Outreach- Center for Community Resources to Host a Parent Cafe Outreach- Center for Community Resources will host its upcoming parent cafe on Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event will take place at Outreach, located at 431 North 7th Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. The events topic, “Falling Into Family: Gather, Grow, and Recharge”, will provide parents with an opportunity to connect with others, share experiences, focus on self-care, and recharge while reflecting on the people and things that matter most. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. A complimentary dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Free childcare will be available with registration. Attendees will also be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card. For more information, call or text Chrissy Colon at (570) 955-7857. Registration is available by scanning the QR code in the photo below, and by filling out the form with necessary information.
Outreach Awarded $75,000 Grant from William McGowan Fund The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund has graciously awarded Outreach – Center for Community Resources $75,000 to support Adult General Educational Development “GED” programming at Outreach’s Seventh Avenue Center. The McGowan Fund has provided tremendous support to Outreach and its programming for adults in Lackawanna County. Left to right: Jennifer Shoemaker, Outreach Prison, Reentry, and GED Manager; Nikki Price, Court, GED, Young Adult, Prison, Reentry, and Workforce Development Program Director; Leo McGowan, William G. McGowan Charitable Fund Board of Directors President; and Lori Chaffers, Outreach President/CEO. Outreach provides GED services to community members at the Outreach Seventh Avenue Center and in 2025 re-initiated GED classes and testing at the Lackawanna County Prison. Attaining a GED is not only a milestone achievement for many, but it also has the potential to increase earnings by 25%. More than 600,000 adults in Pennsylvania lack a high school diploma. This equates to 9.4% of residents aged 25 to 65 who have not completed their high school education or obtained a GED (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Outreach began providing GED services at its Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting from providing services at the Lackawanna County Prison. This proved to be a critical moment in the development of Outreach’s GED program, allowing them to serve not only individuals reentering the community from incarceration, but many others from young adults to seniors. Outreach employs two full-time GED instructors who work directly with participants, providing one-on-one and small-group sessions. Outreach is the educational provider at the Lackawanna County Prison, and connects individuals to Outreach’s programs upon release, including GED. Many GED participants are justice-involved individuals. Achieving a GED can significantly alter an individual’s life trajectory and help families achieve stability. The GED is a four-part exam that is certified as equivalent to the academic knowledge required for a high school diploma. The average individual takes 240 hours of studying to pass all sections. Many Outreach participants’ schedules are busy with family, work, and other obligations. Outreach GED instructors work with each individual to create a GED tutoring and preparation plan that best suits their needs. Outreach’s GED programming aligns with the William G. McGowan Fund’s priority of providing adults with the building blocks they need to flourish and address the root causes of poverty. The McGowan Fund’s continued support of Outreach GED programming has made a significant difference in the lives of individuals and families, enabling them to advance their careers and futures by achieving a GED.
Outreach Receives Grant from SACF Outreach – Center for Community Resources recently received a $10,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for the Ways to Work car loan program. Photo (left to right): Kenneth Okrepkie, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board Member; Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Jennifer Shoemaker, Outreach Workforce Development Manager, and Heather MacLennan, Ways to Work Case Manager, Outreach – Center for Community Resources. Established in 2024, the Ways to Work program helps low-income individuals obtain a reliable, safe vehicle to maintain and advance their employment opportunities. Eligible participants must meet a series of requirements verified by Outreach staff. Participants can receive up to a $15,000 loan over five years. Outreach employs a Ways to Work program manager who maintains constant contact with the participant throughout the loan, providing support and connections to resources when necessary. Since starting the program, Outreach has provided vehicles to eight individuals. The program has helped individuals and families attain economic self-sufficiency and family stability, which is the Outreach mission. Outreach is thankful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for its support.
Outreach Awarded $100,000 Grant by AllOne Foundation & Charities Outreach – Center for Community Resources (Outreach) is grateful and thrilled to have been named one of ten recipients of a $100,000 grant from the AllOne Foundation & Charities’ (AOF&C) Founders Impact Grant as part of AOF&C’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. From left: President & CEO of Outreach, Lori Chaffers, CEO of AllOne Foundation & Charities, John Cosgrove, Program Officer of AllOne Foundation & Charities, Nora Kern. In April, AOF&C visited Outreach’s Seventh Avenue Center to tour the facility, speak with staff, and gain a firsthand look at the work generously supported by AOF&C. During this visit, AOF&C surprised Outreach with a check. Outreach excitedly kept this information confidential until the official 10th anniversary celebration. On Friday, October 10th, at The Banks Waterfront in Pittston, PA, AOF&C kicked off its 10th Anniversary celebration by announcing the Founders Impact Grant recipients who will help meet its goal of awarding $50 million to Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania by the end of this anniversary year. Outreach received a $100,000 unrestricted grant to address the organization’s greatest needs. Outreach supports individuals and families by providing services to help them attain stability and economic self-sufficiency. Outreach offers a variety of evidence-based programs, including Parents as TeachersⓇ, SafeCareⓇ Augmented, and the Incredible YearsⓇ Parenting Program. Outreach also offers a toddler play & learn group, family reunification services, supervised visitation, prison reentry, life skills programming, GED tutoring, and workforce development. Since 2022, one program, graciously supported by AOF&C, has been Outreach’s postpartum doula services. This program connects pregnant women with an Outreach postpartum doula to provide education and support during the earliest days of their infant’s life. AllOne has been a valuable partner in bringing this critical service to families in Lackawanna County. From left: Community Outreach & Resource Development Director Liz Ratchford, Program Director II Angela Seibert, Doula Erica Baltrusaitis, Carlene Gula, Doula Giuliana Ealo, Outreach President & CEO Lori Chaffers, CEO of AllOne Foundation & Charities John Cosgrove
Outreach to Host Annual Children’s Career Fair Have you ever asked your child what they want to be when they grow up? Do they want to work with reptiles? Be a firefighter? A physical therapist? A barber? A librarian? A banker? – the list goes on! At Outreach – Center for Community Resources’ annual “Children’s Career Fair – Professions for Parents, Too!” event, your child can explore these exciting career pathways while engaging with real professionals in the field. The event will be held Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10 am—1 pm, at Outreach’s Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton. During this time, the grounds of Outreach will transform into a career hub for children to experience hands-on activities and get a firsthand look at potential careers. The event will feature free live entertainment, food and beverages, and a school supplies giveaway for attendees. Free parking will be available at Redner’s Markets on 7th Avenue in Scranton. Colts Bus will provide complimentary bus transportation to and from the parking lot. Outreach welcomes sponsors and businesses interested in hosting a booth. If you would like more information on how to get involved, contact Lori Ryan at 570-558-7565.
