Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Snyder Fund supports FSA’s PA 211 Help Line

The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania (FSA) recently received a $5,000 grant from the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Richard L. Snyder Fund in support of the nonprofit’s Pennsylvania 211 Northeast / Help Line program that provides free information and referrals to emergency health and human services in Pike County.

FSA’s PA 211 NE / Help Line is a free and confidential service that helps people in the communities of Pike County face life’s challenges by connecting them to local resources. The service is available 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, 365 days a year to any resident in Pike County. It saves time and frustration by eliminating the need to navigate a maze of health and human service agencies by organizing all available resources in one localized database.

Contacting 211 connects people to highly trained and experienced caseworkers who can address a diverse set of needs. The database provides information that connects people in need with vital services to address food and housing insecurity, crisis management, emergency shelters, vaccination sites, health clinics, domestic violence, utility and rent assistance, home-delivered meals, mental health, drug and alcohol services, and much more.

“We are thankful to have the Greater Pike Community Foundation and Richard L. Snyder Fund as regional partners in ensuring people have free access around the clock to the information and referral services they need to meet their needs,” said Janyne Gurnari, interim chief executive officer of Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. “The pandemic and its repercussions have reinforced the value of community foundations and the vital work they do to support and build resilient, family sustaining communities.”

The Greater Pike Community Foundation enables generous people, families, and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term

community philanthropy. The foundation provides a permanent and personal way to give back to the region that so many have nurtured and maintained through the years. For more information about establishing a fund, or to discuss how to realize charitable goals, please contact Jenni Hamill, executive director, at jennihamill@greaterpike.org or call her at (570) 832-4686. Additional information about the foundation is available at www.greaterpike.org or on its Facebook page, Facebook.com/GreaterPike.

“The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania provides a vital service to residents of Pike County through its Pennsylvania 211 Northeast program,” said Hamill. “The board and foundation are proud to be able to support a worthwhile program that has a positive impact in the daily lives of the residents we serve.”

A group of involved and concerned members of the community established FSA in 1895 in order to provide diverse services that empower children, individuals, seniors and families to reach their full potential by building healthier relationships, and ultimately stronger communities. Today, FSA’s 13 programs provide services to residents in 17 counties, including Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Any resident in PA 211 NE’s coverage area can access it by calling 211, texting 211 (898-211, plus a zip code), or by logging on to www.pa211ne.org.

For more information about FSA or to support its programs, please log on to www.fsanepa.org, call, (570) 823-5144, or email, families@fsanepa.org.

Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania received a $5,000 grant from the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Richard L. Snyder Fund in support of the nonprofit’s Pennsylvania 211 Northeast / Help Line program that provides free information and referrals to emergency health and human service needs 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, 365 days a year. PA 211 NE / Help Line is a free service that helps people in Pike County face life’s challenges by connecting them to the local resources they need.

Participating in the ceremonial check presentation, from left, are Paul Krzywicki, senior grant writer and communications manager, Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Jenni Hamill, executive director, Greater Pike Community Foundation.