Outreach – Center for Community Resources and its Annual Toyland Workshop Outreach – Center for Community Resources recently held its annual Toyland Workshop at its Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton. Outreach received tremendous support from local donors, businesses, and organizations. These donations provided an array of toys, pajamas, books, and gifts for Outreach families to give to their children on Christmas morning. Families are also provided grocery gift cards to help with the cost of a holiday meal to share. Students at Geisinger College of Health Sciences, and Holy Cross High School each held toy donation drives at their respective campuses. At the same time, Johnson College employees held a drive at their institution to collect gifts. Each drive was very successful, and Outreach is incredibly grateful to each school and all donors for their generosity. It is truly a marvel to see the toddler playroom at the Outreach Seventh Avenue Center overflowing with toys and filled with the spirit of the season’s generosity each and every year. Many of Outreach’s families live below the Federal Poverty Level, and the holidays are often an extra financial burden. Adults come into the Outreach Center and shop for their children, allowing them to choose the toys and books for their children. The Toyland Workshop helps alleviate some of that burden and helps create a bit of Christmas magic.
Keystone Mission Christmas Meal Operation – Volunteers and Donations Needed Keystone Mission’s Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Innovation Centers for Homelessness & Poverty are gearing up for the Christmas season. Following the success of serving over 280 meals during Thanksgiving, the team is preparing for an even greater impact this December. On Monday, December 23rd, Keystone Mission will host a special Christmas Meal for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Scranton Innovation Center will begin serving at 12 PM, followed by the Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center at 4 PM. “As the colder weather drives more people indoors, we’re distributing additional winter supplies and serving more meals,” says Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager. “We encourage the community to get involved—not just during Christmas, but throughout the season—by donating essential items or volunteering.” Keystone Mission is currently seeking volunteers to assist with the Christmas Meal, whether by serving food or contributing needed items. For more information on volunteering or bringing a dish to share, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/volunteer. For more information on most needed items, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/donate-goods.
Pennsylvania American Water Awards $36K+ in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Funding In conjunction with Black History Month, celebrating the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and struggles of one the United States’ diverse populations, Pennsylvania American Water today announced the recipients of its annual corporate funding aimed at supporting inclusion, diversity and equity efforts. Charitable donations awarded to 13 organizations across the company’s service territory totaled $36,500. “Investing in organizations that promote inclusion, diversity and equity-related initiatives is a key component of Pennsylvania American Water’s community engagement strategy,” said company president Justin Ladner. “Through this funding, we demonstrate our continued commitment to helping create inclusive and welcoming communities across the Commonwealth.” Pennsylvania American Water selected the following organizations across its service territory that support and reflect the company’s inclusion, diversity and equity values and efforts: NEPA Youth Shelter Scranton Fringe Festival ACLAMO African American Chamber of Western PA Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation CEO Commission on Economic Opportunity City of Coatesville Keystone Business Alliance Layers of Black History LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County Norristown Chamber of Commerce Rainbow Rose Center 2nd Century Alliance “We are extremely thankful for the generous donation that Pennsylvania American Water contributed to the Layers of Black History book drive,” said Corey Dupree, one of the organization’s co-founders. “With their donation we were able to provide over 150 books highlighting diversity and representation in literature. We are beyond excited to continue spreading the mission of sustainability and environmental justice alongside partners like Pennsylvania American Water!”
People’s Security Bank & Trust Donates Over $900,000 to Local Organizations Through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, Peoples Security Bank & Trust (PSBT) has been able to donate over $900,000 to private schools, scholarship organizations, pre-kindergartens, school districts, universities, and other non-profit organizations during 2023. The EITC Program allows businesses the opportunity to support local organizations by reallocating a portion of their tax dollars for donation purposes through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The donations were used to fund scholarship programs, educational supplies, school grants, and innovative educational programs. Eighty-two organizations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley have benefitted from these allocated funds. Since 2015, PSBT has donated over $6 million through the EITC program. “It is part of our responsibility to give back to our local communities. Through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, we have an opportunity each year to make advances in student education that will last a lifetime. Receiving a quality education leads to our communities becoming more cultivating, vibrant, and inclusive,” says Jeffrey Drobins, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer.
