Typically, when the idea of communication assets get discussed, news organizations take center stage.

While these organizations are important, many local residents get more everyday information from other local sources. Many of these include what scholar Sarah Stonebly has described as civil society organizations (CSOs). Places like advocacy groups, libraries, places of worship and nonprofits fall under this category.

But beyond these “CSOs,” other community assets, such as local businesses, also play a significant role in informing communities. All of these various institutions are among the assets listed on our map of Delaware County.

While traditional media still has its place in Delaware County, residents share and receive information through a variety of channels. From chatting at local businesses to skimming flyers from nonprofit organizations, Delaware County’s communities find ways to stay connected.

“One of the parts that makes me happiest is when you see two customers who didn’t otherwise know each other all of a sudden strike up a conversation about something. Then, they’re standing there talking for 20 minutes,” said the owner of Scrappy Cat, an antique and curiosity shop in Lansdowne.

Between flyers promoting local events and organizations plastered throughout the store and posts across social media, the shop keeps customers up to date. Conversing with staff and fellow shoppers about Lansdowne and Delaware County goings-on is a hallmark of a Scrappy Cat visit.

“I do hear people say, ‘Oh, I heard you posted this thing.’ And then they start talking about that. That has grown the more that we shared information,” said the shop’s owner. “People are like, ‘I knew I had to come here and find out. Have you heard anything?’ And whether that’s official events or town gossip … All that type of stuff happens a lot in the shop.”

“We constantly need to engage people right now,” said a representative from Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL), an environmental justice advocacy organization in Chester.

The organization frequently visits municipalities across the county to educate council members and neighbors about environmental issues affecting Delaware County, with a specific focus on the Chester community.

“We’ve been doing a lot of that, and that helps bring people together into the knowledge and to the truth of what’s going on,” said the CRCQL representative. “They might not become a member of [CRCQL], but they know now and they can share that with other people.”

Delco Helping Hands, a countywide volunteer-run nonprofit based in Prospect Park, provides resources for Delaware County residents. From a weekly pantry to a community-centered Facebook group, referred to as a ‘village page,” Delco Helping Hands creates a space where neighbors help neighbors.

The Helping Hands private group is an especially useful virtual information hub, serving as a hotspot for recommendations and local happenings while respecting residents’ safety and privacy.

“The Facebook page is like, ‘Where can I get a bed for my child? Anybody have experiences at this doctor’s office?’ So on and so forth,” said a Delco Helping Hands representative. 

“We just try to keep it a safe place, a supportive place,” said the representative, “Some people don’t have a village at all.”

U.D.T.J. (Understanding. Devotion. Take Action. Justice.), a volunteer social justice community center based in Upper Darby provides resources throughout Delaware County. By establishing a physical presence in the communities it serves, U.D.T.J. has become a fixed and trusted organization.

“A lot of community organizations, we have a hub underneath the bridge of 69th Street,” said a U.D.T.J. representative. “That’s where community members have been doing outreach for years.”

According to a U.D.T.J. representative, after more than a decade of organizations providing mutual aid in the same location, county residents know exactly where to go when they need access to specific resources.

U.D.T.J. has also worked to provide information on how to support Delaware County’s immigrant communities, particularly regarding safety and rights. By keeping local establishments educated on issues and equipped with flyers and handouts, U.D.T.J. makes news and resources more accessible.

“[We] made sure to touch base with our local restaurants … [Saying], ‘Hey, just in case, here’s some information that you can put out on the cash register if you want.’” said the group’s representative. “These are small mom and pop restaurants in the community who see the same people every day.”

Delaware County bars and restaurants are also taking it upon themselves to act as information hubs. By providing spaces for local organizations to hold gatherings and even hosting events of their own, these businesses become pillars of their communities.

Dolan’s Bar has been a Ridley Park staple since 1954, a place where locals have convened for decades. Besides drawing a crowd that spans generations, creating a natural communication hotspot, Dolan’s also makes an effort to give back to the community. 

“Everything we do typically has a charitable undertone to it … With bar businesses, if you’re able to throw a party for a purpose, people love that,” said the owner of Dolan’s. “It’s like guilt free entertainment. You know, let your hair down.”

Dolan’s owner recently started up a Business Association in Ridley Park with a fellow restaurateur. As a community located within a central business district, many local owners see the value in creating appealing, safe events for residents to gather, talk, and bond with neighbors.

“If you have good people in office in your town, and they’re there for the right reasons, they’re going to want to better the town with you,” said the owner.