READING, PA – Emergency food programs and activities to keep children and seniors occupied during the pandemic are among the initiatives receiving grants from the Governor Mifflin Area Charitable Program this year.
The Russell L. Hiller Charitable Trust of Berks County Community Foundation funds the program. Seven organizations will receive a total of $23,960 in grants from this annual distribution:
- Olivet Boys and Girls Club: $5,000 to provide emergency hygiene, clothing, and food packs to children in the Governor Mifflin School District. This need has increased due to the pandemic.
- Helping Harvest: $5,000 to support the Mohnton Mobile Market, which brings healthy fresh and frozen items to families in need. This need has also increased due to the pandemic.
- Clay on Main: $4,438 to run craft workshops at the Mifflin Encore Center to give seniors an opportunity to work with mediums such as fused glass, printmaking, and painting. Until the pandemic subsides, this year’s program continues an initiative that began at the start of the pandemic to deliver craft kits to seniors who must stay at home.
- VoiceUp Berks: $4,000 to continue its Youth Volunteer Corps program at the Governor Mifflin Middle School. The students are continuing to volunteer throughout the community during the pandemic.
- Reading Public Museum: $2,261 to continue the Feed Their Imagination program, which will be held for Governor Mifflin students via virtual field trips until in-person trips are again allowed.
- Governor Mifflin Education Foundation: $2,261 for its Mifflin Reads program, which sends books to children in need during the summer to help keep them reading.
- Governor Mifflin School District: $1,000 for its Summer Zone program, which provides classes for children at fun places throughout the community during the summer months to help combat “summer slide.”
A bequest by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Russell L. Hiller established the Russell L. Hiller Charitable Trust in 2003 when the 60-year resident of Shillington passed away at the age of 97. He spent 26 years as a federal bankruptcy judge in Reading.
Throughout his years in Shillington, Hiller often walked to the borough park and relaxed on a bench overlooking Governor Mifflin schools. The pursuit of education was his lifelong passion.
