{"id":102633,"date":"2020-09-02T15:34:10","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T19:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=102633"},"modified":"2020-09-02T20:51:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T00:51:06","slug":"aspire-continues-pandemic-response-with-support-from-northampton-county-and-amans-artisanal-indian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=102633","title":{"rendered":"ASPIRE CONTINUES PANDEMIC RESPONSE WITH SUPPORT  FROM NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AND AMAN\u2019S ARTISANAL INDIAN"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-START-<\/code><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-image-carousel  su-image-carousel-columns-2 su-image-carousel-has-spacing su-image-carousel-crop su-image-carousel-crop-1-1 su-image-carousel-has-lightbox su-image-carousel-has-outline su-image-carousel-adaptive su-image-carousel-slides-style-default su-image-carousel-controls-style-dark su-image-carousel-align-none\" style=\"max-width:400px\" data-flickity-options='{\"groupCells\":true,\"cellSelector\":\".su-image-carousel-item\",\"adaptiveHeight\":false,\"cellAlign\":\"left\",\"prevNextButtons\":true,\"pageDots\":true,\"autoPlay\":5000,\"imagesLoaded\":true,\"contain\":true,\"selectedAttraction\":0.007000000000000000145716771982051795930601656436920166015625,\"friction\":0.25}' id=\"su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3603-2-e1599094098189.jpg\" data-caption=\"Darnell Davis, (front) one of the founders of ASPIRE, assisting Jasmeet Singh, (back) one of the  owners of Aman\u2019s Artisanal Indian Cuisine, bringing hot meals to Third Street Alliance for Women and Children in downtown Easton during the August 28 food distribution.\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"632\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3603-2-e1599094098189.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3603-2-e1599094098189.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3603-2-e1599094098189-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3603-2-e1599094098189-300x400.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><span>Darnell Davis, (front) one of the founders of ASPIRE, assisting Jasmeet Singh, (back) one of the  owners of Aman\u2019s Artisanal Indian Cuisine, bringing hot meals to Third Street Alliance for Women and Children in downtown Easton during the August 28 food distribution.<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3605-e1599094080982.jpg\" data-caption=\"Angel Ackerman, (left) ASPIRE\u2019s Communications Director, explains the contents of the donated meal to Nancy Scott, a blind senior citizen from Wilson borough.\u00a0 The meal came from Aman\u2019s Artisanal Indian Cuisine in downtown Easton during the August 28 food distribution.\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"632\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3605-e1599094080982.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3605-e1599094080982.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3605-e1599094080982-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_3605-e1599094080982-300x400.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><span>Angel Ackerman, (left) ASPIRE\u2019s Communications Director, explains the contents of the donated meal to Nancy Scott, a blind senior citizen from Wilson borough.\u00a0 The meal came from Aman\u2019s Artisanal Indian Cuisine in downtown Easton during the August 28 food distribution.<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script\">if(window.SUImageCarousel){setTimeout(function() {window.SUImageCarousel.initGallery(document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3\"))}, 0);}var su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script=document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script\");if(su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script){su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script.parentNode.removeChild(su_image_carousel_69f60a813cae3_script);}<\/script>\n<p><code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-END-<\/code><\/p>\n<p>(LEHIGH VALLEY, PA) \u2014 Aspire to Autonomy distributed fresh, 40 hot Indian meals to individuals and families on Friday, August 28, thanks to the preparations by Aman\u2019s Artisanal Indian Cuisine and support from Lehigh Valley Sikhs. Masks and hand sanitizer accompanied the meals.<\/p>\n<p>Aspire received a grant totalling more than $8,000 from Northampton County last week to cover the cost of 6,000 masks and 36 gallons (more than 4,700 1-ounce bottles) of hand sanitizer that will be distributed in underserved communities as part of their Pandemic Response Food and PPE events.<\/p>\n<p>To date, through Aspire:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>525 families have received 40 pounds or more of food<\/li>\n<li>About 2,500 individuals received hand sanitizer<\/li>\n<li>Almost 2,200 individuals have received masks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cAspire is excited to work with Northampton County to achieve our mutual goals,&#8221; said Amber Karom, a founder of Aspire and Licensed Social Worker. &#8220;Both Aspire and the county want to protect the residents here, and as a younger non-profit organization that fights trafficking, we have a keen awareness of the needs of the underserved populations in multiple communities. It&#8217;s a good fit. We&#8217;re thrilled to be building this momentum only two years into our mission.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Restaurants and businesses may participate in the pandemic response distributions and\/or through Aspire\u2019s expanding Community Intervention Service program, using on the ground service workers in underserved neighborhoods throughout Northampton County to provide residents with resources such as case management, local food pantries, physical and mental health services, addiction counseling, and personalized referrals to other Lehigh Valley human services nonprofits.<\/p>\n<p>Aman\u2019s Artisan Indian Cuisine in downtown Easton (and Lehigh Valley Sikhs) is the first local business to prepare fresh food for the Pandemic Response. Aspire hopes to connect with more like-minded restaurants and businesses to provide more fresh food to the underserved community.<\/p>\n<p>Planning for future events include Aspire launching a \u201cpop-up\u201d food pantry model to distribute food in more neighborhoods throughout Northampton County. These areas may be identified through our Community Intervention Service pilot program.<\/p>\n<p>Aspire to Autonomy Inc, is a local organization fighting human trafficking in the Lehigh Valley. The CIS program hopes to indentify previously unidentified human trafficking situations. Aspire has received ongoing support from the mayor\u2019s office and The City of Easton and The Hispanic of the Center Lehigh Valley. These conjoined efforts bring food and \u201csafety packs\u201d of hand sanitizer and masks to those in need to protect them from food insecurity and the Covid-19 virus.<\/p>\n<p>To get involved or to learn more about what you can do to end human trafficking, attend one of Aspire\u2019s upcoming FREE virtual Project Underground Railroad trainings providing overviews of human trafficking:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>September 15, 6 p.m., <a href=\"https:\/\/meet.google.com\/iyi-zbvh-vni\">https:\/\/meet.google.com\/iyi-zbvh-vni<\/a><\/li>\n<li>September 29, 6 p.m., <a href=\"https:\/\/meet.google.com\/iyi-zbvh-vni\">https:\/\/meet.google.com\/iyi-zbvh-vni<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Founded in 2018, Aspire to Autonomy Inc. has been on the front lines in the fight against trafficking in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. ASPIRE is <strong>A S<\/strong>upportive <strong>P<\/strong>resence, <strong>I<\/strong>nitiating <strong>R<\/strong>ecovery and <strong>E<\/strong>mpowerment that provides an opportunity for growth and development and fosters <em>autonomy<\/em>. ASPIRE believes in the cultivation of resources, services, community, and human relationships to foster equity and allow dreams to become a reality. For more information or to donate to their Pandemic Response fundraiser, visit our \u201cFeed Northampton County\u201d Pandemic Response page: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2XVSc6w\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/2XVSc6w<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Information provided to TVL by:<br \/>\nSarah Cattin<br \/>\nAspire to Autonomy, Inc.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/pathtoautonomy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/pathtoautonomy.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-START-<\/code><br \/>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner3023'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/' target=\"_blank\" data-id='3023' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner7036'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com' target=\"_blank\" data-id='7036' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-END-<\/code><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?post_type=adverts_posts&p=7036\" class=\"read-more\">Click here to read more... <\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":102634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[69,482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-102633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley","category-press-release-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Aspire-food.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102633"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=102633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/102634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=102633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=102633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=102633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}