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Nonprofit agency wants to make holidays bright for the many flood victims and needy in its area.
Elaine Lee, executive director of Interfaith Friends, and Dr. Paul Herberner with a few of the toys they have collected. Lee said about 600 families have registered for the holiday assistance program, about 100 more than last year.
Clark Van Orden/The Times Leader
TUNKHANNOCK – For more than 30 years, Interfaith Friends has offered the community a thrift store, a back-to-school shoe program, winter boots, seasonal food baskets, home visits and health care, assisting Wyoming County families in times of need and emergency.
In September, the nonprofit agency joined the ranks of the needy. Rain from Tropical Storm Lee caused the Tunkhannock Creek and then the Susquehanna River to overflow, flooding the basement of the Interfaith Friends office on East Tioga Street.
“We did not have time to react to our own flooding issues,” said Elaine Lee, executive director of Interfaith Friends. “A second location was immediately opened to offer services such as cleaning supplies and clothing to flood victims.”
Once the water receded, the organization, built on helping others, found itself dealing with stinky flood mud, too.
Before the flooding, Interfaith Friends received help from area businesses to remove computers and files from its basement. And after the flood, the area business Rainbow International volunteered to clean out the basement for free, she said.
The agency has barely missed a beat, but other flood victims in the community still need help.
Interfaith Friends is one of five agencies and nonprofit organizations being featured in this year’s edition of The Times Leader’s Giving Guide.
There is widespread need throughout the area, but the hardship is unique in communities flooded in September. Each organization spotlighted in this week’s series either was flooded, strained its resources helping people in the inundated areas, or both. Readers are asked to consider contributing to one or more of these worthy causes this holiday season.
With cold weather settling in and holidays less than two weeks away, Interfaith Friends is reaching out to help area families with holiday gifts and food baskets.
Lee said the communities of Forkston, Falls, Noxen and Mehoopany are still cleaning up. “They are at different stages,” she said. “Some homes only had water in the basement; others had it up to the second floor.”
Adding flooding to a tough economy and job market has increased demand on services from the agency this holiday season.
Lee said about 600 families have registered for the holiday assistance program, about 100 more than last year. These families will receive a food basket with the ingredients for a holiday dinner, some gifts for children and a few stocking stuffers.
Lee said another 80 families were selected, based on their circumstances, to be “adopted” for the holidays. This number is up from 65 accepted last year. These families will receive a food basket, gifts for all of the children’s requests, a tree and decorations.
All the items for the holiday are being donated by area schools, businesses and colleges, Lee said.
“It really is amazing to see the generosity,” she said.
The community, despite dealing with individual flooding issues, is pulling together to help out those in need, she said. One example is Dr. Paul Herberner, a local chiropractor, whose office was completely flooded.
That did not stop him from running his annual toy drive called the Community Toy Box, benefiting Interfaith Friends.
“With so many people being affected by flooding, it was more important than ever to do it this year,” Herberner said.
Interfaith Friends wish list:
The Times Leader 2011 Giving Guide
• Toys for children ages infant to 18 years
• Bikes
• Gift cards for teens to buy clothing, video games or iTunes
• Sheet sets (particularly flannel sheets)
• Comforters or blankets
• Gift cards for groceries
• Gift cards for gas
• Diapers
• Toiletries
• Donations for Fuel Assistance Program
For more information, call 836-2428
Interfaith Friends of Tunkhannock is one of five agencies and nonprofit organizations affected by the flooding in September featured in this year’s Times Leader Giving Guide.
Donations can be sent to: Interfaith Friends, PO Box 535, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
When donations are made, please note “TL Giving Guide” in your letter or on the memo line of the check.