Building a Community, One Person at a Time - Manna on Main Street’s Vision Comes to Life at North Penn Commons

Building a Community, One Person at a Time
Manna’s Vision Comes to Life at North Penn Commons

I had one of the best days of my life at the Grand Opening Celebration for North Penn Commons (http://www.northpenncommons.org/) on Saturday, October 8.
Admittedly, I have a bias – I have served on Manna’s board since 2007, including several years as Board Secretary.
Let me tell you about how I spent that day, so you can see why I was elated.
My wife and I ate brunch side by side with Manna’s regular guests. We were served by volunteers from Merck, a major supporter of Manna – including a long-time friend from our son’s Cub Scout Pack (and our church as well).
We even saw the local elected official who recognized our son’s Eagle Scout project for Indian Creek Foundation at Borough Hall (Senator Mensch).
We also chatted with Mayor Andy Szekely, a consistent Manna supporter whom I first met at the 2009 celebration of publication of “Those People”, former Executive Director Tom Allebach’s humble ode to service to others.
In short, we saw the original vision for North Penn Commons come to life in Lansdale: a place defined not by walls, or by organizations, but by community.
Paraphrasing Benjamin Franklin, North Penn Commons has given Lansdale a community, “if we can keep it”. I encourage our local leaders to support North Penn Commons, for the benefits the project will deliver to everyone in the North Penn region.