Keystone Mission: Giving Thanks Despite the Circumstances Before being served a Thanksgiving Meal, guests at Keystone Mission’s Scranton Innovation Center location stood in front of their peers to give thanks. To encourage an atmosphere of gratefulness, staff asked if anyone wanted to share what they were thankful for. Several individuals who were waiting for a meal rose their hand to talk about what God has been doing in their life despite their current circumstance. One guest gave glory to God about finally being cancer free. Another encouraged those around her that real community is found “the walls of Keystone Mission.” “Though we may think without a home or stable job, there wouldn’t be much to be thankful for. Their testimonies were eye opening, and I believe it gave everyone in that room – volunteers, staff, other guests – a new perspective on their own situation,” says Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager. In total Keystone Mission served over 280 meals across their locations in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre for Thanksgiving. “We are grateful to each volunteer who assisted in serving and prepping a dish for our guests. This means so much to our guests. It’s amazing how a simple act of kindness can go a long way during the holiday season,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director.
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 Hosts Grand Opening for Seeds of Hope Community Garden The Scranton Chamber of Commerce spread the ribbon on Keystone Mission’s opening ceremony for the Seeds of Hope Community Garden behind their Scranton Innovation Center. The idea of a community garden sprung to life in April 2023 and is designed to facilitate the development of life and vocational skills for guests at the Mission. The initiative engages Center guests, staff, and the local community to actively participate in planning, growing, and harvesting of fresh produce. After a successful summer of harvesting a variety of vegetables and spices, the garden received a handcrafted sign to commemorate the many hands that played a vital role in planning and upkeeping the garden. “This coming-together of staff, guests of our Pathfinder’s Program, many community organizations, and local residents is a true testament to what can be accomplished when we come together,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director. “This project is now a reality, and it is wonderful to experience the foliage and fresh produce from the garden. We hope that community members will stop by and enjoy the scenery that exudes from the ambience of our Seeds of Hope Community Garden!” Keystone Mission recognizes the many hands that made this possible such as the Pathfinder’s Program, The Scranton Area Community Foundation, Michael McAllister, Scranton Counseling Center, Mr. Mulch, The Hughes Family, and the Klee Family. Keystone Mission gives special recognition to Mitchell Hreha and his company, 3VKG, for donating time and material to build a handcrafted Seeds of Hope Sign. To find out more about how you can participate or benefit from the Community Garden, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/seeds-of-hope/.
Keystone Mission to Host 2024 Gala Keystone Mission invites you to enjoy a delightful evening of delicious food and mingling with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference in our community. When: Sunday, September 29th from 4-7pm. Where: Fiorelli’s Family Catering in Peckville Your attendance and support at the Gala will directly impact the lives of individuals facing homelessness. Do you or someone you know own a business? We would love to see you become a sponsor! See the link for more details on how you can get involved in helping the homeless, hungry, and hurting people in Northeast PA!
Keystone Mission’s Rejuvenation Project Receives Grant Keystone Mission’s Rejuvenation Project received a generous $10,000 grant from The Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant. The Rejuvenation Project aims at equipping individuals experiencing homelessness with the tools they need to rebuild their lives. Through this project, Keystone Mission is establishing the Seeds of Hope Community Garden, expanding access to showers, and offering comprehensive training through the Pathfinders’ Vocational Program. Thanks to the generous funding, the Rejuvenation Project has a tangible impact on homeless individuals, providing them with the resources and opportunities to rebuild their lives and regain independence. “We are grateful for the partnership of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Together we are creating a greater impact on the lives of our guests.” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director. “It is essential for the unsheltered community and those experiencing economic hardship and food insecurity to have access to the necessary tools required for their betterment.” Keystone Mission is thankful for community partners like Scranton Area Community Foundation for supporting the mission to bring help and hope to the homeless, hungry, and hurting people in Northeast PA.
Keystone Mission Raises Money for NEPA Gives Coming up on year five, Keystone Mission took part in NEPA Gives, a 24-online giving event that’s all about giving back to the community. On June 6-7, 2024, Keystone Mission’s goal was to raise $10,000 toward the transportation needs of Transformation Center residents. Together, the community helped Keystone Mission surpass the goal and raise over $15,000! Whether it is medical, dental, and mental health appointments or traveling to a job interview, transportation is essential to connecting residents of the 24/7 shelter program to the proper resources and changing their lives. “NEPA Gives 2024 is an amazing experience for Keystone Mission. We are appreciative to our matching donors and other general donors for their generosity. These funds will bring much relief to our Transformation Center residents, making attending and receiving specific services easier. We can’t thank our donors enough!” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director. “Even through a tough economic climate, our donors rally with us to fill the transportation gap in our programming. We can’t thank the community enough for their unwavering support,” said Jillian Mirro, Communications & Marketing Manager. Keystone Mission recognizes the generosity of the local organizations that provided matching gifts: Pioneer Construction Company Inc., Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation, Dustbusters Cleaning Team Inc., Cross Valley Federal Credit Union, Deluxe Detail, Citizen’s Saving Bank, and Medico Construction Equipment Inc.. Keystone Mission is grateful to the NEPA community that came together to aid in our mission of life transformation.
