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| Agency Mission and CAP Promise |
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The agency's mission is to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency.
CAP Promise: Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
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| Contact Information |
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Rivers Edge Campus
(Headquarters)
110 Cohansey Street
Bridgeton, NJ
08302
(856) 451-6330
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The name Gateway Community Action Partnership reflects our expanded coverage area, but more importantly, it signifies what we are all about. We are a gateway to success for individuals and families in our community and we achieve those results through actions done in partnership within that very community we serve. So please take a minute to read our newsletter and learn more about our successes and struggles as we serve a Gateway to Community Action in Partnership with others for everyone's benefit!
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Gateway Head Start Early Education Center Unveiling
Tops Activities Highlighting National CAP Month In May
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May is always a special month at Gateway Community Action Partnership because it is the National Community Action Program month. But May 2017 at Gateway will take on a special significance
Gateway Community Action Partnership's new Gateway Head Start Early Education Center, 1433 Bacharach Boulevard in Atlantic City, will be formally unveiled at a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony on May 23.
The $22 million, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly, green facility will serve more than 300 children and their families. The project is funded by Super Storm Sandy Relief Funds through the oversight of the Administration for Children and Families' Region II offices.
Following the ribbon cutting, there will be building tours and lunch. A community day is scheduled for noon at the new center.
"This is indeed a beacon of hope for Atlantic City. A shining example of overcoming adversity to do great things together." Albert B. Kelly, CCAP, President & CEO of Gateway, said.
"We are proud and pleased of this milestone. Of this wonderful new facility. To work with Region II, the city and other partners to provide quality, family-focused child care to residents that will also improve the entire community ... that is a dream come true," Kelly added.
While the unveiling of the new Head Start center in Atlantic City is a major accomplishment for Gateway, it is not the only event in May. Gateway is hosting a Community Needs Assessment Call to Action forum in the Lucian Conference Center on the Cumberland County College Campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 1. There are plans for two more in Gloucester and Salem County, as well. Gateway wants your voice to be heard in terms of community needs, partnerships, goals and strategies and what is working, what needs improving and what barriers exist as they relate to poverty in our region.
Gateway is also hosting its third annual Gateway Golf Classic on May 18 at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club. The event is well attended and proceeds support our programs that "improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency."
The events are all part of our agency's celebrating 30 years as a Community Action Agency. More events are planned, including our 30th Anniversary Gala at the Camden Adventure Aquarium on Nov. 9. More details about that will follow.
"The mission of Gateway Community Action Partnership is to improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency. This is not a slogan or a business model, it is our culture, the way we operate our agency and everyone has to buy in or no one succeeds," said Edward Bethea, Gateway's Executive Vice President and COO. "Simply put, Our Business is Improving Lives. We are celebrating 30 years of providing quality programs and opportunities throughout the South Jersey Region. We invite you to help us celebrate at any of the upcoming events planned."
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Gateway Head Start Thanks Volunteers At Luncheon
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Employee Spotlight: Lacreshia Ducre
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Maria, a program client, reached out to Gateway's Weatherization program in hope that the program would assist her in obtaining a new furnace. Finding herself without heat in the middle of winter, Maria prayed that Gateway would help in her time of need. Upon calling the Weatherization program, Maria was connected to Lacreshia Ducre. When Ducre spoke with Maria, Maria described their encounter as a "breath of fresh air." "Lacreshia was so nice, I felt like I knew her. From the first minute I spoke with her, I knew everything would be okay. I knew my heater would be fixed in no time," Maria stated. Maria hasn't always had good experiences dealing with social services agencies, so she was relieved to be treated with "compassion" by Lacreshia. "Lacreshia was not only professional, she actually cared. She made me feel like I was the only client that she was taking care of." Gateway CAP's Weatherization program assists qualified low- income households in weatherizing their homes. Through this program, Maria was able to receive a brand new furnace to help heat the home she shares with her young son.
Lacreshia Ducre works for Gateway as a HEA technician and as a Weatherization Intake Specialist. Lacreshia, who has been with the agency for 5 years,
enjoys her job with Gateway. "I have the pleasure of talking to people and helping them meet an immediate need. When a client comes to Gateway, we are usually their last resort. I try to treat my clients with the same respect I would want," Ducre states.
Grateful for the help received by Gateway, Maria decided Gateway's leadership team needed to know about her positive experience with the Weatherization program and Lacreshia. In an email written to Mr. Ed Bethea, Gateway's Executive VP/COO, Maria praised the work Lacreshia is doing for the agency. "I wanted to let Gateway know she went the extra mile for me and that she really cared," Maria said. Bethea replied to Maria by stating, "Gateway takes pride in the work we do and I am not surprised that Lacreshia was able to help you, providing a high level of service with dignity and care you deserve." Gateway's President & CEO Albert B. Kelly also thanked Lacreshia for a job well done.
Lacreshia was thankful for the kind words from both Mr. Kelly and Mr. Bethea stating: "Thank you all. I love what I do and the company I work for. I pray that Gateway will continue to be a Beacon of Light in our community."Ducre also added, "Ms. Maria is a jewel. She reminded me of why I work so hard for my clients."
Gateway is proud to have staff like Lacreshia who uphold our mission to "provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency." Thank you, Lacreshia!
