Leatherwood Academy – Little Bird Primary – New Bethlehem PA

Leatherwood Academy is a nonpublic, private school registered with the PA Department of education for kindergarten through 12^th grade.  We are located in New Bethlehem at 363 Broad Street.  Established in 2022 by Little Bird Preschool and Leatherwood Church, Leatherwood Academy is a ministry of Leatherwood Church providing alternative educational opportunities to the community. Our mission is to provide a safe, encouraging, and supportive learning environment which nurtures curiosity, wonder, and lifelong learning while giving back to the community.  For the 2025-26 school year, we are offering kindergarten through 6^th grade.  We are seeking funds to complete the renovation of the top floor of the building. This renovation will complete our elementary classrooms and provide a STEM lab, computer lab and several alternative spaces for large and small group learning.  It will also have a teacher preparation room and storage space for all the seasonal and educational supplies that make learning fun.  To learn more about us, please watch our promotional video by visiting our website at www.LeatherwoodAcademy.org.  You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/LeatherwoodAcademy.  If you have questions, please call 814-275-3515 to speak to our director, Heather Gourley.  You are also encouraged to schedule a tour.  We would love to show you what we have been up to and how our students are thriving.

Literate Futures Foundation

Literate Futures Foundation, Inc. is a new nonprofit organization committed to empowering individuals of all ages with the tools and strategies to confidently manage their reading proficiency. Our mission is to improve literacy across Western Pennsylvania through individualized services, professional education, and community partnerships. We are currently in our first year of service, receiving our official 501(c)(3) in March! Our primary goal is to focus on serving youth ages 7 to 14, with plans to progressively expand to ages 15 and older (including adults) as the organization becomes more established.

Our 2025 Fundraising Goal is $15,000.  Funds raised will support scholarship opportunities for students in rural, low-income communities, operational needs for literacy programming, and the development of a community summer reading initiative.  Website: Coming Soon. For more information contact [email protected], 814.221.4512. Donations can be made via check or mailed directly to Literate Futures Foundation, 4181 Brookville St. Hawthorn, PA  16230 or dropped off at a Donation Location.

Lucky Cats Get’N Fixed is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that offers low cost spay/neuter clinics for tame & feral cats in the New Bethlehem, Clarion and surrounding areas.  At these clinics we do TNR – trap, neuter/spay, & return of feral cats to help stop the over population of unwanted animals.  Our vet bills for doing TNR add up very quickly.  By donating and supporting our fundraisers you are helping us reach more people to help control the over-population problem in their area and helping to complete our Mission by educating the public on how to control the cat over-population.

How we got our name:  There are so many feral cats now in the surrounding areas needing help.  These cats have been neglected and left alone to starve, to suffer sickness and injury, to be maimed and/or killed by other animals.  They have been cast aside by owners who didn’t want them anymore, displaced from one overpopulated area to another by people who didn’t want to spend the money to take care of them, didn’t want to pay the vet bill to have them spayed or neutered, didn’t want to spend or didn’t have the money to feed them so they left them to fend for themselves.  Cats can become pregnant at 6 mos. old, so it’s babies having babies out there alone, producing 2 litters a year brings on the population explosion through no fault of their own.  With caring people and volunteers many cats have been trapped, received medical attention, gotten food, and some have been re-homed and adopted.  We call these “The Lucky Cats”.

Lucky Cats FB link:  https://www.facebook.com/luckycatsgetnfixed/. Check our new website for current fundraisers, how the public can help us now, and for cats up for adoption:  www.luckycatsgetnfixed.com. Donations can be mailed to us at 1074 Shrub Rd., New Bethlehem, Pa 16242 or made through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=WLFTMECZHHNES&no_recurring=0&currency_code=USD.

New Bethlehem Fire Company #1 is a 100% volunteer fire company covering approximately 56.5 square miles, including New Bethlehem Borough, Porter Township and parts of Redbank Township, Clarion County, along with South Bethlehem Borough in Armstrong County for fire, rescue and emergency response, as well as various community services.  As many of you may have seen, we purchased a 2022 International Mini-Pumper, otherwise known as 600 Attack.  It was purchased for its smaller size so that it can be driven in our smaller streets, alleys and narrow driveway.  It is also able to maneuver better on the back roads, allowing us to have a quicker and safer response.  This new vehicle had a price tag of almost $500,000.  Funds received from the Day of Giving will go to reduce the principal balance on the loan. The members would like to thank you for your support.  For more information on volunteering or to donate, please visit our website at www.newbethlehemfire.com.

