The weekly Lycoming County Commissioners Meetings begin with reports, information items, and personnel actions. These are generally as exciting as watching paint dry, but they are necessary. What comes after are the items that have some meat to them, and thus they are known as “Action Items.”
The first of these Action Items at the July 10th meeting was a “Vote to approve the Subrecipient Agreement Amendment #1 with American Rescue Workers in the amount of $147,017.00. (2025 approved ARPA budgeted item).” To translate a little bit here, ARPA refers to the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal stimulus bill passed to address the public health and economic impact of COVID-19. Ironically, this funding has come at a time when Sam and Dawn Astin are stepping down from their positions as directors after serving for nearly 28 years with American Rescue Workers. They will be missed, to be sure, but their legacy will last for decades.
American Rescue Workers have helped thousands of people in our area who are struggling with financial or personal issues. They feed families by the thousands and provide bed lodging for the homeless, but beyond this, they help these folks with work programs and holistic guidance to become self-sufficient.
Lycoming County is blessed with other organizations that likewise seek to help those who are walking on a hard road. Sojourner’s Truth Ministries, Inc. is located near the American Rescue Workers and also provides food and assistance to those in need. Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz is the executive director, and Len Richards is the President. I wrote an article for Webb Weekly about Pastor Angelique when she arrived a few years ago, and it was clear she had the heart and mind for this challenging ministry. I knew Len Richards much longer, as we worked together on the Heroin Task Force. Len has a huge gift of wisdom and bravery, and it shows with his work with Sojourner’s Truth.
Other churches in Lycoming County and especially in Williamsport have a real heart for those in need. The United Churches of Lycoming County, located at 202 E. Third Street, has a food pantry that offers emergency food assistance. (Donations of nonperishable goods are always welcome!). Other churches that provide food are St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph the Worker Parish Food Pantry, Antioch Baptist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, the Well Church, Freedom House Community Worship Center, Newberry Church of Christ, Diamond Street Christian Church, West End Christian Community Center, Christ Community Worship Center — all in the Williamsport area. There are other organizations, such as the Salvation Army, located at 457 Market Street, and Family Promise, located at 320 Park Avenue, that also serve.
Beyond Williamsport, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank assists others in the county, such as Footprints of Montgomery, Harvest of Hope in Montoursville, Wings of Love Community Church in South Williamsport, and Son Light House in Muncy.
All of these organizations could use help or supplies. It is wonderful that our county commissioners have their priorities aligned to recognize that we certainly need to develop commerce and growth, but at the same time, we must remember that there are also those who need a hand to get through hard times. It is churches and organizations, such as the American Rescue Workers, that are meeting this great need in our area.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when he stated, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’”
