The Wright Center Hosting Blood Drive in Honor of Injured Scranton Detective

The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive on Friday, Feb. 9, to honor a city police detective injured in a January shooting.

Regional residents can make an appointment to donate blood between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at The Wright Center’s Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., by visiting redcross.org and using sponsor code: The Wright Center or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

The drive is in honor of Scranton police Detective Kyle Gilmartin, who was shot on Jan. 11 in West Scranton. He and other Scranton police officers were investigating a pair of gang-related gunfire incidents at the time. After being treated at Geisinger Community Medical Center, Detective Gilmartin is recovering at a rehabilitation center.

“As a medical organization, we want to help where the need is greatest, and January is a time when there are critical blood shortages here and nationwide,” said Gerri McAndrew, co-director of The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement. “We know that treating Detective Gilmartin required a lot of blood, so we thought hosting a blood drive in his honor would be fitting.”

In addition to helping address the blood shortage, anyone who donates blood in February will receive a $20 Amazon gift card by mail.

Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center operates 10 primary and preventive care practices, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health, in Northeast Pennsylvania. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services.

To make an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

YMCA News

YMCA to Hold Cooking Classes

The YMCA will be gathering in the kitchen and café every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in January for cooking lessons and healthy habits discussions. 🍽

The Tuesday and Wednesday classes go together, with the Tuesday class a discussion on what will be prepared on Wednesday. Our Thursday class will be a standalone class focusing on preparing meals on a budget.

Registration is required for each individual class. For members, each class costs $5.00 and for non-members, $10.00.

View the schedule and reserve your spot by visiting us online! https://www.greaterscrantonymca.org/…/kitchen-club/.

YMCA to Hold Outreach Program

We Are Y is an inclusive community outreach program that provides individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities access to recreational activities that encourage staying active, building interpersonal relationships among peers, self-sufficiency, and aid in developing cognitive abilities.

Recreational activities will rotate weekly and will be followed by light refreshments before departing.

JANUARY PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
1/5: Post Holiday Craft – Draw what made us most happy during this holiday season!
1/12: Imagination Playground – Obstacle Course and base building
1/19: Habitat Drawing – We will pick a habitat type and then draw out the species that belong to that specific habitat (animals, plants, etc.)
1/26: Create your own Super Hero – We will craft our own unique original super heroes and write short descriptions of them (powers, secret identity, backstory, etc.)

YMCA Receives Grant from North Pocono Student

North Pocono High Schooler Gwendolyn Powell presented the Greater Scranton YMCA with a grant award totaling $5,713.50.

Gwen is a youth competitive golfer, participating in national and local PGA Junior Golf Tournaments. Through her participation in the American Junior Golf Association, Gwen signed up for their Leadership Links Program, which helps youth impact their community and help others by golfing for a cause.