Archived Community Blog Posts
SERVPRO First Responder 5k
1/1/2016 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Hershey / Swatara is proud to sponsor the First Responder 5k event on Saturady Jun 11,2016 at HACC.
For more information on the race, including sign-up and sponsorship information - click here.
We will also be holding a blood drive at the event. To sign-up to donate blood, please click here.
SERVRPO of Hershey / Swatara provides water damage, fire damage, vandalism/& crime scene damage remediation as well as mold damage remediation in and around the Harrisburg area. If you find yourself affected by flood, fire or other tramatic form of property damage - call us at 717-561-1404 and we will repond quickly with aprofessionaly trained and certified team of hero's dedicated to helping you to recover..."like it never even happened" !!!!
Why Choose SERVPRO of Hershey/Swatara?
We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster
When water damage strikes, a fast response is critical. Day or night, Hershey residents and business owners can expect us to respond immediately to your water emergency.
Learn More
We’re Highly Trained Water Damage Specialists
As leaders in the water damage industry, we have advanced training and expertise, not to mention a tremendous amount of hands-on experience. We use this training and experience to quickly dry your home and restore it back to pre-water-damage condition. Our process includes documentation of the drying process to validate your property is dry. Learn about our water damage training and certificates.
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We Use Advanced Drying Equipment and Techniques
Properly restoring your home after a water damage event requires specialized equipment and products. This advanced equipment help us to remove the water, even hidden moisture, quickly and efficiently. We then dry the structure with powerful dehumidifiers. Finally, our technicians will clean the affected area with professional grade cleaning and sanitizing agents for your comfort and safety.
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SERVPRO of Hershey / Swatara First Responder 5k
6/15/2015 (Permalink)
Thanks to all of those who sponsored, participated and volunteered to make this a GREAT event !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8AYw3b5kZI
SERVPRO First Responder Golf Tournament Sept 18th 2015
5/8/2015 (Permalink)
2015 SERVPRO First Responders Golf TournamentSeptember 18, 2015 – Hershey Country Club
Benefits American Red Cross & Hershey Volunteer Fire Company
WWW.HERSHEYGOLFTOURNAMENT.COM
Tournament Sponsorship Opportunities:
Tournament Sponsor - $5,000
- Large Banner @ Golf Course
- 10 players w/Lunch, Dinner & Awards/Prizes
- Power Point Presentation running at registration, lunch & dinner
- Dinner Sponsor – Speaker/Presenter
- Inaugural Plaque to be kept at Country Club
Course Sponsor - $2,500
- 8 players w/Lunch, Dinner & Awards/Prizes
- Power Point Presentation running at registration & lunch
Players Sponsor - $1,500
- 4 players w/Lunch, Dinner & Awards/Prizes
- Power Point Presentation at registration
Gold Sponsor - $750
- 2 players w/Lunch, Dinner & Awards/Prizes
- Listing in Dinner Program
Silver Sponsor - $200
- Listing in Dinner Program
Individual Sponsor - $175
- Golf w/Lunch, Dinner & Awards/Prizes
For more information call 717-561-1404 or email SERVPROHersheyEvents@Gmail.com
SERVPRO First Responder 5k & 1K Fun Run
11/13/2014 (Permalink)
This is a 5k run and 1K fun/run walk – proceeds will benefit the Red Cross of Central Pa.
Entry fee is $25 and participants will receive a Moisture Wicking t-shirt.
Packet pick-up starts at 8:30am race morning. Awards to the top 3 male and female overall and top 1 in age groups.Registration Page: http://tinyurl.com/mncd5ye
The Stone Soup Library in Allison Hill
10/27/2014 (Permalink)
by Tara Leo Auchey and Andrea Fetchko
On the 1600 block of Catherine Street in South Allison Hill is a house in a row with other like houses. However, this one is set apart by a bookshelf on the porch filled with a variety of children’s paperbacks and hardbacks and a handwritten sign beside the door:
A book, I think, is very like
A little golden door that takes me into places
Where I’ve never been before.
It leads me into fairyland
Or countries strange and far
And, best of all, that golden door
It always stands ajar!
It’s the Stone Soup Library.
“Kids playing on the porch changed it all.”
