Latest news with #SeedsofHope
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Annual picnic held to thank first responders during National EMS Week
This week is National EMS Week, a time to thank our first responders. UPMC Hamot is doing its part in showing gratitude for emergency care practitioners with a free meal. 'Seeds of Hope' event aims to raise awareness on women's health research Hamot hosted their annual EMS picnic, where all local and regional volunteer and professional providers were invited for lunch. A UPMC representative said a free meal is the least they can do, as many of them help others make it through what might be their worst day. ECGRA invests in early childhood education, 59 centers awarded ARPA grants 'These folks are the ones that on a drop of a hat, the least convenient time or whatever it may be, are the ones jumping out of bed going to take care of people in their time of need. The professionalism they show, the competence they show with doing what they do is amazing,' said Don Holsten, senior manager of pre-hospital care at UPMC. 'And ultimately, what we want to do there is say thank you to them for what they do. They're the most selfless people around.' Holsten said if it were up to him, National EMS week should be every week, adding that we couldn't survive without EMS care and support. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ECGRA invests in early childhood education, 59 centers awarded ARPA grants
Erie County is facing a shortage of early childhood educators, with 93 positions currently unfilled, which could provide care for an estimated 744 additional children if filled. To address this issue, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) is launching a new initiative to recruit and retain early childhood education staff. This initiative is supported by $2.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, aimed at bolstering local childcare providers. Multiple Erie elementary schools will receive filtered water stations thanks to donation 'This is a vital sector, one that supports working families, strengthens our economy, and nurtures the next generation but it remains underfunded,' said Perry Wood, Executive Director of ECGRA. ECGRA has recognized 59 local childcare centers with 'Early Childhood Educator Retention Awards,' distributing grants totaling over $900,000. These awards are part of the first phase of the initiative, which began on Thursday. Asha Graeb, Director of St. Martin Early Learning Center, expressed the importance of these grants, stating that early educators are asked to do much with limited resources and support. 'I feel our teachers deserve a living wage; they do so much for our working families,' Graeb said. Kenya Johnson, Director and Owner of The Learning Ladder Early Child Care Center, emphasized the essential role of childcare, equating its importance to that of elementary or high school education. 'We hope that today brings a light to everyone knowing how essential childcare is and how essential the educators are as well,' Johnson added. 'Seeds of Hope' event aims to raise awareness on women's health research The initiative is seen as a first step in creating sustainable childcare services for the community, with future phases expected to identify specific areas of need. The initiative by ECGRA is a significant move towards addressing the childcare crisis in Erie County, aiming to fill critical gaps in early childhood education staffing and improve support for local providers. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Seeds of Hope' event aims to raise awareness on women's health research
One non-profit organization is raising awareness of the work being done in Erie to advance women's health. The Hamot Health Foundation held its annual summit, Seeds of Hope, in partnership with Magee-Womens Research Institute and Penn State Behrend. Dr. Kristy Gnibus named new director of ECHRC Several researchers, oncologists and local women took the day to learn the latest in breakthrough research and treatments. Charles 'Boo' Hagerty, president of the Hamot Health Foundation, said they were also raising money to develop 'seed grants' which can lead to innovative changes in health care. From blight to bright — Erie Land Bank showcases newly rehabilitated home 'We're talking about a breast cancer vaccine, and that is being researched right now at the Magee-Womens Research Institute, and maybe a seed grant today can help more people understand that research. The other thing that we are talking about is just the fact that women's health research is only 13% of all health research dollars. We want to increase that,' said Hagerty. Seeds of Hope began in 2017 and continues to grow each year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- CBS News
Frisco church offers trauma seminar for members reeling from teen's fatal stabbing at track meet
Before counselors for The Seeds of Hope brought their services to a couch on the stage of Hope Fellowship East, Lead Pastor John McKinzie spoke with CBS News Texas about the need for the trauma workshop and his membership. A number of those impacted by the recent murder of Austin Metcalf attend his church, including the victim's family. In a large church, McKinzie said he didn't get to know the family personally. Metcalf's funeral is on April 12, with a youth pastor who knew the teen better presiding at the service. Before the day before Palm Sunday for the Christian faith, McKinzie said members aren't dealing with the joy of the Easter season. Below are excerpts from their conversation, edited for clarity. CBS News Texas : Why did you think you needed this? McKinzie : There were so many involved in this because [the stabbing] was at a track meet. I don't know how many kids were there, but a lot were there. The assistant athletic director, Chris, who goes to our church, was on the scene. Many teachers that I know in our church were on the scene, kids in our church who were on the scene, first responders in our church who were on the scene. It's bigger than just our church or our families. It's the whole community that is trying to make sense of this. The Seeds of Hope counseling agency that's helping us, they just said, 'hey, would you like to do something?' And then we said, 'hey, how about a trauma workshop at our church?' CBS News Texas : So let's talk about navigation on Sunday. You ended service by saying what? McKinzie : I read a scripture from Psalm 34. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. And then I felt it was important as a church family, I can't speak for the whole community, but I certainly speak to our church. And I just felt like it was important to help us focus in the right direction. Many times, in a tragedy or a trauma like this, we pull away from God because of questions like Why? Why me? Why this? This isn't fair. You know, normal, normal questions. And I just felt like it's so important for us to focus in and draw near to him in the scripture. I also felt like social media is a great tool, but it can also be a thorn in the flesh because it's used in so many instances in a negative way, whether that's false information or reposting things that may or may not be true. And I just instructed the people as much as I can, I can't control sometimes, I wish I could, but just instructed, hey, let's be careful what we're posting. There are two families here that are hurting, and we're praying for all involved. And if you know the details of something, hey, why don't we post? And if we feel the need to post – post Scripture – something positive to point us in the right direction rather than divide us with things that we don't really know the details of. Of course, pray for the family, the Metcalf family for Jeff and Meghan and Hunter, who are obviously the closest and most affected by this, and then the Anthony family , Karmelo's family, and I don't know them either, but felt like was important to pray for him and for his family. This is a hard thing. CBS News Texas : You make it a point to pray for him. McKinzie : Well, you know, to the core of my being and to the core of our church's culture and mission. Every person matters to God. Everyone matters to God. And if they matter to God, they matter to me. They matter to us. And I'm praying for him daily, praying for his family, praying for my friends, the Metcalf family, praying for our students, praying for our community. CBS News Texas : What is the takeaway here? McKinzie : The first thing that comes to my mind is what the book of James says, that this life is a vapor. It's here today, and it's gone tomorrow. So, what can we do to make the most of the life that we have? We can choose to look at the challenges, whether that be financial, physical, relational, or even physical, as in anxiety or depression. We can choose to look at that and focus on that, or we can choose to make the most of what we have and what we've been given. And so, the takeaway for me is: let's not waste time. And too, in our community with this particular tragedy, what can we do to come together rather than divide, whether that be racial, whether that be in faith denominations, whether that be in anger or whatever?
