Bethlehem, PA - Politicians, artists, doctors, and advocates gathered for a luncheon Thursday hosted by Community Action Lehigh Valley (CALV) at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.
It was a ceremony to present CALV's annual report and to promote the organization and its work in the Lehigh Valley, as well as offer a networking opportunity for participants.
- Community Action Lehigh Valley held its annual report luncheon Thursday in Bethlehem
- People who have benefitted from their programs spoke passionately
- Many said there is still more change needed in the Valley
Community Action Lehigh Valley, an advocacy and resource group that helps community members with loans, food, housing and education through separate programs, helped 290 students and 45 families, planted 6,464 plants, distributed 10 million pounds of food, and gave small businesses $348,353 in loans in 2020-2021,according to the organization’s annual report.
Sharing stories
The presentation included speeches and videos from people who have benefited from CALV's initiatives.
One speech, presented by pre-recorded video, was from Breonna White, a graduating senior at the Pennsylvania State University. She said thanks to one of the organization's programs, she was able to have educational opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have had.
“They helped me get to the school I really wanted to be at,” White said. “And helped with so many different things – like they actually gave us a course in managing our finances, which we wouldn’t have gotten.”
Another person sharing a success story was Otis McNeil, who now owns Custom Weatherization, LLC.
McNeil said when he was getting his start in the Lehigh Valley, he couldn’t even secure a loan – mainly because he didn’t have credit. He said he also wanted to thank someone else in the audience.
“I want you to all meet my grandmother. She put her house up as collateral for me, and I cannot thank her enough for helping me get my start."Otis McNeil, owner of Custom Weatherization LLC
“I want you to all meet my grandmother," McNeill said. "She put her house up as collateral for me, and I cannot thank her enough for helping me get my start."
Some stood up to applaud his grandmother, who bashfully waved back.
McNeil said advocacy groups such as CALV have helped remove barriers that he faced in his early career, but he believes there is still much progress to be made.
