Christmas Celebration at The Bridge Academy in Coatesville PA
Gramazin was invited this evening to the Christmas party at The Bridge Academy inCoatesville, PA.
Coatesville is a community along US Rt. 30 between Philadelphia, PA and Lancaster, PA, just a few miles east of the the second largest Amish community in the US. The community prospered in the first half of the 20th century with the success of Lukens Steel. However, the community has fallen on hard economic times in the last 50 years. According to The Bridge Academy website, Coatesville is plagued by a crime rate that is 220% above the national average.
From The Bridge Academy website:
“The Bridge Academy and Community Center uses the creative arts, education and community projects as a means to build relationships with our community, and to educate, serve, and impact the community. The BACC was established in 2002 with three themes:education, creative arts, and community projects, with the focus primarily on low income youth and adults. The Bridge Academy believes these three areas can significantly impact the well-being of a child’s life. Our programs are free of cost to any child or adult.
Each week consists of afterschool programs that are geared to educate students. The Bridge Academy strives to see all students excel through assistance with homework, educational classes, and one-on-one tutoring. Monday through Thursday, the BACC runs afterschool programs that address specific needs.
The Homework Clubs and Teen Nights are the most attended programs with over 80 participating each week. It meets three nights a week and is run by volunteers; it includes a full meal, creative arts, physical activities, and homework. Each summer, The Bridge Academy runs its Summer Learning Program in which 50 children participate. Through a strategic partnership, the BACC is able to provide equestrian leadership to students who display leadership qualities.
The Bridge Academy also holds annual events with an aim to reach the larger community. The Book Bag Drive, which is held in August, helps families provide book bags, school supplies, and information for the coming school year. This event is well attended and hopes to encourage children and families to pursue
education.“
This was the first Gramazin Journey event I attended without Chad. Chad was busy studying for exams at Millersville University. I arrived at The Bridge Academy around 6 pm. The academy is housed in a former church on a residential street only a few blocks from downtown Coatesville. Tyler Changaris, the Assistant Director, took me on a tour of the facility. The facility has a computer lab, a workshop, a beautiful new and very large kitchen, a craft room that was bursting with gifts for the children, and the large meeting room which used to be the sanctuary of the church.
The staff and adult volunteers got ready for the influx of 3rd to 5th graders that burst in the door at 6:30. First on the agenda was a Sloppy Joe meal with chips, juice, cookies, and cup cakes. The meal was served by teens and enjoyed by the children, staff, volunteers, and guests.
After the meal, the children enjoyed a puppet show put on by five or six child puppeteers. The theme of the puppet show was to help neighbors in need clean up their house just for the pleasure of being kind to others.
Next, it was time for games. The adults helped removed the tables and chairs. Volunteers from a local church led the children in games that included Santa Says, relay races putting on clothes and rushing for candy canes, and stop when the music stops (forgot the name of the game).
The evening concluded with a talk to the children about the Christmas story in the gospel of Luke. The children received gifts donated by other organizations.
What struck me most this evening was the joy everyone seemed to have. The children really seemed to enjoy being there. They clearly felt at home. There was laughter and very willing participation in the activities. I looked at each of the children and could not detect facial expressions or the body language of kids who would rather have been somewhere else.
It is very obvious Jordan Crans, the Director, and Tyler Changaris, the Assistant Director, truly love their work (Josh Crans, who is also Director, had another engagement this evening). They both clearly knew each of the kids personally and related well with them, as did other members of the staff. This is a very well managed facility. The parents seemed truly appreciative of the work the organization is doing with their children.
Thank you The Bridge Academy, for bringing hope to children and families in Coatesville, PA and to readers across the US.
 Cookies for The Bridge Academy Christmas celebration |
 The children play games at The Bridge Academy |
 Gifts for the children at The Bridge Academy |
 Jordan Crans, Director of The Bridge Academy |
 The kiln for pottery at The Bridge Academy |
 Mural at The Bridge Academy |
 The Christmas story shared with The Bridge Academy |
 Another mural at The Bridge Academy |
 The Bridge Academy name |
 The children enjoyed the puppet show at The Bridge Academy |
 The children enjoyed the puppet show at The Bridge Academy |
 One of the high school staff members in the new kitchen at The Bridge Academy |
 The stained glass at The Bridge Academy |
 Alvin, one of the volunteers at The Bridge Academy |
 A mural at The Bridge Academy |
 The workshop for the students at The Bridge Academy |
 A blurry nighttime photo of downtown Coatesville, PA |