Outreach- Center for Community Resources Receives Donations from Local Donors Outreach – Center for Community Resources received a generous donation of toys from local donors, including Holy Cross High School, Johnson College, the Kiwanis Club of Scranton, Covenant Presbyterian Church Women’s Group, and Bret and Sarah Naugle. The donated toys will allow Outreach families to pick out gifts to give to their children on Christmas morning as part of Outreach’s annual Toyland Workshop. Outreach supports families experiencing adverse life events. For many of these families, the additional costs of the holiday season can be burdensome. Outreach seeks to alleviate some of this stress with help from local organizations and donors. Each year, Outreach’s Toyland Workshop provides families with much-needed support during the holiday season and a little Christmas magic. Outreach families are welcome to “shop” the workshop, which provides every child with a toy, a book, and a warm pair of pajamas. Donated toys and pajamas are categorized by age and size, allowing caregivers to select the perfect present for their child. Additionally, caregivers are provided with a grocery gift card to assist with purchasing food for a holiday meal. Outreach is grateful to the many individuals, families, and organizations who purchased toys or pajamas for local children. This event would not be possible without the generosity of others in the community. Through this generosity, the Northeastern Pennsylvania community has helped advance Outreach’s mission of family stability and economic self-sufficiency. For over 35 years, Outreach has made helping families thrive our highest priority. Outreach builds strong families and communities by offering resources for employment training, parenting, early childhood education, youth mentoring, community reentry, adult GED services, wrap-around case management, and more. Outreach improves the lives of nearly 5,000 adults and children annually with evidence-based workforce and family development programs that support individuals as they navigate life’s challenges.
Fidelity Bank Makes Multiple Donations In late August, Fidelity Bank donated $50,000 to Marywood University. ($25,000 from Fidelity Bank and $25,000 from the Fidelity D&D Charitable Foundation.) Pictured: Dan Santaniello, President & CEO of Fidelity Bank, Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., President of Marywood University, and Dragan Jokic, Assistant Vice President & Retail Branch Manager of the Dunmore branch. In late July, Fidelity Bank donated $7,500 to Sisters of IHM. ($2,500 from Fidelity Bank and $5,000 from the Fidelity D&D Charitable Foundation) Pictured: Bob Brown, President of Sisters of IHM, Sister Ann Bubser, Executive Director of Sisters of IHM, Dan Santaniello, President & CEO of Fidelity Bank, and Lori Barrett, Vice President & Senior Trust Officer at Fidelity Bank, and also Treasurer of Sisters of IHM. In late July, Fidelity Bank donated $2,500 to the Cody Barrasse Memorial Foundation. Pictured: Dan Santaniello, President & CEO of Fidelity Bank, Lori Barrett, Vice President & Senior Trust Officer at Fidelity Bank and Joseph Barrasse from the Cody Barrasse Memorial Foundation.
Keystone Mission Receives Donation from Wegmans Food Market In the last six months, Wegmans in Wilkes-Barre has supported Keystone Mission’s Transformation Center through the Make a Meal Program.One of the five structured pillars of Keystone Mission’s Transformation Center is Life Skills Training. Part of this programming includes residents learning how to make meals for healthy living. Trained by staff and volunteers, residents are then given a weekly allowance to budget, purchase food at a local grocery store, and prepare meals.Wegmans is one of the local partnerships that has provided residents the ability to shop locally and reap the benefits of healthy living through healthy eating.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Partners with Macy’s for the Holidays This holiday season, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Macy’s join together through Macy’s Mission Every One. The partnership will kick-off this holiday season inviting Macy’s customers to round up purchases in-store and donate online from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, 2022. Visit Dickson City Macy’s and WilkesBarre Macy’s.
FNCB Bank Toys for Tots Drive Yields Hundreds of Toys for Area Children FNCB Bank, locally based since 1910, is pleased to announce they recently held a bank-wide Toys for Tots drive that yielded hundreds of toys for children in Northeast Pennsylvania. The drive was conducted in all 16 community offices as well as FNCB’s Corporate Centers in Dunmore. Midge MacArthur, FNCB Bank Dunmore Community Office Manager, spearheaded the project. “The generosity of our customers and employees is truly incredible,” said MacArthur. “Every year we do this, the number of toys donated increases. It’s because of this generosity, that many kids in NEPA will have a brighter holiday season.” The support of Toys for Tots is part of FNCB’s larger Community Caring initiative. As a true, local community bank, FNCB Bank is making a difference through volunteerism, donations and outreach programs.
Designs by Olivia Grey is Collecting Donations for Ukraine Designs by Oliva Grey has partnered with St Vladimir Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Scranton to help collect newly requested military and tactical supplies. Please note, only new or gently used donations/supplies will be accepted at this time. Donations may be dropped off either at our storefront during business hours at 206 Depot St. Clarks Summit, PA, 18411 or St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church at 430 N 7th Ave, Scranton,Pa.
