HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE 2007

HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE 2008 Activities, strategies and ideas for maintaining your mental health through the holiday season. Activities November 27th - AA @ 4th and Pine has a meeting at 8:00am and lasts all day long. November 27th – William Way is having their fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Potluck Dinner. Starting Time: 3pm. Get to know some new people and enjoy some great food. The cost of admission is simply bringing part of the meal to share with everyone. Something-for-everyone is the flavor choice, be it a turkey, dessert, vegan, or vegetarian dish. Please RSVP to 215-732-2220 and indicate what item you plan to bring to the potluck. You need to RSVP (215732-2220) and bring a dish to share. November 30th - Arch St. United Methodist Church – Aids Awareness Sunday. Dr. William Short a physician at Jefferson Hospital specializing in internal medicine and immunology and long associated with HIV/Aids issues in Philadelphia will be the guest speaker at both services on Sunday, November 30, 2008 as part of ASUMC’s observance of World AIDS Day. December 6 -- United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall on Haws Avenue in Norristown – AA annual Christmas Party, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM December 29 – Gratitude Meeting – 1333 West Erie Ave at East Baptist Church from 7pm-10pm For sober activities throughout the season, call Southeastern Pennsylvania Intergroup Association at 215-923-7900 ** Please note the William Way Center does not have their Christmas and New Year’s schedule posted yet – but make sure to call them in the next few weeks to see what is scheduled. 2 The holidays can be a stressful time for GLBT people or families with GLBT members, but there are several strategies that you can use to help reduce stress and create a happy holiday this year. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender...  Don’t assume you know how somebody will react to news of your sexual orientation or gender identity — you may be surprised.  Realize that your family’s reaction to you may not be because you are GLBT. The hectic holiday pace may cause family members to act differently than they would under less stressful conditions.  Remember that “coming out” is a continuous process. You may have to “come out” many times.  Don’t wait for your family’s attitude to change to have a special holiday. Recognize that your parents need time to acknowledge and accept that they have a GLBT child. It took you time to come to terms with who you are; now it is your family’s turn.  Let your family’s judgments be theirs to work on, as long as they are kind to you.  If it is too difficult to be with your family, create your own holiday gathering with friends and loved ones.  If you are transgender, be gentle with your family’s pronoun “slips.” Let them know you know how difficult it is. Before the visit...  Make a decision about being “out” to each family member before you visit.  If you are partnered, discuss in advance how you will talk about your relationship, or show affection with one another, if you plan to make the visit together.  If you bring your partner home, don’t wait until late into the holiday evening to raise the issue of sleeping arrangements. Make plans in advance.  Have alternate plans if the situation becomes difficult at home.  Find out about local GLBT resources.  If you do plan to “come out” to your family over the holidays, have support available, including PFLAG publications and the number of a local PFLAG chapter. During the visit...  Focus on common interests.  Reassure family members that you are still the same person they have always known.  If you are partnered, be sensitive to his or her needs as well as your own.  Be wary of the possible desire to shock your family.  Remember to affirm yourself.  Realize that you don’t need your family’s approval.  Connect with someone else who is GLBT—by phone or in person—who understands what you are going through and will affirm you along the way. 3 Are the Holidays Getting You Down? Holiday songs tell us "It's the happiest time of the year." While we like to think of this season as a time of joy, festive parties, warm family gatherings, and optimistic hopes for the new year, sometimes our idealized expectations are not met and we end up feeling anxious, let down, disillusioned, alienated, and/or stretched to emotional limits. Pre-holiday stress. Mid-holiday frenzy. Post-holiday letdown. Each of these, or the cumulative effects of all them all, can result in a case of the "holiday blues"--or even more serious conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders. Commonly-Experienced Causes of the "Holiday Blues": Increased levels of stress are invariably cited as one of the biggest contributors to the "holiday blues." In addition to stress, some of the other oh-so-common factors that can lead to the "holiday blues" include: o o o o o o o Fatigue Unrealistic expectations Feeling bombarded by over-commercialization Strained relationship issues that surface when families get together Reminders of past losses of significant loved ones Sadness over the contrast between "now" and "then" Adapting to changes in family configurations and logistics for celebrating together caused by such new situations as divorce, marriage, blended families, adolescents who no longer celebrate the holidays as "children," and