Keystone Mission Receives Grant from UNICO Foundation

UNICO Foundation Supports Shelter for Homeless in NEPA

(from left to right): Chris DiMattio, UNICO Foundation Chair; Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Execuitve Director; Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager; Michael Rescigno, Committee Chair, UNICO Foundation Torraco Food Bank/Shelter Fund

With the rise in homelessness over the past three years, shelter plays a vital role in supporting homeless men and women get back on their feet. Keystone Mission opened their first 365-Overnight Shelter in June 2024 with hopes to bring safe and secure environment for individuals on the streets to seek refuge during all kinds of weather.

Since its opening, Keystone Mission has already seen over 320 unique individuals come through the shelter, be provided nutritious meals, gain shower access, and get connected further into case management and outside resources.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the UNICO Foundation as we strive to provide safe and secure shelter for men and women seeking refuge in Northeast Pennsylvania,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director.

The UNICO Foundation has partnered with Keystone Mission and presented them with a $1,000 check to support the 365-Overnight Shelter that hosts 50 individuals each night who would otherwise be without shelter during the year.

“The UNICO Foundation is pleased to support such a worthy cause, especially in these challenging times,” said Michael Rescigno, Committee Chair, UNICO Foundation Torraco Food Bank/Shelter Fund.

The Ralph J. Torraco Food Bank/Shelter Fund Grant provides funds through community-established food/shelter programs that provide food and shelter to those in need.

Keystone Mission Keeps Growing with New Community Garden

The Seeds of Hope Community Garden will soon extend across Keystone Mission facilities as a new in-house program for guests experiencing homelessness.

The Seeds of Hope program is designed to facilitate the dual development of life and vocational skills. The initiative engages Center guests, staff, and the local community to actively participate in planning, growing, and harvesting of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Guests are integral to the planning process and are responsible for the ongoing garden maintenance throughout the season. As part of this hands-on experience, guests utilize the harvested fruits and vegetables to prepare meals, concurrently gaining insights into their nutritional value.

“Learning to cultivate crops addresses both food insecurity, which greatly affects unsheltered individuals but also equips individuals with transferable skills that may enhance their employability,” says Lasha Wyman-Klein, Scranton Program Director.

Beginning in May, planning committees are set to be in place and the gardens will be active in their Scranton & Wilkes-Barre locations.

“One of the goals we hope to accomplish by establishing this community garden is how best we can foster positive relationships between the community and the unhoused/unsheltered/homeless population,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director.

Keystone Mission is seeking community individuals & businesses to become part of their planning committee and work alongside staff and guests. For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/seeds-of-hope.

Keystone Mission Real Talk

REAL TALK was started to educate and bring awareness to the ever-growing pandemic of homelessness in Northeast PA. Keystone Mission is determined to be the “Catalyst for the Community…” and hosting the event REAL TALK where Justin Behrens, CEO & Executive Director, sits outside for 24-hours straight and engages with community members, local business owners, local, state, and federal officials on the topics around homelessness. 

This year, Justin will be stationed at the Public Square in Wilkes-Barre starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Justin will be sharing about our new 15-bed Transformation Center and how Keystone Mission will use its programming to bring about REAL change in the lives of men across NEPA. 

Last year Justin engaged in conversations with local pastors, local officials like Mayor Paige Cognetti (Scranton), former Luzerne County Manage, Dave Pedri, State Representatives, State Senators, local community members, and former guests of Keystone Mission on topics of government programs, the barrier to receive help, Keystone Mission programming, and more. 

Local Organizations Receive Almost $250,000 to Reduce Homelessness

FHLBank Pittsburgh recently announced Home4Good funding awarded to programs across the state working to reduce homelessness, including seven organizations in Lackawanna County and one in Luzerne County that split $248,190.55.

FNCB Bank was one of six local financial institutions to serve as a member co-applicant to make these awards possible. Distribution of the funding was overseen by local Continuum of Care organizations.

Home4Good is a flexible grant product that supports projects, programs and activities that lead to stable housing for those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. In response to COVID-19, FHLBank Pittsburgh and their partners – the Delaware State Housing Authority, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (collectively, HFAs) – changed the 2020 Home4Good process so that funding could more swiftly reach communities, families and individuals experiencing homelessness as a result of COVID-19.

FHLBank Pittsburgh awarded $4.8 million to the 2020 Home4Good initiative. The HFAs in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia added an additional $2 million, bringing the total funding amount to $6.8 million.

Local organizations receiving grants were: Valley Youth House Committee, Inc., Community Intervention Center, Catherine McAuley Center, Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton, Inc., United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, Women’s Resource Center Inc., Saint Joseph’s Center and the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO).

“The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is grateful for its partnership with the United Neighborhood Center, the Scranton Lackawanna County Continuum of Care, and the continued support of FNCB Bank. WRC provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in our community. The monies allocated were used toward staffing for homeless prevention, rehousing as well as cleaning supplies. Also, rental assistance for its program participants,” said Amy Everetts, Women’s Resource Center Director of Development.

If you have any questions about Home4Good, please contact Kate Swanson at Kate.Swanson@fhlb-pgh.com or 412-288-7350.