Keystone Mission’s Day of Planting Sprouts New Beginnings Keystone Mission’s guests, volunteers, and staff gathered to sow the fruits of their labor on May 31 to celebrate a day of planting for the Seeds of Hope Community Garden. This joyous occasion marked a milestone in the program’s journey to benefit the Scranton community by providing access to healthy foods, the ability to cultivate new relationships, and the promotion of fellowship among neighbors.The success of this day wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of numerous other volunteers who selflessly contributed their time and energy. “This has been a culmination of a lot of hard work and over six weeks of planning,” said Michael McAllister, a Seeds of Hope volunteer. McAllister donated numerous hours and resources to make the project possible. “This is going to be great!” Reggie, a guest from Keystone Mission’s Pathfinder Vocational Program, eagerly joined in the planting activities. His excitement mirrored the anticipation shared by all participants, especially those facing homelessness. Seeds of Hope represents an opportunity for personal growth and self-sufficiency. By actively participating in the planting process, individuals like Reggie become not only recipients but also contributors to the garden’s success.
Keystone Mission Recipient of Leadership Lackawanna’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Grant Keystone Mission has been selected as a grant recipient for Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, a leadership program comprised of high school juniors in Northeastern PA, for their 2024 grant cycle. In conjunction with Scranton Area Community Foundation, administrator of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Fund since 2007, a check was presented to Keystone Mission’s Scranton Pathfinders Program. Pathfinders is a workforce development program used to teach and train “guests” on the needed on-the-job skills while connecting them with sustainable employment. Since its inception, we have seen over 320 individuals come through the program, gaining skills and sustainable employment. As the program continues to grow in popularity among those whom Keystone Mission serves, the program will begin offering certifications in areas like ServSafe, Peer to Peer, Flaggers, Certified Nursing Assistant, and more. “Keystone Mission is honored to have been selected as a recipient of this year’s SACF and Leadership Lackawanna Tomorrow’s Leaders Today grant. We believe in the work that is done to help prepare our young people and will have an indelible impact on their lives for many years. We wish the class of 2024 the very best in their current and future endeavors,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director.
Keystone Mission Announces the Opening of its Overnight Shelter On behalf of Keystone Mission, Wilkes-Barre City Mayor George C. Brown on Friday announced the upcoming opening of the organization’s overnight shelter, at its Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center for Homeless and Poverty. The center is located at 90 East Union St., and the opening ceremony is scheduled for Monday, June 17, at 4:30 p.m. Mayor Brown said funding for the shelter for the current year is made possible through a $109,500 grant from the city’s American Rescue Plan funds, spearheaded by the mayor and unanimously approved by Wilkes-Barre City Council in April. The overnight shelter’s hours of operation will be from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. Mayor Brown said the overnight shelter will dissolve the Code Blue shelter that operated during the winter months, from October to March. He said the shelter will be able to provide overnight services for approximately 50 individuals at a time. In addition to providing a physical shelter for homeless individuals, Keystone Mission’s Innovation Center helps its guests in obtaining identifying documentation, housing application assistance, educational programs in addition to free haircuts, meals, laundry services, clothing, showers and more. Keystone Mission’s mission statement is: “To be a catalyst for the community, to provide help and hope to the homeless, hungry, and hurting people in Northeast PA.”
Keystone College Provides Update on its Future On Friday, May 17, 2024, Keystone College announced that it is in the final stages of executing a letter of intent and funding agreement with a strategic partner to create a new partnership that will provide Keystone with a roadmap for a long-term path forward. While details of the agreement are not yet public, the day-to-day operations of the College and its academic mission will remain essentially unchanged. Both parties felt that discussions had crossed a critical point which would allow the College to announce that an agreement is imminent. Any agreement will be subject to the final approval of the College’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which will be notified of the parties’ intentions as soon as the signed agreement is finalized. Approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education and the United States Department of Education will also be necessary. During the review period, which may take up to a year, Keystone intends to continue uninterrupted operation of classes, as well as all other college activities and intercollegiate sports, and continues to accept and enroll freshman and transfer students for the Fall 2024 semester. Keystone will conclude its current academic year with its 153rd commencement on Saturday, May 18, on campus. “Keystone College is absolutely thrilled to reach this point in our discussions with our strategic partner,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr. “For the past several months, we continued to say we were hopeful that an agreement with an innovative partner could be reached while fulfilling every obligation to our accreditor to prepare for closure, should that be necessary. We are so thankful to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who continued to believe in us as well as to the educational partners that are included in our teach-out plan. Since its founding in 1868, Keystone’s motto has been “Progress Through Effort” and we continue to work long and hard to secure a positive outcome so we can look to the future with promise and optimism. The agreement is just the beginning as there will be much work to do on our path forward in the days ahead. But we do have a path forward and we intend to work very closely with Middle States to ensure successful continuation of operations.” On May 15, the College submitted all of the necessary components of an “implementable teach-out plan” and institutional status report as requested by MSCHE. That plan is under review by MSCHE. “This partnership agreement demonstrates the need for innovation and forward-thinking in today’s highly competitive educational market,” said Tim Pryle, Vice President of Enrollment, Institutional Advancement and Marketing. “With a continued decline in college-age population, and other challenges, many colleges and universities across the nation, including Keystone, will continue to find themselves in financially difficult situations. The need to find and develop strong partnerships with organizations willing to share responsibilities, goals, and missions is becoming increasingly more important, even critical. We believe we have found just such an innovative and dedicated partner and are grateful to join with them on our journey.”