grown children establishing their own independent holiday traditions Financial constraints and demands The inability to be with friends and family Residue stress from unfortunate past experiences during previous holiday seasons Tension caused by the additional demands of shopping in holiday crowds, heavier-thanusual traffic, entertaining, holiday baking, long-distance travel, family reunions and/or houseguests o o o o Useful Strategies For Keeping Stress To A Minimum Oftentimes, people try to counter the emotional strain they're feeling by drinking more than they should, over-eating or even placing still further demands on themselves and going to bigger and more elaborate efforts to try and ensure their holidays are the best ever. Throughout the coming weeks, consider engaging some of the following strategies for getting around potential sources of the "holiday blues": Keep your expectations for the holiday season manageable: Be realistic about what you can and cannot do-as well as what you want to do and don't want to do. Although the holidays often mean trying to fit a lot of activities into a short period of time, pace yourself and, to the degree it's possible, try not to place your entire focus on just one day (e.g., Thanksgiving Day, Christmas morning, New Year's Eve), instead, remember it's an entire season of holiday sentiment and that activities can be spread out (time-wise) to help increase enjoyment and lessen stress. Set realistic goals for yourself; make a list and prioritize the most important activities; ask for and accept help; simplify! 4 Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely: During the holiday season, there's room for feelings such as sadness and/or loneliness to be present along with other more joyful emotions. You may be feeling out of sorts and periodically out of sync with the season's "jollier" aspects because of a current stressor, for example, a recent romantic break-up, or dealing with an adolescent child who's expressing their newfound independence by not participating in this year's family traditions. When you feel down, avoid critical self-perceptions, such as thinking of yourself as Scrooge and, instead, try to articulate the understanding you need from those around you. You might also consider seeking the help of a therapist to help you sort out your feelings and deal with the troubling issues. Limit predictable sources of stress: If you feel the annual trappings of shopping, decorating, cooking and attending social events risk becoming overwhelming and stressful, use discretion and limit the activities you commit to. Don't fall prey to commercial hype: Advertisers would like to have you believe that "if you really loved your spouse" you'd give him or her that expensive new gadget or piece of jewelry or that you should be the "perfect Santa" and grant your kids' wishes for this year's pricey crazes. Recognize the ads and commercials as hype that manufacturers and stores have to do to benefit optimally from the season. You can show love and caring in lots of thoughtful ways which don't cost a lot and that make the holidays all the more meaningful and personal. Get together with friends and family members: As much as possible, share the holidays with friends and family members in person, as well by phone, e-mail, and mail. The holiday season can also be a good time to contact someone you have not heard from for awhile. If who have recently suffered the loss of someone especially close, spend time with special friends and family members with whom you can reminisce and share stories and warm memories about your loved one. Attend holiday community events: Most communities offer special events during the holidays, such as theatrical and orchestral performances, that can be enjoyable to look forward to and to attend. Join a social group: Feelings of loneliness and isolation can often be remedied by participating in activities with others. This can also help in opening up the potential for making new friends. You might consider looking into groups affiliated with your local church, museum, library or community center. Engage in volunteer activity: Helping others is a pretty foolproof method of making the holidays feel more meaningful. There are many volunteer organizations that need extra help during this time of year. Enjoy activities that are free: Financial strain can be the cause of considerable added stress during the holidays, however, there are many ways of enjoying the season that are free, including driving or walking around to admire holiday decorations, going window shopping without buying, making a snowperson with children, and attending free concerts. 5 Don't abandon healthful habits: Don't feel pressured to eat more than you're accustomed to just because it's the holiday season. And, since many of the season's parties and social gatherings include alcohol, be aware that excessive drinking will only contribute to or increase feelings of overwhelm or depression. Alcohol is NOT an antidepressant and, in fact, often worsens mood. Make the time to get physical exercise: Exercising, for example, aerobics, walking, skiing, hiking, yoga, or swimming, can help burn away a lot of stress as well as the extra calories of holiday meals. Remember that life brings changes: As families change and grow, traditions often need to adapt to the new configurations. While you can hold onto certain family rituals, for instance, a certain holiday activity or preparing a longcherished family recipe, some traditions, such as everyone gathering at your house, may not be possible this year. