See the Impact: CarbonCorps Mentors Coordinate Thanksgiving Meal and Winter Coat Distribution for Nearly 60 Families

Nesquehoning, PA - As some of the first flurries of the season fell on Tuesday, families from Panther Valley Elementary School prepared for the winter months ahead. Fifty-eight families received more than 50 meals and 90 coats at the Thanksgiving Meals and Winter Coat drive coordinated by members of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s (UWGLV) CarbonCorps Mentoring Program in partnership with local businesses. Twenty-three of the families opted to receive home deliveries yesterday.

CarbonCorps, a school-based mentoring program led by UWGLV AmeriCorps Program, aims to connect students and their families to important resources in the Carbon County Community. CarbonCorps mentors coordinated the drive after learning from families that they needed support this holiday season. “We are the first CarbonCorps members here in Panther Valley and this is one of the first programs we started at the school,” said Gabriel Rosanelli, CarbonCorps Success Mentor. “We wanted to focus on food insecurity here in Carbon County and that’s what we centered this project around.”

Panther Valley Elementary School received a donation of 56 whole turkeys from Koch’s Turkey Farm in Schuylkill County to supply their Thanksgiving Food Drive. Union workers from the AMETEK-Westchester plant in Nesquehoning purchased most of the accompaniments, and included additional garnishes purchased with gift cards donated by Walmart in Lehighton and Redner’s in Nesquehoning. “Families are very appreciative. This is just one thing they don’t have to worry about,” said Nicole Pletz-Pollinger, CarbonCorps Success Mentor. The AMETEK Foundation has also pledged to match employee donations received to use for a future community project. 

The Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors Association donated the winter coats distributed at the event. “A lot of families don’t have the funds to buy the different needs for their children which includes coats,” said Nicole. “A lot of kids are without coats and they don’t get them supplied to them due to them being too expensive,” she added. CarbonCorps plans on distributing winter hats, gloves and socks donated by Blue Ridge Communications in the coming weeks. 

CarbonCorps mentors build relationships with families in the school and encourage the Carbon community to reach out if they need assistance. “It’s hard for families to ask for help sometimes, but I was impressed by the response,” said Gabriel. 

“If you’re in need of something, don’t be scared to reach out for help. We’re here and we can spread this throughout the whole Carbon County community,” added Nicole. 

Read more:
Times News Online: Carbon Corps organizes coat giveaway for Panther Valley families
WFMZ 69 News: Carbon County elementary school hosting food, winter coat drive