CENTER TWP — Children suffering the trauma of being removed from their homes as well as people in need in Butler who take part in the nightly free dinners at five downtown churches are the two main groups among the latest to be supported by the Intermediate League of Butler.

This year, 16 nonprofit organizations were chosen to receive $17,200 raised at the 72nd annual Intermediate League Antiques Show & Sale, held March 15 through 17 at the Tanglewood Center.

Yolanda Cypher, the league’s new president, said Isaiah 117 House and the Butler Community Meals committee will receive the largest donations.

Cypher explained that after each year’s Antiques Show & Sale, which is the league’s largest fundraiser, a committee of six members who accepted applications for donations sits down to carefully read each request for donations and the specific projects on which the funds would be used.

The committee then takes its recommendations to the full membership for a vote on donations.

Other organizations to receive donations from the event are: the Associated Artists of Butler County, BHS Foundation, Butler Area Public Library, Butler YMCA’s Reach & Rise program, Butler County Symphony Association, Butler Little Theatre, Children's Advocacy Center of Butler County, Friends of Preston Park, Grapevine Center, Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center, Kid's Weekend Backpack Program, Musical Theatre Guild of Butler, Tanglewood Center and the Maridon Museum.

Cypher said Isaiah 117 House and the Butler Community Meals committee were chosen to receive the two largest portions of the funds for a simple reason.

“We felt that’s where the biggest need was,” Cypher said. “We also like to support women and children.”

Abbey Walsh, location leader at Isaiah 117 House, said the home being refurbished to house children who were removed from their homes should be complete and ready for tenants by October.

She said the Isaiah House in Butler County will be the first in Pennsylvania.

Walsh expects other counties to follow suit after they learn of the vital work being done at the Butler County Isaiah House, where children removed from their homes stay until they enter a foster home.

She said the threefold mission of Isaiah 117 House is to reduce trauma for children awaiting placement, lighten the load for child welfare services like Butler County Children & Youth Services, and ease the transition for foster families.

Walsh said children can live at the house, under the supervision of a county CYS caseworker, until the best possible placement is found for them.

“The goal isn’t just placement, but the best placement,” she said.

Walsh said caregiving volunteers with Isaiah 117 House who have their clearances and are trained in trauma try to spoil the children living in the house and hold fun activities for them.

“We are here to be the fun aunt and uncle,” Walsh said.

Residents are given $300 worth of new clothing with tags, school supplies, hygiene items and anything else they need. If they ask for a new pair of Nike shoes to start school in, Walsh said they will get them.

“We want them to know ‘this is mine,’” Walsh said of giving only new items to residents. “No one has had these before.”

Having those items when they enter foster care or kinship care with a relative eases the financial burden on that family.

“We love lavishly,” Walsh said. “These are not hard kids. They just have hard stories.”

She said 180 children are placed into foster care in Butler County each year.

When Isaiah 117 House officials initially met with county CYS leaders to ask if they would be interested in partnering to house children who are removed from homes, there was no hesitation.

“There was a resounding ‘yes,’” Walsh said.

As of 2023, there were about 40 Isaiah 117 Houses in the U.S., with more being built or renovated.

Cypher said in addition to helping the needy, the Intermediate League’s donations support several organizations related to the arts.

“It makes our community more beautiful,” Cypher said.

She deemed the 2024 Antiques Show & Sale a success, and she said she enjoyed seeing a new contingent of shoppers this year.

“We are seeing a little bit younger crowd coming through,” Cypher said. “They are looking for things from the 1950s to the 1970s.”

She said new members are informed that help with the show is expected of all members.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” Cypher said.

New president

Cypher has been a member of the General Federation of Women’s Club for 43 years and served as president from 2018 to 2020.

The motto the retired hospice nurse chose for her time in office is “collect beautiful moments,” which is what she considers a good description of the work done by league members.

She said past donations from the event’s proceeds include those for new bassinets for babies born at Butler Memorial Hospital and repeated donations to the Children’s Advocacy Center, where forensic interviews of minors are conducted and several programs combat crimes such as human trafficking or provide mental health support to young abuse victims.

In 2023, the Children’s Advocacy Center received a $20,00 donation from the league, Cypher said.

“Our projects focus on women and children for the most part,” she said. “Work to improve the community has always been a club goal.”

Cypher’s goals for her presidency are awareness and prevention of mental health issues and childhood grief and trauma.