It began in March 2013. Shelley and Jesse Blade stocked their front porch with children’s books for the kids who lived near them. Where they live is considered “a bad part of town.” While that reputation undermines the positive things that are there, the neighborhood is definitely not without its troubles. A shuttered school and overgrown lot scattered with trash across the street has been the scene of fights and misconduct. Disrepair, neglect, and sad stories are familiar to the block.
When the Blades moved here from the West Coast about a year ago, it didn’t take long for them to realize the good and the bad.
One of the good things they discovered was the City of Refuge Church. It was there they found assistance they needed to help get them on their feet in this new place. “The lines were long of people waiting. Mothers had their children with them, and they’re kids so they were bored and restless,” Shelley recounts. “So, I started taking my guitar and playing while we waited. The kids loved it.”
From there, the music moved to the porch of the Blades’ home. In the evenings, Shelley and Jesse would sit and sing and children would stop by and join in. Some played. Some curiously listened from afar, but over time, more and more came.
That’s how the Stone Soup Library was born.
The name of the library is inspired by the book “Stone Soup,” which is about a community pulling individual resources together to make something that can be shared by all.
How it works
The books are donated—books for children, teenaged and under—with no violence. They can be read there at the table on the porch or taken away. “These books are here for the children to have,” Shelley says.
It has grown a life of its own with word of mouth spreading to surrounding blocks.
“Guerrilla libraries,” Shelly calls it and says it can happen anywhere. “We’d love to see front porch libraries pop up all throughout South Allison Hill, throughout the city.”
The books are continually donated to maintain the stock.
At one point, children started showing up and asking for help with homework. Everyday after school, the kids can bring their homework and are welcome in the house to work on it with Shelley and Jesse.
The Blades want to show the children that “everything you need is there within your reach,” as long as they are willing to ask and go for it.
“This is a place filled with so much potential for hope”
It’s not about fixing the neighborhood. It’s about pulling resources together to make it a better place. The couple focuses on the physical condition of the neighborhood. They are determined to not let the neighborhood deteriorate any further. They have brought a revived energy and intention for the betterment of the community.
Shelly has noticed a change not just in the children but also in many of the adults who live on her block. “Even if the parents don’t like each other, they will come together around the children.” This project is bringing the community together.
Neighbors know one another’s names. Families up and down the block have become familiar and even friendly with one another. Children are making new friends and playing together. The street is clean and the block has become a fun, comfortable place to live.
All members of the community are encouraged to bring whatever skills they possess to help others. “If everyone brings a little something to the table, we will be able to make a big difference,” she says.
Just like the music lead to the library, which turned into homework assistance, more has evolved. Jesse hosts a repair shop for the teenagers in the neighborhood. Teens bring toys, bikes and other things that need repaired, and Jesse fixes them as well as teaches the youth to do repairs themselves. In return, the couple encourages the teens to clean up around the neighborhood and help those children who are younger and in need.
The main point they want to drive home is community service. They want to show that bringing a community together only takes a few determined citizens.
The proof of this is found on Catherine Street.
Red Cross Ready Program
10/14/2014 (Permalink)
Ready Rating Membership Benefits
As a member of the Ready Rating program you will receive the following benefits:
- Access to the online Ready Rating Assessment Center and the 123 Assessment, which can help you to evaluate your business, organization or school's level of preparedness
- Access to an information-rich Ready Rating Program Guide developed by American Red Cross preparedness experts
- Access to the American Red Cross Ready Rating member seal that can be used to publicly display your commitment to preparedness to your constituents
- Optional public recognition of your commitment to preparedness by choosing to be listed beside other like-minded organizations on this website in the Current Member Listing
- Customized feedback and recommendations for improvement based on your assessment scores
- Option to create an Organization Manager account that links the member accounts of multiple site/branches/locations/facilities, allowing for all of the 'child' accounts' assessments to be viewed by one 'parent' account. Learn more...
Want to learn more about how it works?
Ready to join?