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by comparing this year's holiday season with the nostalgia of past holidays. Spend Time With Supportive and Caring People In all of the ways listed above-as well as any other opportunities you can think of that specifically apply to your life-it cannot be emphasized enough how important it can be to spend the holiday season in the company of supportive and caring people. Many have found that seeking the counsel of a therapist during this time of year provides just the kind of support and care that helps them with the many emotional issues that arise in response to the holidays. Therapy provides a safe, comforting, and confidential setting in which to receive the kind of help and understanding that can best assist in first relieving, then understanding, and finally recovering from the effects of any feelings of sadness, disillusionment or loneliness you may be feeling. The Effect of the Shorter Darker Days of Winter For some people, the shorter, darker days of winter are enough to bring them down. When this is the cause of "winter-time blues," it's commonly referred to as SAD, which is short for Seasonal Affective Disorder. The word "affective" relates to emotions, and for those who experience SAD, their emotions go into a tail-spin throughout the winter months, causing such symptoms as depression, fatigue, anxiety, chronic over-eating and social withdrawal that persist until Spring brings longer, lighter days. If you feel down for days on end during the holidays, it's important to seek advise from a mental health professional as soon as possible, particularly if you notice that your sleep and appetite are affected. SAD is very treatable; even the most severe cases can receive almost immediate relief once treatment has begun. Could It Be Depression? The demands of the holiday season can overload an already stressed, almost depressed emotional system. If you are unable to shake what you think are the "holiday blues," you may be 6 suffering from depression. The difference between the "holiday blues" and depression is essentially based on the duration of the symptoms and the degree of severity. When symptoms such as the following last for two weeks or longer, it could, in fact, be depression: o o o o o o o o o o Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood Sudden loss of pleasure and interest in activities that are usually enjoyed Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness Difficulty sleeping, or increased sleeping Behavior that is more nervous or agitated than normal, or more slowed and unresponsive than normal Complaints of being tired all the time and having low energy Significant weight loss or gain Persistent physicals symptoms that don't respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, muscle or joint pain Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Thoughts of suicide** Depression is very treatable--but first it must be recognized. If you or someone you care about are experiencing any number of the above symptoms of depression, consult a mental-health professional as quickly as possible. Depression is not a sign of personal weakness; people suffering with depression cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. If left untreated, the depressive symptoms will only continue on beyond the holiday season and progressively worsen, causing needless pain and suffering, not only to the person who is depressed, but also to those who care about them. Untreated depression can even become a lifethreatening disorder as it persistently distorts thinking, making the individual feel more and more hopeless about themselves and life in general. The American Psychiatric Association reports that "80% to 90% of all people with depressioneven those with the severest cases-improve once they receive appropriate treatment." Basic ways to treat depression include therapy, medication, and a combination of the two. There are therapists who are particularly skilled at helping those who are suffering from depression so that they're better able to enjoy a winter holiday season that's merry and bright and to look to the new year with hope and optimism. **Suicidal ideation is always a serious matter and should be immediately responded to by enlisting professional assistance, for instance, calling "911," and/or seeking help from a local suicide hotline (listed in your Yellow Pages under "Crisis Intervention Services"), and/or contacting a local mental-health professional. 7 HOLIDAY STRESS Dr. Heidi Lilienthal In some way, we are all affected by this time of year (no matter what our religious affiliation). At the very least, everyone is affected by increased time spent in the check-out line at the store. I once heard a suggestion by someone who did not wish to "participate" in the holidays. He suggested that there be a special "non-participator" line at each store so that people who just want their gallon of milk can get it without waiting forever. Well, instead of us all becoming "non-participators" or simply continuing to "suffer through" what is meant to be a joyful time, here are a few suggestions for decreasing holiday stress: 1) PLAN AHEAD: Try to get various tasks completed before the holiday rush. (too late for that one? Keep reading.) 