Enhancing the Health and Wellbeing of Central Bucks County and Surrounding Communities
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Each year the Village Improvement Association donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to community groups that support our mission to enhance the health and welfare of our communities. Funding is raised from various activites such as the Bucks County Designer House & Gardens, the annual card party, various other social events, tours of our wonderful James-Lorah Memorial Home museum, rentals of the James-Lorah Auditorium, and, of course, donations from our members and the public. We thank you for your support.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIA’S MANY
COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEES >>>
WELFARE
The Welfare Committee, originally named the Charity Committee, was established in 1897 to serve those in need in the community. The committee receives referrals from area social service agencies and provides financial assistance for food, clothing, baby supplies, prescription medicines, car repairs, rent, and utilities. Annual winter gift-card giving assists financially challenged families of students enrolled in the Central Bucks School District. Members of the committee are available seven days a week to receive referrals. Welfare is funded by earnings from trusts, donations from VIA members and the community at large, and — in a normal year — proceeds from VIA’s largest fundraiser – the Bucks County Designer House & Gardens.
Note: Please do not apply directly to the VIA for support. For your privacy, we arrange donations through our partner organizations. Learn more about some of the community agencies we work with: Bucks County Housing Group Food Pantries, Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Doylestown FISH, Valley Youth House, Ann Silverman Health Clinic, A Woman’s Place, and others.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) PROJECT
This Welfare Committee initiative is helping families affected by the opioid epidemic by providing essential baby items to parents of newborns with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Instead of staying in the Intensive Care Nursery, babies with NAS and their mothers stay in the Della Penna Pediatric Center, which has private rooms and specialized nursing care. The VIA provides the families a bag of comfort and help items, including sleep sacks to promote safe sleep, pacifiers to help improve their sucking reflex and other items including hats, blankets, baby wash, baby lotion, nursing pads, toys and books.
EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The VIA is committed to empowering others through education and offers several awards and scholarships. The VIA offers Educational Scholarships, HOBY Scholarships, and Women’s Scholarships. Through the James-Lorah Memorial Home Committee, it also gives two awards: the James-Lorah Deed of Kindness Prize and the James-Lorah English Prize.
