March 26, 2026
West Chester, Pa (March 26, 2025) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta’s West Chester office is now collecting diapers and other new baby supplies for the Maternal and Child Health Consortium.
Donations of new diapers in all sizes, as well as other new baby supplies such as wipes, onesies, bottles, bibs, burp cloths, hats, socks, and bath supplies, are appreciated.
“Parents of infants and young children know that it seems like you can never have enough diapers on hand, and the costs can add up, especially in today’s economy,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. “If you are able, please consider donating to help ensure that babies and toddlers have the essential sanitary and health supplies they need to grow and thrive.”
Items can be dropped off Monday through Friday at either Senator Comitta’s West Chester District Office building at 17 E. Gay Street in downtown West Chester from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Maternal and Child Health Consortium at 1475 Phoenixville Pike, Suite 12, West Chester, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The average newborn baby uses 8-12 diapers a day and up to 84 diapers in a week. However, according to the National Baby Diaper Network:
- Nearly half of U.S. families struggle to afford diapers.
- About 25% of those families reported missing work because they didn’t have enough extra diapers to give to childcare facilities.
- Since the pandemic, the price of diapers has reportedly increased 48%, costing families as much as $1,000 a year per child.
That may lead some parents to stretch diaper usage and not change their babies as often as they would like. Clean diapers and baby supplies are essential for raising healthy babies and preventing infections, discomfort, and diaper rash.
Donated diapers and baby supplies will be distributed to families at the Third Annual Community Baby Shower set for Friday, May 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gordon Early Literacy Center in Coatesville.
For more information about MCHC and how you can help support mothers, children, and families in Chester County, visit ccmchc.org.
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March 24, 2026
West Chester, Pa (March 24, 2026) – With tax season winding down, state Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Representative Kristine Howard are hosting a Free Community Shredding Event to help residents get rid of documents containing sensitive information.
The event is set for Saturday, April 11th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Malvern Fire Company. All documents will be shredded on-site, and the shredded paper will be recycled.
“As many of us begin our spring cleaning, we are again offering free shredding so residents can safely dispose of personal documents and protect themselves from identity theft,” said Comitta. “The process is quick and easy – all you need to do is drive through, and our team will help unload your papers to be shredded and recycled.”
“I am happy to team once again with Sen. Comitta to help constituents dispose of their sensitive information, including bank statements and legal documents,” said Howard.
This event is free and open to the public. Please take note:
- It is for individuals only, no businesses.
- Each car is limited to three boxes.
- Only paper products may be shredded; all binders, paper clips, binder clips, or other non-paper items should be removed before attending.
- The shredding trucks will run until 1 p.m. or until they are filled.
At the event, donations of non-perishable food items to the Chester County Food Bank will also be accepted. While donations are welcome and encouraged, they are not required to participate in the event.
The Malvern Fire Company is located at 424 E. King Street, Malvern, PA 19355.
For more information, interested attendees may contact Senator Comitta’s office at 610-692-2112 or Representative Howard’s office at 610-251-1070.
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March 23, 2026
Community Shredding Event
Saturday, April 11
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Malvern Fire Company
424 E. King St, Malvern
Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 18
10 a.m. — 1 p.m.
Upper Main Line YMCA
1416 Berwyn Paoli Road, Wayne
Community Baby Shower
Friday, May 8
4 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Gordon Early Literacy Center
351 Kersey St, Coatesville
March 23, 2026
March 23, 2026
March 23, 2026
March 19, 2026
March 12, 2026
West Chester, Pa (March 12, 2026) – Five Chester County nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities were awarded state funding to prevent crime by enhancing the safety and security of their facilities, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
The funds, approved this week by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), are as follows:
- $150,000 for St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oxford.
- $100,000 for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine.
- $75,000 for the Islamic Society of Chester County.
- $25,000 for Holcomb Associates.
- $25,000 for the Episcopal Church of the Trinity in Coatesville.
The funding for Chester County organizations, $375,000 in total, comes as part of $10.8 million awarded statewide through the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program.
Established by the legislature in Act 83 of 2019, the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups, or institutions that often face bias and hate crimes. Eligible grant projects include a variety of measures to enhance security, ranging from equipment and technology upgrades to planning, threat awareness, and response training.