2) PRIORITIZE: Since "everything" will probably not get done "perfectly," decide what really matters. Do you really need to bake cookies for everyone in the Western Hemisphere? Or would wearing a smile all day and giving someone a "cut" in line at the post office or bank be just as meaningful? (Besides, rest assured, those extra calories will find other ways to our loved ones!) 3) LET GO: In addition to prioritizing tasks for the holidays, just simply let go of as many tasks as possible. With each task you remove from your self-imposed to do list, notice the surge of relief and joy envelope you! 4) GET SUPPORT: Support from other people (and pets) is probably THE most effective intervention no matter what the stressor. From illness to school stress to work re-organization stress, support is significantly effective in making the difference for many! Just read many of the articles in the Journal of Human Stress (another sign of our times -- an entire scientific journal devoted to stress!) So, whether it is support in maintaining sobriety, staying on a healthy diet, or scheduling for someone to be with you so you are not alone on the holidays -- get some support! 5) REMEMBER THE REASON: No matter what one's religious affiliation, a time of giving can be uplifting! If Christmas is not your holiday, offer to cover a shift for a co-worker who would really appreciate the time off. Even if you do not have someone to spend time with over the holidays, offer to volunteer to visit a shut-in (in addition to making their holiday brighter, you'll help yourself in the process.) Volunteer your time and energy in some small way that is not necessarily monetary -- not only will this meaningful contribution make you feel good, the ripple effects will be farreaching! When I recently tried to explain to my 3 year-old son that Christmas was baby Jesus' birthday celebration, he said, "gee mom, it's always someone else's birthday! Never mine!" Children can reflect societal influences quite well. 6) BE CHILD-LIKE AGAIN: My son does have this one down! "Wow Mommy," he exclaims as we travel towards home, "look at the beautiful lights there and there and there!" Let your senses soak in the sights, sounds and smells of the season. Touch the soft bows 8 and cuddly bears. Smell the scent of pine and apple cider. Taste the delicacies; savor them instead of scarfing them. Stop to reflect in front of the lights -- be they in the shape of a star or a tree or a Santa figure -- they are all beautiful and fun! While rushing around, take a moment to stop and enjoy in your own authentic and positive way! However you spend the holidays, may you find something good this year -- even if it is the thought that "soon it will be over!" Sustaining Healthy Family Life: Tips For Overcoming The Holiday Stress Blues By Dr. LeslieBeth Wish, the Official Guide To Healthy Family Introduction Few of us are immune to holiday stress. It doesn't help that Thanksgiving and Christmas are so close together. For many people, it's like getting a second-wham of anxiety and disappointment before you recover from the first one at Thanksgiving. Because our American culture still promotes the image of the happy family with the white picket fence, we often assume the ideal family exists--even if we know that these families, too, have holiday difficulties. Holiday movies increase our disappointment. Oh, they might start out with family feuds, misunderstood children and unacceptable mates, but all these issues get resolved by the end of the film. In reality, most families have a few issues that are unresolved. What may be stressful to one family may not be to another, yet despite the differences, the top holiday stresses are familiar to most of us. What can you do to make the holidays a happier time? Everyone's situation is unique, but here are the top problems and solutions. All names and identities have been changed. 1. Unrealistic expectations of happiness, joy and acceptance The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time. If you have unresolved issues, hopes run high that the festivities will propel family members to act with greater kindness and emotional responsibility. Unfortunately, holiday time is not necessarily the best time to try to settle grievances or have one of those long, heart-to-heart talks with a family member. In fact, you might end up with nothing more than a lot of words and raised hopes-with little follow-up after the holidays are over. The first thing to do is to lay the groundwork for a renewed relationship long before the holidays. Start by sending emails or birthday and anniversary cards. You want to send the message that you care about them and that you have changed. It's usually not a good idea to play a game of history where you review your past complaints. A long family meeting where you air your past anger won't necessarily result in changing other family members' behavior or attitudes about you. More effective change usually comes from your acting differently-and surprising them with the new you. Acting unpredictable in a positive way is a potent strategy for shaking up family members' old views and treatment of you. For example, if you've been regarded as the wayward child, you can demonstrate your maturity by telling the family about your life changes and speaking to each relative about things that are important to each of them. Even though it can take months for attitudes and behavior to change, when you act in a different and positive way, the family is more likely to notice you've changed. 