Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Robert Csandl, Executive Director of the Veterans Sanctuary at Treatment Trends.

For our final donation of the 2012 holiday season through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program, First Generation has presented The Veterans Sanctuary at Treatment Trends in Allentown with a second $1,000 donation. The Veterans Sanctuary, a community based treatment center, opened in July 2011. It offers support and counseling for veterans suffering from drug and alcohol addictions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It also supports these veterans’ families while their loved ones are seeking help. They have 32 beds for the Veterans in need during their treatment.

As a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, local non-profits serving veterans are very close to our hearts. Here are some astounding facts about Veterans from the Case Statement on their website:

• PA has the fourth-largest Veteran population in the U.S.
• Over 5,500 Veterans will return from their tours with a substance abuse problem
• One in four homeless people in the U.S. are Veterans

Please help us in supporting those brave soldiers who are fighting for our country! For more information on Veterans Sanctuary, or to learn how you can help, please visit the links below.

Learn More about the Veterans Sanctuary at Treatment Trends

Become a Part of their Build A Brick Donation Program

Donate to the Treatment Trends Veterans Sanctuary

Volunteer at the Veterans Sanctuary by contacting Diana Heckman -
DianaHeckman@treatmenttrends.org

First Generation sends the warmest of holiday wishes to all of the amazing people in our local community who help to support those in need. Thank you for following us as we made our way through the 12 Weeks of Christmas!

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Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Pat DiLuzio Jr., Executive Director of Victory House of Lehigh Valley.

First Generation has proudly made a second $1,000 donation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program to Victory House of Lehigh Valley. Victory House, a homeless men’s shelter located in Bethlehem, PA, has helped over 3,500 men for more than 25 years. Their facility offers a 24-hour emergency shelter, transitional housing and supportive services to get both veteran and non-veteran men back on their feet. During their stay, these men take part in re-education programs and are required to give back to our community through community service.

Their website provides statistics on how they helped homeless men in the Lehigh Valley in 2010:

• 12,378 nights of shelter were provided for 98 homeless men
• 58 homeless men transitioned into independent housing
• 30,524 meals were served to 98 men
• 21% unemployed homeless men found jobs with 73% maintaining employment
• 98 homeless men received a health assessment and/or health care services
• 74 (86%) of the 86 homeless men identified as needing addictions services remained drug and alcohol free
• 98 homeless men were referred and received mental health services
• 98 homeless men received employment services and assistance

We urge you to donate your time and/or money to charities this holiday season. They are very important to our community and need our help! To learn how you can help Victory House, please visit the links below.

• Learn more about Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Donate to Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Volunteer at Victory House of Lehigh Valley
• Upcoming Victory House of Lehigh Valley Events

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

First Generation is honored to make a second donation of $1,000 to Keystone Wounded Warriors through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program. Keystone Wounded Warriors (KWW), an Eastern Pennsylvania non-profit organization, offers financial, physical and mental support to wounded veterans, specifically those wounded post-9/11. It is sometimes very difficult for wounded veterans to make the transition from military to civilian life, so the KWW is there to help. If you’d like to support KWW, you can do so through making donations, attending events or purchasing their apparel and gear.

For more information on Keystone Wounded Warriors, or to learn how you can help, please visit the links below.

• Learn more about Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Donate to Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Sponsor Keystone Wounded Warriors
• Like Keystone Wounded Warriors on Facebook

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to C Co. 228 BSB's SGT Tim Keefe (middle), FRG Liaison, and SSG Martin Mattix (right), FRG Liaison.

Today’s featured group, and the recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program, is The Family Readiness Group associated with Company C 228 BSB. The Family Readiness Group (FRG) is an organization of soldiers and their families, friends, loved ones, employers and community members.

This network of soldiers’ families and friends effectively gather information, resolve problems and maintain mutual support before, during and after deployment. They develop a telephone tree, sponsor new families in the group, and provide information to local military and civilian organizations. A deployment is trying on soldiers, but also very difficult on their loved ones. FRG’s hope is that each family member will stay connected and receive support from other families who are going through the same difficulties.

Company C 228 BSB is a local unit of the 228 Forward Support Battalion that will deploy in 2012. This medical unit has approximately 78 soldiers and will be touring in the Middle East for one year. During their tour, they will serve under the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and will provide medical support.

During this holiday season, please remember the heroes who are fighting for our freedom and the loved ones that they’ve left behind. To learn more, please visit the links below.

Learn more about the Family Readiness Group

Find a Family Readiness Group

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Linda Moller, Director, St. Luke's Hospice and Rev. Anne Huey, Spiritual and Bereavement Care Manager, St. Luke's Hospice.

Ryan’s Tree for Grieving Children is today’s featured organization in the  12 Weeks of Christmas program, and has been presented with a $1,000 donation from First Generation.

Ryan’s Tree for Grieving Children is a guided peer support group, founded by St. Luke’s Hospice, for children and adolescents grieving the loss of a family member or friend. This support group was founded upon the belief that “young people grieve in their own way.” During free support sessions, staff and trained volunteers encourage expressions of grief through discussion, art, music, writing, play and physical release activities.

