EMAN, Awbury Arboretum awarded grant to host community picnic

A new community event is in the works for Northwest Philadelphia residents.

Thanks to a $3,000 grant from the Philadelphia Activities Fund, East Mt. Airy Neighbors is teaming up with Awbury Arboretum to host a nutrition and wellness picnic.

“We want it to have intergenerational activities, nutritional activities and movement and be fun at the same time,” said EMAN’s Executive Director Elayne Bender.

A date has not yet been set for the picnic, but it will take place at Awbury, located in East Germantown, when warmer weather returns to the region.

The Pennsylvania chapter of Seniors4Kids, a youth advocacy organization, will play a part in the festivities. Bender said she anticipates that several different neighborhood groups, such as Weavers Way, whose Mort Brooks Memorial Farm is located at Awbury, play a part in the event.

Bender credits Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass with helping to secure the grant. Bass, a past president of EMAN, said she likely set a precedent as being the first executive of the organization to apply for the funding through PAF. Now in her role as an elected official, Bass said she encourages groups launching projects that benefit the community to apply for the grant.

“I am glad to see [EMAN] get this funding in order to continue its good work,” she said.