Redbank Renaissanceformed in 2007 with a multifaceted approach to revitalize our area.  We are working with the United Way in the Arts initiative, Clarion Co. Tourism and the new Main Street initiative with a particular goal of funding more façade improvements in the business district to add to the ones previously helped, including the recent renovations by Lifeway Services to the old Andrews Theater. A well-maintained business district invites travelers to stop and spend money here. We hope to raise $5000 to support ongoing efforts which include the Garden Keepers who help plant, maintain and improve the public gardens and to fund façade, signage and bike rack matching grants to help area businesses and promote tourism. Other efforts include maintaining our 3 welcome signs; promotion of area history with historic markers; business promotion (signage and website), regional Welcome Brochures (print costs); business assistance; community clean ups, Dog-i-Pot stations (more bags needed), and community calendar.  All efforts depend on public donations.  Volunteers are welcomed.  Information: www.redbankren.org/donation, on Facebook or by calling 814-275-1718.

Redbank Valley Church Association is a para-church organization committed to fostering and supporting religious, charitable and educational pursuits that proclaim, promote, enhance, and further the Kingdom of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Redbank Valley. Its mission includes a food pantry for the Redbank Valley area, a yearly scholarship fund for local high school students, plus annual community church services such as See You at the Pole, a Community Hymn Sing at Gumtown Park, Clarion County Fair Festival of Music, Community Thanksgiving Service, Lenten Services, Easter Sunrise Service, Christmas Festival of Carols, and Baccalaureate Service for the Redbank Valley School District. RVCA also organizes pastors to write articles for The Leader-Vindicator and provide Sunday afternoon services at Edgewood Heights.

The Share in a Dream Scholarship is an opportunity for any senior attending the Redbank Valley School District who is a participating member of a Redbank Valley church and who satisfies the application criteria. The number of scholarships depends on money donated each year. Because of the community’s generosity many deserving young people have been awarded Share in a Dream Scholarships. Staffed by volunteers, the Food Pantry began in 2001 to ensure that Redbank Valley School District students had basic foods to meet their needs so that they would be more likely to succeed in school. The Food Pantry has broadened to provide supplemental food to all qualifying families in the school district. For years numerous families have benefitted monthly. A goal is to raise funds to sustain the food pantry, and provide meat for meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Donations are needed and much appreciated for the Food Pantry and Scholarships. For info.: 814-367-3331 or www.RvChurchassociation.org, [email protected].

Redbank Valley Community Center is striving to light up our community with smiles and service! We have installed a new Board with lots of plans to revitalize the community center. Our goal is to make the RVCC a place where people can come together and have a good time while also meeting the needs of the community. We have lots of events coming up and many more in the works for people to enjoy. The popular Daddy Daughter Dance will be back on June 7th, and plans for a Mother Daughter Tea Party have begun. Many other organizations use the RVCC such as 4H, Little League, UVSA, IU5 Adult Education, and the weekly knitting and cornhole groups. The center is also available for rent, offering a space for parties, meetings, and other activities. Your donations keep the RVCC open, allowing the community to enjoy this beautiful asset! The RVCC is located at 430 Broad Street, and you can reach us at 814-475-5033. Check out our Facebook page, Redbank Valley Community Center, or visit our website www.rvcommunitycenter.org.

Redbank Valley Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education for all students. The Foundation is working to close the achievement gap and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in and after their high school years. It provides scholarships, grants, and other resources to help students pay for tuition, books, and other educational expenses. It also supports programs that improve teacher quality and school infrastructure in grades K-12.

Below are the current accounts that are earmarked for donations:

• General Scholarship (utilized for students and teachers through grants)
• Musical Fund (used to help with costs associated with school musicals) Musical Instruments Fund (used to purchase instruments for the school) General Fund (utilized for immediate needs in any area)
• Shop Fund (used to purchase new machinery)
• Fund for the Trades (used for scholarships and supplies for career center students)
• Fund for Arts (supplements art at the Intermediate School)
• Robotics Fund (to support growth in the area of STEM education)

For more information visit:  http://redbankvalley.net/index.php/rvef.html. To make a donation: https://bbcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list.    (Type Redbank in the search bar to choose a fund).

