each year in partnership with Kiwanis and the State Dairy Association. We sell milkshakes at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show which runs for nine days. It’s the largest dairy show in the nation that is held under one roof. We have two different booths and we sell a lot of milkshakes, and make enough money to fund all our activities each year which the Dairy Association and Grange splits. It takes between 110-120 volunteers to staff our Milkshake Booths which are open from 8am till 9pm on all nine days of the Farm Show. It’s a lot of work – and also a lot of fun. We’ve been doing it for many, many years. After the Farm Show is over, we have an Appreciation Dinner for all the volunteers because they do work hard.”
“We meet twice a month – on the second and fourth Monday evenings. We use the more relaxed version of the Action Grange Opening Ceremony. Meetings usually last from one and a half to two hours. Average attendance is 26. We have informational, educational, and fun programs at the meetings. Many of the organizations we help have done programs for us.”
“Probably some of our members don’t attend meetings because of their age or because they are just too busy. Most of our members are probably between 45-55. But many of the younger members who don’t regularly attend meetings are very supportive at the Farm Show or if we do dinners. We send out a newsletter every month or two to let members know about upcoming programs and activities so even members who don’t get to meetings can stay informed.”
“We do own our Grange Hall. It’s 10-12 years old. It’s quite large with a large classroom/ballroom with a stage, one smaller classroom with a divider, and kitchen and our office. We rent it out, and provide it free for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and cheerleading teams that compete.”
To learn more about Valley Grange, visit their website at www.valleygrange.org. |