Comitta, then a state representative, voted for the legislation (House Bill 859) that created the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program. Last year, she supported doubling the program’s investment from $5 million to $10 million in the state budget.
“As our Muslim friends and neighbors continue to observe Ramadan, Jewish families prepare for Passover, and Christians look forward to Easter, we’re reminded that religious liberty is the foundation of our shared values – values that welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and faith traditions to live in peace,” Comitta said. “Being different should not make you the target of hate-based harassment, threats, or violence. I hope these investments help give community members added peace of mind that we all have the right to live freely, safely, and without fear.”
The Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, now in its seventh year, was established in response to the 2018 attack on the Jewish community at the Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash congregations in Pittsburgh.
Since its inception, the program has provided $25 million in funding to more than 580 organizations. Based on the number of people who visit these facilities, an estimated four million people across the Commonwealth have been impacted by this funding to date.
PCCD selects awardees in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania State Police. Eligible applicants are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.
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March 9, 2026
West Chester, Pa (March 9, 2026) – The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) was recently awarded state funding to support a job training program for students interested in careers in health care.
The funding, which comes through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s (L&I) Schools-to-Work grant program, supports 17 projects statewide that will not only prepare high school students for a career but also ensure they have a clear path to employment upon graduation.
At the CCIU, it will support programs that deliver health career pre-apprenticeship training with industry credentials to students.
“Programs like this help bolster our health care workforce, reinforce our pipeline of skilled workers, and ensure students graduate with the necessary credentials, and real-world experience they need to succeed in in-demand fields and careers,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “I want to thank everyone at the CCIU and our Technical College High School campuses for their work in supporting and expanding these important apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.”
The CCIU program is part of 17 projects statewide that were awarded more than $4.1 million in total Schools-to-Work grant funding.
The Schools-to-Work program bridges classroom learning with real-world opportunity, aligning training with in-demand industries and workforce needs across the Commonwealth. It also strengthens partnerships among school districts, career and technical centers, employers, workforce boards, and training providers to help students graduate with a clear pathway into their chosen field, registered apprenticeship, or post-secondary education.
“Schools-to-Work is about making sure students don’t just graduate with a diploma, but with direction,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we have made workforce development for young Pennsylvanians a priority because we know early exposure to real careers changes lives. These investments connect students to hands-on experience, industry credentials, and employers, while strengthening the pipeline Pennsylvania businesses depend on to grow.”
Across the Commonwealth, this round of Schools-to-Work projects aligns training with high-demand industries, including skilled trades, health care, manufacturing, information technology, and education.
In addition, Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget plan calls for doubling funding for the Schools-to-Work funding to $7 million
Over the past three years, Pennsylvania has registered 231 new pre-apprenticeships, enrolled nearly 18,000 new apprentices, and more than 39,000 Pennsylvanians have participated in apprenticeships, opening doors to stable, family-sustaining careers.
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March 9, 2026
The Senate Mental Health Caucus is always interested in exploring innovative, accessible, and effective ways to boost positive mental health for Pennsylvanians. Earlier this year, we highlighted the importance of exercise, outdoor recreation, and exposure to fresh air and natural light in reducing depression, anxiety, and stress.
This month, we’re looking at how creative outlets – music, dance, and the arts – can serve as alternatives or complements to traditional mental health treatment like therapy and medication.
As art and music therapy continue to gain popularity as powerful tools for supporting positive mental health, more people are turning to creative activities to relieve stress or anxiety. Studies show that an overwhelming majority of people experience decreased anxiety levels, higher self-esteem, reduced PTSD symptoms, and better overall psychological health after participating in music and art therapy sessions.
It’s especially important that opportunities for arts programs and creative outlets are available to young people early on to help them develop lifelong interests and coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety.
In the legislature, March is Music, Art, Theatre, and Dance in Our Schools Month, and we continue to support funding for these school programs in the state budget.
In addition, Senator Comitta and Senator Vogel have introduced bipartisan legislation (SB 579) to license Professional Music Therapists, and Senator Picozzi is introducing legislation to license art therapists.
These and other initiatives can help support and raise awareness of music, the arts, and other creative outlets in supporting cognitive, social, personal, and emotional development, as well as treatment for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia and recovery for people with PTSD, like veterans, first responders, and survivors of crime.