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Penns Grove II Head Start Supports Autism Awareness In April
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Children and staff at the Penns Grove II Head Start center wear blue to support Autism Awareness Month in April.
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Mercer County Head Start Staff In-Service
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Mercer Head Start staff play Health Jeopardy at in-service.
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Mercer County Council For Young Children Earth Day Project
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The Mercer County Council for Young Children did an Earth Day science project.
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Hightstown Head Start Visits Planetarium
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Children from the Hightstown Head Start center visited the planetarium at the Trenton Museum and learned about the solar system.
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Hightstown Head Start Activities
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Children at Hightstown Head Start receive clothes donated by St. Paul's Lutheran Church in East Windsor for Easter festivities (top). Below, a parent meeting for the CAP (Child Assault Prevention program. A trainer visited to explain the program.
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Germantown/Lehigh Early Head Start In-Service
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Germantown/Lehigh Early Head Start topics for in-service were Mighty Minutes and Math Literacy.
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Ewing/Lawrence Head Start Gets Ready For Picture Day With Healthy Breakfast
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The children at Ewing/Lawrence Head Start had a nice breakfast before getting their pictures taken in their best outfits.
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Gateway's G-STEP Program Hosts Summer Youth Job Fair
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Gateway is addressing the challenge of finding summer employment for youth and helping to increase job readiness through its Gateway Summer Training and Employment Program (G-STEP). As part of this program, Gateway is hiring 40 youth this summer, working with businesses to hire youth and providing job readiness training.
Gateway held a job fair in Bridgeton on Thursday, April 27. Among the employers present were: Sheppard Farms, Seabrook House, Cumberland County Improvement Authority and various Gateway CAP programs.
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GB FSC Walk For Awareness: Speaking Out Against Child Abuse & Neglect
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The Greater Bridgeton Family Success Center hosted its annual Walk for Awareness- Speaking out against Child Abuse & Neglect event at the Alms Center in Bridgeton. The event included a guest speaker,
Mary Hadley, from TVC Stronger Families. Ashlee Todd, Site Director of Gateway's Greater Bridgeton Family Success Center, also spoke at the event.
Families who participated in the event placed blue pin wheels in the ground to symbolize child abuse prevention. Resource tables were available for families to receive information about prevention services available in Cumberland County. Programs in attendance included: Live Healthy Cumberland County, Bridgeton Public Schools, Glory Tabernacle Childcare and Learning Center, Cumberland County Prosecutors Office, Center for Family Services, Greater Bridgeton Family Success center and TVC Stronger Families. Families also participated in the event by walking around the halls of the Alms Center. Food and prizes were given away. The event is hosted by the Family Success Center every April to observe Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month. |
Hamilton I Head Start Filled With Activities
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Hamilton I Head Start had many activities in April. Included and pictured above were: Planting activities provided by the Mercer County Council For Young Children, dental presentation with collaboration of Hamilton Dental Associates, Early Mercer Reads Event, and a Fatherhood Initiative activity.
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A Warm Welcome To Gateway Community Action Partnership's Newest Employees
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Welcome To Gateway CAP's New Hires!
Kiairrah Moore, Head Start
Iris Rodriguez, Head Start
Katherine Smith, Gloucester County Council for Young Children
Martha Arellano, Head Start
Yahnik Hunter, Head Start
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Support Gateway CAP By Shopping At AmazonSmile
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| You can support Gateway's mission "to provide services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency" while shopping at Amazon's "AmazonSmile" during this holiday season or any time of year. Please click on the link below the next time you shop. More information about the program follows the link. Thank you. Click Here To Donate To Gateway Through AmazonSmile!
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Gateway Community Action Partnership every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Gateway.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply click on the link above or go to
smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to
smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?
Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
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A
round Gateway Community Action Partnership ... News and Notes
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Children from the Cheryl Chadwick Early Learning Center parade through Gateway's administrative office in Bridgeton in celebration of the Week of the Young Child.
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__________________________________________________________________________
Internet Essentials
, a program offered by Comcast, gives income-eligible families access to the Internet for $9.95 a month with no activation fee, equipment fees or price increases. Having the Internet enables children to do homework, type reports or do research and enables the parents to e-mail teachers as well as look for jobs, pay bills or find doctors.
Gateway Community Action Partnership is working with Comcast to inform families of the program. Internet Essentials is available to households that have children eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program or if they receive HUD housing assistance. They must reside in a Comcast service area and must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet in the last 90 days or have overdue Comcast bills. Also, low-cost computers are being offered for $149.99 and free training is accessible if needed. To get more information or to sign up, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. ... Gateway operates the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic and Salem counties. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, lactation support, immunization education and health care referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5. Gateway WIC serves more than 23,000 clients annually through flexible hours through its eight (8) offices and a full-service, health screening mobile office. WIC is an equal opportunity program. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap, write immediately to: USDA, Director-Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250 - 9410. For additional information on the Gateway WIC program or nearest office location and hours of operation, call the Gateway WIC program at 856-451-5600 or 856-225-5050. ... Gateway's Head Start program is once again sponsoring the Child Care Food Program. This program is designed to provide meals to children receiving services in Head Start centers located throughout Atlantic, Cape May, Mercer, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. Meals are available at no separate charge to all children 12 and under enrolled in the Child Care Food Program and are served without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex.
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Sincerely,
Michael Cudemo
Gateway Community Action Partnership
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