MEDIA – Family Support Line recently launched a digital public awareness campaign to prevent child exploitation among tweens and teenagers in Delaware County. The campaign comes as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely affect vulnerable children. It is the first campaign of its kind in Pennsylvania specifically targeting teens and tweens through social media related to child sexual abuse.

The marketing message focuses on speaking out against sexual abuse, knowing the signs, and recognizing the Family Support Line as a trustworthy resource. The eight sponsored ads on Instagram and Facebook are geographically aimed at children in Delaware County. Children are encouraged to click the link in the bio for help and more information. The link directs users to the Resources page of the newly redesigned Family Support Line website.

Family Support Lineworked with Fiore Design, a small women-owned company based in Haverford that deals with digital advertising designs. The campaign runs until March.

COVID-19 has isolated children from hired reporters such as teachers, coaches, school counselors and friends. Unfortunately, this has caused child exploitation to skyrocket, especially online. As screen time increased and most adults and children were at home, child exploitation online increased, and reports to the national CyberTip hotline increased 103 percent. At a time when children believe they don’t have an electrical outlet, the Family Support Line provides peace of mind that help is still available and healing is still possible.

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation funded the campaign. In addition to funding the resources for creating and promoting the ads, the Foundation funded the renovation of the website and helped create an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly website with instant access to help and healing. Family Support Line hired Caloua Lowe’s company, Zhane Designs, a woman, a small, minority company, to design our website.

For more information or ads, please visit Instagram (@delco_familysupportline) or Facebook (@FamilySupportLine) by Family Support Line. For more information, visit www.FamilySupportLine.org or call 610-268-9145.

The Family Support Line in Media works to advance the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. Services include comprehensive prevention programs, specialized treatment, professional training, and advocacy. The nonprofit has been committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of children, tweens, and teenagers in Delaware County for over 30 years.

St. Hedwig’s jersey on display at the Sports Legends of Delco Museum

Stan Zoltak, President of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Club in Chester, has donated a unique 1957 St. Hedwig baseball jersey to Sports Legends at the Delaware County Museum in Radnor.

St. Hedwig’s was a member of the Delco Baseball League from 1947 to 1959. Still going strong after all these years, the Delco Baseball League is the oldest baseball league in the United States, founded in 1909.

John Pfander, a member of the St. Hedwig team of 57, recently remembered trying on his uniform for the first time. Due to the rigid material of the uniform, he could barely bend his arms while wearing it and decided to cut off the sleeves. In the league’s 114-year history, it is the only known uniform made from denim, a firm, durable cotton twill fabric made from thicker and heavier yarns that has a more military feel and is more suitable for upholstery than baseball. A redeeming feature of the uniform is the red and white chain stitch embroidery, which is not often found in today’s baseball clothing. For more information about the museum, visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org or contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or [email protected].

Registration for the spring semester of the Haverford Adult School is possible

The Haverford Township Adult School is now accepting registrations for the winter / spring semester 2021. This semester’s courses offer a variety of useful courses and are entirely virtual. There is no personal registration or dispatch of brochures.

At https://www.haverfordadultschool.org you can find course information and register online. You can also register by calling 610-853-5919.

For further assistance, send an email to [email protected].

Readers can email community messages and photos to Peg DeGrassa at [email protected].