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By LISA SCHEID; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau Chief
Saturday, April 16, 1994     Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: FUNDS SAPPED,
ANTHRACITE PROJECT NEEDS SUPPORT

HAZLETON — A Hazleton-based ecumenical group that helped organize
environmental and community groups in Luzerne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties
has lost most of its funding.
   
The Lower Anthracite Project needs about $1,500 a month to continue its
leadership-development activities, said Mary Lou Potoskie, administrator.
    The organization’s tutoring program for Hispanic children, senior citizens
garden and stewardship conference and a series of meetings about the
environment and economics will not suffer because they rely on volunteers,
said the Rev. Eric Snyder, president of LAP’s board of directors.
   
But LAP’s ability to develop community leaders by sending them to workshops
and providing office services is in jeopardy.
   
Potoskie said LAP has enough money to pay her salary until May and keep its
office in the Northeastern Building until June.
   
Earlier this year, executive director Michael Sauers resigned when there
was no more money to pay his salary.
   
Snyder said the organization has just launched a local fund-raising drive.
For most of its six-year history, LAP has relied on grants from national
ecumenical groups, but those funds have have not been renewed.
   
Snyder said most ecumenical groups are experiencing money shortages that
cut into grant renewals. Some groups have shortened their lists of those who
receive grant money; others have stopped giving grants entirely. It’s
unfortunate, he said, that LAP is getting slashed from so many lists, but
other needy organizations are exeriencing cuts, too.
   
Among the organizations that supported LAP were the United States Catholic
Conference Campaign for Human Development, the Lutheran Church of America, the
Episcopal Church Coalition for Human Need, the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem,
the North Shore Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program, the Commission on
Religion in Appalachia, the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist
Church Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
   
LAP grew out of a community drive to save 400 union jobs in Pine Grove,
Schuylkill County. In 1990, the group incorporated and set up its office,
amassing a $60,000 budget for a variety of projects.
   
Snyder said LAP has provided office space and equipment to the local
environmental groups and even brought together the area’s diverse
environmental interests — from Hegins Pigeon Shoot protesters to the citizens
concerned about industrial pollution in Palmerton.
   
Because of LAP, Hazleton resident Julia Velez has become a leader for
Hazleton’s growing Hispanic community. LAP provided leadership training for
Velez, now vice president of the board.
   
Bonita Nelmes, LAP treasurer, said Velez, with LAP assistance, developed a
tutoring program for Hispanic students.
   
Velez also helped write LAP’s book about the area’s Hispanics, called
“Discovering New Friends.” The book was not a popular seller among the general
population of Hazleton, Snyder said. Local clergy have used the book for
sermons, and an organization in Scranton is using the book as a basis for a
similar project.
   
Nelmes said the organization has just embarked on a new project promoting
economic awareness through a survey. LAP plans to work with the Greater
Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and ask area businesses what they make and what
they buy in the city.
   
Victoria Gonzales, 5, works on an arithmetic assignment with the help of
Julia Velez, coordinator of the Lower Anthracite Project tutoring program.
   
TIMES LEADER PHOTOS/DAN SIMON
   
Anna Tepale, 8, and her sister Mariela, 5, both were born in Mexico but now
live in Hazleton. The two young girls, with the help of Lower Anthracite
Project volunteers, are getting help with their homework. The project has a
variety of programs, including leadership-development activities, a tutoring
program for Hispanic children, a senior citizens garden and stewardship
conference and a series of meetings about the environment and economics.