Emmaus Nonprofits and Charities

Wildlands Conservancy became an accredited land trust February 2019, a status that can be renewed every five years. Accreditation means Wildlands Conservancy meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Wildlands Conservancy demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate the commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. To learn more about land trust accreditation and the current accreditation status of Wildlands Conservancy, visit http//www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.

My entire life, the one thing I always wanted was to be a mother.<br>On December 1, 2011 at 1:57 pm, my dream came true. I was blessed with my sweet baby girl, Benelli. She was a perfect baby. She never cried. She was born on a schedule. It was bliss. As she grew older and the days passed signs started appearing. She never turned to her name, yet she ran to the TV the second it was turned on. She had repetitive gross motor movements that never seemed to stop. We grew worried. I talked to her doctor at 14 months. That's the first time I heard the word Autism. We began a million tests. Hearing tests, Early Intervention testing, more tests and evaluations than a parent could fathom. At 20 months old, Benelli was diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder. I felt lost. I didn't know anyone with Autism. Where would I go? What would I do? How would I do the right things for her? It was lonely, isolating, I grieved. On February 1, 2013, around all the beginning stages of Benelli's testing, her sister Adeline was born at 4:52 pm. Adeline seemed to attend more than Benelli had as a child. Then, we began to introduce foods and she would vomit. She would eat nothing. At the age of 6 months she began repeatedly hitting herself. I became scared. Adeline began her evaluations and testing at 8 months. At that time I felt like a pro, we began therapies for her as well. In August 2014 at 18 months old, Adeline received her Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. I cried. I felt numb. How in the world was, I, a neurotypical mother who had NO clue how their brain worked, going to raise<br>Them in the best way possible? As they grow older, it's harder for their peers to relate, it's more obvious to people that there is something different & it has become harder to find our tribe. Live, Learn & Play of the Lehigh Valley gives Spectrum families from the area the chance to come together once a month to feel included, to feel free from stares, to be one. I have fully accepted my girls' diagnosis. I wouldn't change them. They are amazing human beings & just as they're learning to live in this world not built for them, I am learning how to mother them differently than the standard textbook parenting guide. Every April for Autism Awareness Month our family raises money to donate to Live, Learn & Play & we attend their race every year. It is SO important that non profits such as them remain together. It is a sanctuary for our family to be with our 'tribe'. It is our heart, it is our place of belonging. <br>www.livelearnandplay.org

This was not a charity collecting money . This was an organization for a World War 2 unit who <br>met every year until the sixtieth. They enjoyed each others company and told many stories about their experiences. If anyone wants any info on them contact me and will try and help them. My husband was secretary treasurer and I have some books on the unit. NOt many are left but they were a great group of men. J. Rightnour <br>