According to the St. Luke’s website, Ryan’s Tree for Grieving Children offers:

• Support in a nurturing environment to promote healing of children and teens affected by death
• Non-judgmental and unconditional support to young people and their families
• Guidance and support to assist families in maintaining a positive home environment, identifying support systems and encouraging family communication

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Trout Unilmited Hokendauqua Project Chair Phil Hublitz (middle) and President Dale Stevenson (right).

First Generation was proud to donate $1,000 through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program to Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua Chapter #535 for their involvement in the national Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing organization. Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua was officially chartered in 1987 and focuses mainly on stream cleanup in Hokendauqua and surrounding streams in Northeast Lehigh and Northwest Northampton counties. Along with its involvement in Project Healing Waters since 2009, it also assists in local community, Eagle Scout and Girl Scout projects.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing was founded in 2005 and assists in the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. This project has been managed and organized locally since 2009 by Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua, Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, Veterans Associations and VA hospitals.

To learn how you can support our local disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through this project or become involved with Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua, please visit the links below.

Learn more about Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua

Read About Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua’s Projects

Like Trout Unlimited Hokendauqua on Facebook

Learn more about Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Join the Project Healing Waters Facebook Group

Follow Project Healing Waters on Twitter

Donate to Project Healing Waters

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to The Rev. Dr. Christine L. Nelson, Executive Director of Lehigh County Conference of Churches.

Today’s featured charitable organization, and the recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program, is Lehigh County Conference of Churches.

Lehigh County Conference of Churches, founded in 1954, is a group of churches that partner together to improve the lives of Lehigh County residents by providing clothing, housing and healing. According to their website, Lehigh County Conference of Churches annually:

• Serves over 60,000 meals
• Links 7,000 people in crisis to community resources
• Provides safe and supportive programs for over 500 people struggling with mental health issues
• Finds shelter for 2,200 people facing homelessness
• Assists 325 people with pharmaceutical needs
• Keeps 100 people from freezing in cold weather
• Promotes ecumenical endeavors
• Supplies ministry opportunities for over 3,000 volunteers

For more information on Lehigh County Conference of Churches and how you can help, please visit the links below.

Learn more about Lehigh County Conference of Churches

Donate to Lehigh County Conference of Churches

Volunteer with Lehigh County Conference of Churches

Like Lehigh County Conference of Churches on Facebook

Follow Lehigh County Conference of Churches on Twitter  

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

First Generation is honored to have presented a $1,000 donation to Operation Homefront Pennsylvania & Delaware through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program. Operation Homefront, founded in 2002 in Texas, is a national organization that provides emergency services and assistance for service members and wounded warriors.

For almost ten years, this organization has helped American military personnel and their families who have unmet needs due to financial hardships, death, injury, or physical or mental detriment directly related to their service in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. According to their website, Operation Homefront offers:

• Financial Assistance
• Emergency Food
• Emergency Home Repairs
• Critical Baby Items: formula, food and diapers
• Home and Appliance Repair
• Furniture and Household Items
• Local Moving Assistance
• Community Events Support
• Wounded Warrior Transitional Family Housing

For more information on Operation Homefront Pennsylvania & Delaware or to provide your support, please visit the links below.

Donate to Operation Homefront

Donate Diapers to Military Families in Need

Volunteer with Operation Homefront

Like Operation Homefront on Facebook

Follow Operation Homefront on Twitter 

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1,000 donation from First Generation to Joan Ross (left), member of Moms of Military of Lehigh Valley and JoAnn VanBilliard (middle), President of Moms of Military of Lehigh Valley.

Todays featured group and the recipient of a $1,000 donation from First Generation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program is The Moms of Military (MOMs) of Lehigh Valley. MOMs is a national prayer and support group for mothers and women related to anyone in the military. They offer prayer, support, and information for all military personnel and their families, and also share their stories and experiences.

The MOMs of Lehigh Valley meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 6:30 pm at Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church in Bethlehem. To learn more about them or to join, please visit the links below.

Learn More About the MOMs Organization

Find Your Local MOMs Chapter

Contact Your Local MOMs Chapter

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!

Robin Carmody presents a $1000 donation from First Generation to Cordelia Miller, Director of Emergency Services/Armed Forces Emergency Services for American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

First Generation is proud to have recently presented the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley with a $1,000 donation through the 12 Weeks of Christmas program. The American Red Cross is an international humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

This organization began in 1862 when Henry Dunant, a young Swiss businessman, wrote a book about his time on an Italian battlefield where 40,000 troops were killed or wounded and left without help. This book led to the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Geneva Conventions, international treaties to protect war victims. The ICRC was introduced to America by Clara Barton who learned about the organization during her visit to Europe after the Civil War. Upon her return, she founded the American Association of the Red Cross.

The American Red Cross has helped victims of 40,000 disasters per year. They also educate the community on lifesaving skills and collect more than 6 million units of blood per year. To read how the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley has helped our community, please visit their 2009 – 2010 Annual Report.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley needs our support. Please visit the links below to learn how you can help in their emergency services efforts.

Donate to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Volunteer for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Like the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on Facebook

Follow the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on Twitter

Join the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on Linkedin

Subscribe to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley on YouTube

Take a class from the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Shop the American Red Cross

Be sure to check back often to see who will be receiving the next donation from First Generation through The 12 Weeks of Christmas! Like First Generation on Facebook and follow @FirstGenCom on Twitter for more updates!