U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan visits Olivet Boys and Girls Club Pendora Park clubhouse
The children of the Pendora Park Olivet Boys and Girls Club's afterschool program found a special guest waiting for them Thursday outside the club.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan visited the club, 330 S. 19th St. and arrived just in time to meet the students in the cub's walking school bus.
Not actually a motorized vehicle, the walking bus is made up of club staff and children who meet afternoons at 16th and Haak Elementary School and walk back to the club for after-school activities.
Houlahan greeted the children, hand slapping them as they filed along a path through Pendora Park to the club's entrance.
As a former teacher, the representative said, she is particularly interested in the programming and positive environment Olivet provides for youth in Berks County.
Her past visits to Olivet's clubhouses, include a stop at the Clinton Street club for a town hall meeting with the kids in December.
"We know how active Rep. Houlahan is in our community," said Rick Perez, CEO. "Her team has hosted their series of town halls with the kids, just trying to keep their pulse on what's going on here in our community. So our doors are always open for her and her team."
Perez said he and the club staff were pleased when the congresswoman's office called to schedule another visit and town hall, this time at the Pendora location.
"She picked a great day, too," he said, "because we have our walking school bus."
The escorted walk was started several years ago to assist the kids at the nearby school in arriving safely by foot, Perez said.
There is also a walking school bus from the Northwest Elementary School to the Clinton Street club, he said, noting children also are bussed from city elementary schools to several club sites.
Houlahan, who represents Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which includes Chester and part of Berks counties, followed the children into the clubhouse activities room, where she interacted with them before starting the special town hall meeting.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan shows her Congressional Member's Pin to students from 16th and Haak Elementary School on Thursday as they attend the after-school program at the Olivets Boys and Girls Club in Pendora Park. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
She showed the children a map of her district and spoke in kid-friendly language about how elections and the legislature work, how federal laws are made and what she does in Washington, D.C.
The children paid close attention as Houlahan passed around the congressional lapel pin she wears on a chain around her neck.
It helps the Capitol Police recognize her and other members of Congress, she said.
"This is my magic key that allows me to get into work," she told the kids.
The pin's design features the seal of the U.S., she said, explaining the colors and details are changed for each new Congress and only 435 — one for each member of the House — are made.
"And it says 118 on it because it is 118 times in our country's history that people went to Congress," she told the children.
After her brief presentation, the congresswoman spent a few minutes answering the kids' questions.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan answers questions with Olivets CEO Rick Perez from students from 16th and Haak Elementary School on Thursday as they attend the after-school program at the Olivets Boys and Girls Club in Pendora Park. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
"We're very excited that Rep. Houlahan and other people are paying attention to the great work that we do here at Olivet and how important it is that we get kids back in our clubs," said P. Sue Perrotty, chair of Olivet's board of directors.
The club is rebuilding and rebounding after a set back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
As part of that effort, she said, the board in March named Perez, a former Olivet kid, as CEO.