9 Of course, if there is a timely hot topic that has to be addressed, then speak to other family members about ways to coordinate a strategy. For example, a common issue is how to care for a close relative who has dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Some families divide up the tasks of researching doctors, nursing homes and other care facilities in the area. Family members then use emails to remain in touch. 2. Rigid rituals Rituals sustain the family emotional glue. They provide an easy format to recall and chart family growth, connection and cooperative decision-making. In addition, the holidays give families an opportunity to celebrate "who we are and why we matter." Later, as you mature, these family events provide a forum for testing your maturity, feelings and assumptions about yourself and others. You can assess family members with your own eyes and come to different or refined conclusions about how your family operates. You can forge your own identity and role as well as establish resources in the family through selected people. However, rituals are often unresponsive to change. Family ruts are easy to get into. For example, mother always sits here, father there. It's amazing to see the power of even these simple acts. Yet, not everything can stay the same. Family members are lost and added through death, marriage, birth and feuds. Life demands flexibility. Rather than complain about a ritual, recruit the key person in the solution. Be prepared to provide a reason and ideas. For example, no one wants to hurt Cousin Dee's expectations about hosting the Thanksgiving feast. However, now the family is too large to fit into her dining room. If you have a better idea, discuss it with other members, including the person whom Cousin Dee responds to with the least defensiveness. Then, have this person seek Dee's advice about some related issue such as how to arrange the seating order or what chairs to use. If you are that designated person, act perplexed about the best way to accommodate the growing family. You might mumble about moving chairs or using the kitchen. You might even say things such as: "Gee, it's too bad Cousin Tina hasn't offered to have the Thanksgiving meal at her house. Then we could have the next day brunch all day at your house, where it's more fun and casual. Do you think Cousin Tina would want us messing up her new carpet?" Of course, you've already cleared it with Cousin Tina. The goals are to get creative and positive and to turn the key family members into key players in the solution. Finally, take advantage of changes in the family to forge new traditions. Use events such as births, marriages, remarriages or college graduations as springboards for new gift-giving, different homes for the celebration or more flexible seating arrangements around the dining table. These changes might prompt innovative ways of sharing the holiday. For example, you can divide up Christmas into Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas dinner. 3. Issues of divorce and re-marriage: Emotional adjustment of children, acceptance of new partners or being alone Divorce and remarriage challenge family interactions and rituals. Old feelings about former spouses or divorce in general can affect the family's reactions. The family of the new spouse may have rituals that conflict with established ones of the other spouse. If all the major family players get along, invite the exes. This approach is especially important for young children who have trouble adjusting to being shuttled back and forth between family events. Including the new spouse's children can also cause problems. For example, Jesse was used to being the star athlete in the family. His mother worried that he might not welcome his new step-cousin who also happened to be the star athlete in the 10 family of her new husband. Solutions include making a list of potential problem areas and providing solutions. Discuss these solutions with key family members and ask for their advice. When Jesse's new, blended family came together at Thanksgiving, his mother and stepfather were smart enough to tell the parents of the cousin that they were bring video footage of Jesse's recent top plays and to bring videos of their athlete son also. Luckily, the two boys played different positions, and each had a chance to show off his talents. The son and cousin bonded over football war stories rather than competed for the spotlight. Being alone at the holidays can intensify issues of being single or divorced. Feeling alone in a crowd can be very painful. One way to lessen the discomfort is to stay in touch with other family members and ask them to help you by spending extra time with you or by not mentioning your divorce, for example. The goal is to take charge of your unhappiness and get remedies in motion before the holiday. 