Patch Picks: Non-profits Worth Your Time

Welcome back to Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off, and more.

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.

This week, we're highlighting nonprofits making a difference in our community.

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Reuse Your Shoes collects used shoes and distributes them to people who need them or, if they’re too ratty, sends them to be ground down and used for playground surfaces. Founder Kevin Kane has donated thousands of shoes to local charities including A Woman's Place, The Salvation Army and Libertae.

Gilda's Club Delaware Valley (named after Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989) is one of many clubhouses throughout the country dedicated to helping men, women and children cope with cancer. Gilda’s Club provides an emotional and social support community for people living with cancer as well as their friends and families. Membership is completely free of charge. Representatives can be reached at 215-441-3290 or stop in at 200 Kirk Rd., Warminster.

The Miracle League of Northampton is a non-profit baseball and softball league for special needs children. The organization is currently undergoing fundraisers to help build a special, rubberized field at the Northampton Municipal Park. Organizers have the necessary $750,000 raised and are waiting for township approval to start construction on the fields. Drop an e-mail to the the board of directors to get involved. 

The Hatboro Y is committed to bringing out the best in all children - whether it be through childcare services, after-school programs, or the organization's various recreational offerings and summer camps. Drop an e-mail or call 215-674-4545 to learn more.

Newtown Fire Association is a volunteer-based fire and rescue services organization with two stations - one in the borough and another in the township. Newtown Fire Association volunteers respond to calls in Newtown Borough and Township, as well as Upper and Lower Makefield townships and Middletown Township. In addition to providing firefighting and emergency response services, the Fire Association offers station tours. Phone: 215-860-5503

is a Christian based foster care and adoption agency located in Upper Southampton Township. Despite rumors that the service shut down when the residential section closed a few years back, Bethanna is still an active provider of children's services in Bucks County. In addition to their foster care services, Bethanna provides behavioral health services, birth classes and programs for adoptive and birth parents to reunify. More info on the Web or 215-355-6500.

, located at 3839 Richlieu Road, Bensalem, cares for unwanted dogs, cats and small animals. It’s one of the country’s first humane societies. Services include adoptions, turning in unwanted animals, veterinarian hospital and education. For more information visit their Web site or call 215-750-3100.