Redbank Valley Historical Society Inc.  is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Redbank Valley.  2025 Programs are May 12 ^_ Luncheon Honoring Gulf War Veterans (reservations are required), May 17 – Mad Hatter Tea Party Event 2-4pm (Reservations $20), June 16 -“Boats to Build” historic information about Redbank Creek and the lumber rafting and commercial barge industry, July 14 – History of Alcola Park, Aug. 11 – Local Underground Railroad Program, Sept. 20-21, Vintage Display of Memorabilia and Advertising from Redbank Valley Businesses, Oct. – (to be announced), Nov.– Charity of Trees (Details forthcoming), Dec. 5– Keridywn (Celtic Music). Monthly programs are at 6:30 pm at the History Center. Our genealogy center is open by appointment to research family history and archived memorabilia about the area.

More work on the brick façade of the bell tower and the building are needed. The society will be researching grant opportunities to address work that needs to be done. We received many donated artifacts of the Valley over the last year that are on display.  Please consider donating to the preservation of this historic building, restoring the clock tower and the saving of our heritage.  For information on how you can volunteer or on ways to financially support our mission contact [email protected] or go to our website at www.rvhistory.org.  We are located at 301 Broad St., New Bethlehem, mailing address: PO Box 74, New Bethlehem, PA 16242.

Redbank Valley Public Library provides people with the tools to solve problems, resources to meet needs, and services to help our community. Whether it is sending a fax, obtaining a passport, having copies made, attending a preschool early literacy program, utilizing the computers, having an exam proctored, teens socializing after school, adults coming together for book club, crafts and learning opportunities for all ages, homeschooling families finding no-cost materials to aid schooling, or just enjoying new books by favorite authors, the library has become a place of support, learning, and fun for all ages!

Our 2025 Challenge: If each person in our service area would donate $10, our overall operating budget would be covered for the year and our focus geared entirely toward providing for our community. Imagine the world of opportunity that could open for all of us! Your donation helps us respond to community needs and remain a life-giving organization. For more information, please visit www.rvlibrary.org or call 814-275-2870.  The library is located at 720 Broad St. and will serve as a Donation Location for the Day of Giving from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Redbank Valley Trails Association, an all-volunteer organization that does not receive regular government funding. We rely on public donations and grants to maintain and improve the 51-mile non-motorized, 4-season Redbank Valley Trails, from the Allegheny River to Brookville and the 9-mile Sligo Spur. We are raising funds to refresh the crushed limestone surface and proceeding as funding permits. We work to improve signage and parking areas and provide port-o-johns. We added a new kayak launch at Moore Road, are adding historic markers (4 this year) and continue our constant maintenance, drainage and improvement efforts. Donations provide fuel, equipment and material to help volunteers improve and maintain the trails for the community to enjoy and benefit from the recreation, relaxation and fitness opportunities the trail presents.  Tourism dollars from those who visit are helping new and existing local businesses grow. Donations can be made online via the website and can be used as gifts or to name bridges, shelters, picnic tables and other amenities.  Donations of time, equipment and materials are welcomed. Information: www.redbankvalleytrails.org/donation, [email protected]., FB, 814-275-1718, 419 Arch St., New Bethlehem, PA 16242.

Building bridges between people and the police.  Providing non – government funding for improved police technology.  The Community supporting community policing.

Southern Clarion Police Association. · Building bridges between people and the police  · Providing non-government funding for improved police technology   · The Community supporting community policing.

SCPA is a group of concerned citizens dedicated to “direct from community funding” for support and technologies that may be beyond the ability of our municipal governments to provide through tax dollars.  Our 501(c)(3) status enables us to raise money and access grants that local governments cannot to help provide equipment that keeps our officers safe and allows them to provide critical services to the community.  Immediate fundraising goals are to purchase upgraded equipment and provide scholarships to students pursuing higher education in police work.  Over the last few years, with help from our donors, we awarded several $500 scholarships and we pay for loans on 2 police vehicles. We have community fundraising events planned for the coming months: Annual “Cops an’ Bobbers” Kids Fishing Derby, now merged with Fish for Fun in Rimersburg on May 4th, the 4th annual Communities Festival and Car Show (formerly Cookie Days) in Rimersburg (Aug. 9) and a new Gun Bash later this year. We hold a monthly 50/50 raffle, annual hoagies and candy sales, and a grill, meat and gas card raffle for later in the year.  See any of the SCCRPD officers, SCPA members or visit our website www.SCPoliceAssociation.org or Facebook FB.com/SCPoliceAssociation for event dates/times etc.  Tax deductible donations can be dropped off at a Donation Location or at the Southern Clarion Co. Regional Police Department, or mailed to Southern Clarion Police Association, 220 Broad St., New Bethlehem, PA 16242.  For  more information call 814-275-1180 or email [email protected].