4. Absent spouses and other family members due to death, sickness or war Every family deals with the hot topics of death and illness according to their comfort zone with uncomfortable feelings. Reactions range from avoidance to healthy grief to reverence and idealization. For example, in Renee's family, no one dared mention her grandfather who recently died in a knife fight in a federal prison. He was the shame of the family. Yet, the silence about him prodded the younger grandchildren to ask why they didn't receive the candy basket that grandpa sent every year. Renee said the scrape of chair legs and the clink of forks filled the silence. The children asked again, and an aunt turned to them and said to be quiet. In contrast, Bill's mother died when Bill was fifteen. At the holidays, everyone mourned her loss by retelling stories about her beauty and the tragedy of her dying so young. But Bill, now an adult, recalled vivid and painful memories of his mother's drug abuse and violent temper. Usually, in families that mismanage grief and perceptions, there is at least one person who rings the bell of truth. Knowing when to challenge family views requires support from other family members and an accurate assessment of your family's strengths and weaknesses. If you want to discuss taboo topics, you may first want to test the family emotional waters by finding out who shares your views and then develop a plan about what and when to broach the subject. Upsetting the Thanksgiving meal, for instance, is probably not the right moment to discuss grandpa. Instead, you might want to start email discussions about your feelings and see how the family responds. In general, family members who are not present due to circumstances such as illness, death or war should not be overlooked. Susannah's father served in Iraq during Christmas. The family decided to set a place for him, and everyone had a chance to say a few words about him. Susannah and her brother read letters addressed to him. At first, the ceremony brought tears, but then the reverence strengthened the family's emotional connection to each other. Susannah said a sense of peace overrode their sorrow. 5. Overeating You don't have to gain weight during the holiday season. No one wants to start the New Year with yet another resolution to lose fifteen pounds. Of course, the best way to fight the sprawl is to get on an exercise and eating regiment months ahead of time. But, if you haven't been so diligent, one solution is to start a Sensible Portion Club within your own family. Email everyone to join your club and pledge each other that you will all help each other not overeat. 11 If that doesn't seem popular, recruit the few cooperative family members and agree to sit next to each other. Tracy even took the club a step further. She recruited the interested relatives, and they all agreed to have their own table-just like the kiddies table-so they could support each other's self-control. Don't deprive yourself and miss out on Aunt Maya's chocolate mudslide dessert. Instead, agree to have a taste-with nothing larger than a soup spoon. 6. Gifts: How much to spend and to whom to give them Gift-giving, especially in large families, can be expensive, time-consuming and anxiety-provoking. Does Alyssa still like pink? Rather than being an overwhelming experience, gift-giving can become part of the family tradition. Some families put everyone's name in a hat and each person draws the name of one person to receive a gift. Others set spending limits or agree to buy stocking stuffers and gift cards to favorite stores. Sam's family pooled their money and took long weekends at a favorite place. Giving to charities can also become a family tradition. Marsha's parents decided that in order to get a gift, you first had to donate a toy, clothing or household goods to a local charity. Don't lose sight that gift giving should be fun and not a popularity contest. You can't please everyone. If you assume that people are responsible for their own happiness, then you won't waste time and energy worrying about things such as whether you should have bought Cousin Charlie a tie instead of a DVD. 7. Travel related problems: Expenses, distances, not enough time off from work Holiday travel can often feel like a cruel test of your patience, pocketbook and perspiration. Travel delays, missed flights and cancellations are so common that people expect them now. No one can control weather and overbooking, but you can better prepare for mishaps. Here is a short list of suggestions to ease the travel burden. * Mail gifts far ahead of time and insure them. * Pack medicine, toothbrush, make up and a change of clothes in your carry on. * Don't overpack. Try to fit everything you need in a carry on. Ship the rest. * Try not to take the last flight or train to your destination. If the plane or train is overbooked, cancelled or delayed, then you may be spending the night in the airport or station. Get the other flights and trains that depart that day. Also get the names and phone numbers of hotels in both your area and the city where you must make a connection. * Arrange vacations ahead of time at work. * Budget yourself. You don't need to pay holiday prices for a few nights in a hotel. * Bring a good book or work to do. * Most importantly, bring a smile and a sense of humor. 12 SOME OTHER RESOURCES AND CONTACTS: Hall Mercer 8th and Locust Streets Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 829-3461 Hall Mercer Crisis Response Center (24 hours) 8th and Locust Streets (215) 829-5433 Suicide and Crisis Hotline (24 hours) 215-686-4420 Office of Emergency Shelter and Housing Services 1315 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-6785 Domestic Violence Counseling 215-564-5301 Thomas Jefferson University Hospital 111 S. 11th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-955-6000 Alcoholics Anonymous Philadelphia 444 N 3rd St. Suite 3E Philadelphia, PA 19123-4179 Main: (215) 923-7900 E-mail: manager@sepennaa.org http://www.sepennaa.org The William Way Community Center 1315 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-732-2220 13