First State Community Action Agency

Join us for our Community Dinner on Thursday, June 18, 2026, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Bernice Edwards Training & Resource Center in Georgetown.

For just $1, guests can enjoy chicken broccoli alfredo, garlic bread, tea, lemonade, and water.

These monthly dinners are about more than a meal. They create space for conversation, connection, and access to helpful information and resources. Everyone is welcomed as a guest.

📍 308 North Railroad Avenue, Georgetown, DE 19947

We are also looking for guest speakers and presenters who would like to share useful information and resources at a future dinner. To learn more, contact Culinary Arts Program Manager Martina Winn at 302-856-7761, ext. 139.

Bring a neighbor. Bring a friend. Come share a meal with us.

📚☀️ There’s still time to join Freedom School! ☀️📚

We still have spots available for our Freedom School summer program in Georgetown, and we’re excited to welcome more students for six weeks of learning, leadership, enrichment, and fun.

Freedom School helps students strengthen reading skills, build confidence, develop leadership abilities, and create lasting connections in a positive, engaging environment. From hands-on activities and enrichment to teamwork, field trips, and community-building experiences, it’s a summer designed to help young people grow and thrive.

📍 North Georgetown Elementary School
📅 June 29 – August 6
⏰ Monday–Thursday | 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
💲 FREE for eligible students

Spots are limited, so don’t wait!

👉 Register today at: www.firststatecaa.org/register
Select Freedom School from the program list.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with families, friends, schools, and community organizations.

Summer fun is filling up fast!

Our FREE Summer Enrichment Camps are open for registration, and families are already signing up.

Our Georgetown site is now FULL, but there is still space available at our other three camp locations:

Burton Village (Rehoboth): 10 AM–1 PM
Bridgeville: 9 AM–12 PM
Slaughter Neck: 1 PM–4 PM

Campers ages 5–12 will enjoy active play, creative arts, hands-on science, field trips, friendship, learning, and plenty of summer fun.

This is a great opportunity for children to stay engaged, explore new activities, and make memories in a safe and supportive environment.

Spots are limited, so do not wait!

Register online today: https://form.jotform.com/FSCAA/SEC2026

Please share with anyone who may be looking for summer programming!

Delaware is in the middle of a heat wave, and extreme heat can become dangerous quickly — especially for seniors, young children, and people living with chronic respiratory conditions or other health concerns.

First State Community Action Agency’s Summer Cooling Assistance Program, funded through LIHEAP, may be able to help qualifying households stay safer and cooler during the hottest months of the year.

This support is especially important for households where heat can create serious health risks. If you or someone you know may qualify, please do not wait until the heat becomes an emergency.

Apply online at FirstStateCAA.org or call us at 302-856-7761 to learn more.

Please share this with a neighbor, loved one, or community member who may need help staying cool this summer.

Today, we are celebrating a very special birthday!

Please join us in wishing a happy birthday to our Executive Director, Bernice Edwards.

Ms. Bernice leads First State Community Action Agency with vision, strength, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the people and communities we serve. Through her leadership, she continues to champion the mission of Community Action and the belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and support.

Her dedication can be seen in the work of this agency every day — in the programs we offer, the partnerships we build, the staff she encourages, and the communities we are honored to serve across Delaware.

We are grateful for her leadership, her heart for this mission, and the example she sets for all of us.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Bernice! We hope your day is filled with joy, love, and celebration.

June is National Homeownership Month.

At First State Community Action Agency, we know that homeownership can be an important step toward stability, asset building, and long-term opportunity for individuals and families.

Community Action and homeownership go hand in hand. Through our HUD-certified housing counseling services, we help guide people through the homebuying journey with education, support, and trusted information.

Whether you are just starting to think about buying a home or are ready to take the next step, our housing counselors are here to help.

Homeownership may feel like a big goal, but you do not have to navigate it alone.

To learn more about our housing counseling services, contact us today!

(302) 856-7761
www.firststatecaa.org/register

It’s time for our Friday Spotlight!

Energy education is about helping people better understand how energy use impacts their homes, their monthly bills, and their overall household stability.

At First State Community Action Agency, we know that information is a powerful tool. When families know how to identify energy-saving opportunities, understand available programs, and make small changes that can reduce costs over time, they are better equipped to make informed decisions for themselves and their homes.

Our Energy Educator, Vernon, recently joined residents of the Southbridge Community in Wilmington to share information about our programs and practical tips to help them save energy. These conversations meet people where they are, answer real questions, and connect households to resources that may help them save energy, lower costs, and plan ahead.

And we want to do more of this.

Do you know a community group, neighborhood association, church, school, senior center, apartment community, civic organization, or local event where this information would be helpful?

Invite us in. We want to be out in the community, sharing resources, answering questions, and helping Delaware residents better understand the support available to them.

Thank you to the partners who helped make this workshop possible: Southbridge CDC, Energize Delaware, Delmarva Power, Catholic Charities Diocese of Wilmington, and Energy Coordinating Agency.

If you are looking for an opportunity to build skills, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for work in the food service industry, our Adult Culinary Arts Training Program may be a great fit for you!

This program offers 14 weeks of evening classes in Georgetown and includes hands-on training in a commercial kitchen, instruction from a certified chef instructor, soft skills development, internship training, assistance with job placement, field trips, and the opportunity to earn ServSafe Certification and Alcohol Beverage Server Training Certification.

Program details:

• Start date to be determined
• Monday through Friday
• 2 PM to 6 PM
• Training location: 211 North Race Street, Georgetown, DE 19947

To be eligible, participants must be at least 18 years old, a Delaware resident, and meet additional program requirements outlined on the graphic.

To learn more, call 302-856-7761 and ask for Chef Lee Stewart, Ext. 283, or Martina Winn, Ext. 139.

Please share with someone who may be interested.

Summer camp registration is open!

First State Community Action Agency’s FREE Summer Camp will run from June 29 through July 30 for children ages 5–12.

This summer, campers will enjoy active play, creative arts, hands-on science, exciting field trips, and a safe place to learn, grow, and have fun.

Camp locations and times:

Georgetown: 8 AM–1 PM
Burton Village: 10 AM–1 PM
Bridgeville: 9 AM–12 PM
Slaughter Neck: 1 PM–4 PM

Registration is online. Scan the QR code on the flyer to get started, or call 302-856-7761 for more information.

Spots may be limited, so families are encouraged to register early.

is here!

This week, we are celebrating this amazing group of Howard T. Ennis students who graduated from our “Now We’re Cooking” Program!

We are incredibly proud of these students and all they have accomplished. This program is about so much more than cooking. It gives students of all abilities the chance to practice real skills, work as a team, build confidence, and see what they are capable of in a real-world setting.

There is something powerful about watching students step into a space, learn new skills, take pride in their work, and be celebrated as they learn and grow. That is what this program is all about.

Thank you to Howard T. Ennis School and the Indian River School District for your partnership and for helping create meaningful opportunities for students. We are grateful to work together to invest in their futures.

Congratulations to each of these students. We are cheering you on and wishing you continued success in all that comes next!