Outreach – Center for Community Resources Receives Grant Outreach – Center for Community Resources recently received a $10,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation for the Ways to Work car loan program. Established in 2024, the Ways to Work program helps low-income individuals obtain a reliable, safe vehicle to maintain and advance their employment opportunities. Eligible participants must meet a series of requirements verified by Outreach staff. Participants can receive up to a $15,000 loan over five years. Outreach employs a Ways to Work program manager who maintains constant contact with the participant throughout the loan, providing support and connections to resources when necessary. Since starting the program, Outreach has provided vehicles to eight individuals. The program has helped individuals and families attain economic self-sufficiency and family stability, which is the Outreach mission. Outreach is thankful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for its support. Photo (left to right): Kenneth Okrepkie, Scranton Area Community Foundation Board Member; Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Jennifer Shoemaker, Outreach Workforce Development Manager, and Heather MacLennan, Ways to Work Case Manager, Outreach – Center for Community Resources.
Outreach Hosts Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast to Celebrate National Volunteer Month April is National Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate and honor those who give back to their community. Volunteers are at the center of Outreach—Center for Community Resources‘ work. To show this appreciation, Outreach hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, April 4th, at the Seventh Avenue Center in Scranton. The breakfast invited those who give their valuable time and resources to the organization throughout the year to come together and be honored for their efforts. Volunteers are crucial to the success of Outreach’s programming. Volunteering opportunities include tutoring GED participants, becoming a youth mentor as part of the Skyview STEM after-school programming, sorting and wrapping gifts for Outreach’s Toyland Workshop, helping clean the grounds of the Center, and so many more opportunities and events throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more, contact Julie Chowanec at 570-558-7569 or email outreachworks@outreachworks.org Since 1988, Outreach – Center for Community Resources has served individuals and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The mission of Outreach is to help individuals and families attain economic self-sufficiency and family stability through evidence-based programming. Outreach has served over 30,000 individuals throughout the region in 35 years, including many living at or below the poverty line. Outreach is committed to helping move families forward towards brighter tomorrows.
Outreach Hosts Early Childhood Community Meeting On March 4th, Outreach – Center for Community Resources, members of the Scranton School District board and staff, Maternal & Family Health Services (MFHS), the United Way, Children’s Issues in a Changing World, and other key regional stakeholders came together for a valuable discussion on building school readiness, promoting parental involvement, and improving the coordination of services for children throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The event was held at the Allied Services Luger Scranton Rehab Center on Morgan Highway. The more than 50 attendees explored topics such as early identification, engaging parents, transitions between birth to 3 and 3 to 5, and transitions between 3 to 5 and kindergarten. Outreach President/CEO Lori Chaffers (L), Scranton School District Assistant Superintendent Al O’Donnell, and John F. Kennedy Elementary School Principal Nora Phillips (R) opened the meeting by discussing the critical needs of our community’s youngest members. Following the opening remarks, attendees were divided into four discussion groups, each tackling a different topic of interest. Staff members of the Scranton School District and Outreach facilitated the groups, helping guide the conversation. By the end of the discussions, the group determined the next steps, including discussing the possibility of creating a nonprofit index for Lackawanna County and increasing opportunities for parental engagement. This was the first in a series of discussions regarding early childhood in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Outreach and the Scranton School District have not announced a date for the next meeting.
Outreach Hosts Allied Services Career Event Allied Services Integrated Health System and Outreach – Center for Community Resources will host a career event on January 8, 2025, from 11 AM – 1 PM at the Outreach LEAD (Lead, Educate and Develop) Center in Scranton. The address is 431 North 7th Avenue, Scranton, PA. This event will feature on-site management who will be able to discuss current career opportunities available at Allied Services. Career opportunities available include nursing, mental health services, and support services. Allied Services does provide paid training opportunities for those who qualify.
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.
