UHH Outreach's Roberta Balsam (left) receives a City Council Citation from Councilman At-Large David Oh's Chief of Staff, Stewart Graham.

The 15th anniversary celebration of the Unitarian Universalist House Outreach Program was held on Oct. 30 in the Community Room of Maple Village at Center in the Park, Germantown.

Stewart Graham, chief of staff for Councilman At-Large David Oh, presented Executive Director Mary J. Fallon with a City Council Citation marking the occasion. The citation highlighted the work of the program, which assists adults aged 60 and older to live independently in their own homes while remaining connected to their community.

Roberta Balsam, Social Services Supervisor, also received a citation highlighting her nine year service to the Outreach Program. Balsam serves as an advocate for clients in an often-frustrating service system and does creative and compelling work with students from Philadelphia University’s Certified Occupational Assistant Program, Drexel University College of Medicine and “Bridging the Gaps,” a summer program involving local Health Sciences students.

“Roberta Balsam, through her energy, kindness, knowledge, empathy, and hard work, has made many invaluable contributions to the lives of older adults and to the education of future professionals in Northwest Philadelphia and to the City, itself,” the citation read.

Outreach holds an annual Holiday Food Drive for Thanksgiving and Christmas to benefit clients. Last year, with the help of volunteers, 83 deliveries were made to deliver 163 bags of groceries to clients. This year Outreach is accepting donations of non-perishable items through Dec. 19.

To learn more about the Outreach Program or to donate to the Food Drive, check out the website at www.uuhoutreach.org or call 215-843-5881.