$2,500 Donation to the Red Cross of the Central Pa
7/7/2014 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Hershey Owner Brad Morgan, Carol Ross
of the Red Cross of Central Pa and Takia Colston Crow of the Harrisburg Stampede
SERVPRO HERSHEY/SWATARA WINNER OF CORPORATE PARTNER CHALLENGE
AMERICAN RED CROSS RECIPIENT OF CORPORATE CHALLENGE DONATION
HARRISBURG, PA (JUN 19, 2014) – There have been many “First’s” for the Stampede this season, including their move to Giant Center, first season in the PIFL, first ever Teddy Bear Toss and now, the first-ever Corporate Partner Challenge. Front office members of the Herd created the challenge as a way for corporate partners and the Stampede to work in conjunction to benefit local non-profits.
The program consisted of using ticket sales as a point system. For each ticket sold, the partner would earn 1 point and the Stampede would donate $2 to the community organization of the partner’s choice. By the end of the season, the partner with the “most points” would receive a donation in the amount of $2,500 to benefit their chosen non-profit.
Takia Colston-Krow, Stampede VP of Marketing and Sales, announced today that SERVPRO of Hershey/Swatara was the winner of the 1st Annual Corporate Partner Challenge and the American Red Cross, the beneficiary, would receive a check in the amount of $2,500 at the Stampede’s home season finale this Saturday at Giant Center.
“This program was created as a way for our organization to work alongside our corporate partners to benefit a community organization of their choice” says Takia. “Our mission is to provide a positive social impact in the community, and what better way than engaging our partners and their employee bases to benefit our combined community.”
The Stampede will recognize the efforts of SERVPRO of Hershey/Swatara on field this Saturday as the Herd take on the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks in their home season finale. Kick off is 7pm from PinnacleHealth Field at Giant Center.
Harrisburg Stampede - Red Cross Fundraiser
5/7/2014 (Permalink)
Buy a ticket to the Harrisburg Stampede game on Sat May 17th and the Stampede will donate $5.00 of the ticket price to help fund the American Red Cross Volunteers who help familes deal with crisis in the Harrisburg area
To buy the tickest and contribute to the cause - click on this link and "run with the Herd !"
Congratulations to Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline !
4/4/2014 (Permalink)
We were very proud to present the 2013 Red Cross Firefighter Hero Award to Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline at the Red Cross Spirit of the Hero's event on March 27th. Chief Enterline was recognized for the service he provides to people after the fire is put out. He is working with Mayor Papenfuse (pictured on the right), HUD and the Red Cross to find a temporary housing solution for victims of fires who have nowhere else to go. Firefighters are Hero's by definition - but Chief Enterline was recognized for going above and beyond to help ease suffering and improve the face of city. Congratulations to Chief Enterline on this much deserved award and kudos to the Mayor's office for working together with other agencies and the Red Cross toward a mutual goal!
2014 Spirit of the Hero's - March 27th 6:30pm
1/16/2014 (Permalink)
Spirit of the Hero Award
Please join us in celebrating the efforts of the Red Cross Volunteers and the heroic actions of the Spirit of the Hero award recipients - ordinary people who performed extraordinary actions in a time of need.
Award winners are selected from nominations in the following categories
- Community Impact Hero- Presented to an individual who displays leadership and commitment to his or her community by making a positive and significant impact.
- Good Samaritan - Presented to an outstanding individual who displayed courage and caring upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident.
- Youth Good Samaritan (Under 21) - Presented to an outstanding young man or woman who displayed courage and caring upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident.
- Fire Fighter Hero- Presented to a professional firefighter who, in the performance of his or her job, acted above and beyond the call of duty.
- Law Enforcement Hero - Presented to a law enforcement official who, in the performance of her or his job, acted above and beyond the call of duty
- Animal Rescue Hero: presented to an ordinary citizen using life saving training skills to save the life of an animal or to an animal that saves human lives
- Medical Hero: presented to a medical professional, an organization or an ordinary citizen whose life saving action goes above and beyond the call of duty.
- Military Hero– Presented to an individual that works with or for the military and provides an impact to the military personnel and/or their families.
Nominees must live or work in Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, eastern Cumberland, Mifflin or Juniata counties.
Heroes will be honored during March as Red Cross Month at the Red Cross Spirit of the Hero Award program on March 27, 2014, at the Milton Hershey School’s Founder’s Hall, Homestead Ln, Hershey, Pennsylvania. For more information on this event - go to:
http://www.redcross.org/pa/Harrisburg/events/heroes/spirit-of-the-heroes-awards-susquehanna-valley