Charity Walk Teams Awarded 'Golden' Honors

Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Easton
that participated in the Highmark Walk were honored with a
"Golden Soul"award from ProJeCt of Easton
as the faith group to raise the most money for the agency
in the walk.
Contributed photos

 Two Easton area teams that walked in last year's Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community were honored with "Golden Sole" awards this week by ProJeCt of Easton for raising the most funds on behalf of the city service agency.

Members of the Palmer Kiwanis Highmark Walk team,
Ken Marino, Santa Wright, Debra Ashton-Chase and
Mike Hahn, earned the Golden Sole Award from ProJeCt
of Easton as the agency’s top fundraising business team in the walk.

The "Golden Soul" award went to First Presbyterian Church of Easton, as the faith group that raised the most funds, and Palmer Kiwanis were given the "Golden Sole" award as the top business fundraising group.

The two honored teams were some of the more than 70 walkers who earned more than $9,000 for ProJeCt of Easton during the charity walk last June. Participants registered for teams supporting ProJeCt, vying for top awards in fundraising dollars earned.

"Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to all who participated and supported ProJeCt’s efforts," said ProJeCt of Easton Executive Director Janice Komisor in an announcement of the awards. "We are very close to our goals of 100 walkers and $10,000 raised, and we would love to have a youth group participate next year to help us meet those objectives."

The 2014 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is set to take place on Saturday, May 31 at the SteelStacks campus in Bethlehem, with registration opening Monday, February 3.  Participants may register online and select the non-profit they wish to support. To register or learn more about the event, visit www.walkforahealthycommunity.org

Updates about the Bethlehem walk are also available on the group's Facebook page.

ProJeCt Early Childhood Ed Program Gets Keystone STARS Designation

ProJeCt of Easton’s Early Childhood Education program has achieved the Keystone STARS designation, the organization has announced.

"Our Keystone STARS rating is important to us because it affirms our commitment toward providing quality early learning experiences to the children in our family literacy program," said Kris Hettrick, ProJeCt’s literacy program manager.

Keystone STARS is a state-funded voluntary program that promotes quality in child care, PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Programs. Programs earn STAR ratings based on quality standards for teachers, classrooms, and program management.

ProJeCt’s Early Childhood Education program is designed for low-income families with children ages three months to five years. Activities promote early reading skills, such as the ability to identify the sounds of letters. Children enrolled in this program also have a parent who is enrolled in one of the organization's adult classes, promoting  family literacy and helping parents develop their skills as their child’s most important teacher.

ProJeCt is a community benefit human service agency founded by local clergy and community. Its services include emergency assistance, a food program, and case management support services that assist people in developing life skills and moving to self-sufficiency. Its educational programs include adult basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy, and supplemental education programs for school age children.

ProJeCt of Easton Gets $10,000 Donation from MileStone Bank

Albert Jinks, left, a member of MileStone Bank's
board of directors, presents ProJeCt board
member  Danny Cohen, right, with MileStone Bank’s
$10,000 donation to help support ProJeCt’s
Early Childhood Education program.

A $10,000 donation from a Bucks County based bank will support ProJeCt of Easton's early childhood education program, the community benefit service agency announced yesterday.

"We so greatly appreciate MileStone Bank’s support of our Early Childhood Education program. This kind of community support is essential to our ability to offer the program to low-income families and continue to promote early literacy skills," said ProJeCt Executive Director Janice Komisor.

The donation was made through the Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization Tax Credit Program and presented to ProJeCt of Easton by Albert Jinks, a member of the MileStone Bank board of directors.

ProJeCt’s Early Childhood Education program is designed for low-income families with children aged three months to five years. Activities promote early reading skills, such as the ability to identify the sounds of letters. Children enrolled in this program also have a parent who is enrolled in one of ProJeCt's adult classes, thereby supporting family literacy and helping parents develop their skills as their child’s most important teacher.

'Simply Savory' Raised More Than $35K for ProJeCt of Easton

ProJeCt board member Bill Bryson, ProJeCt of Easton Executive
Director Janice Komisor, board member Pat Amin, and board member
Danny Cohen pose for a photo at "Simply Savory", held earlier
this month. The event raised more than $35,000 to support ProJeCt of Easton
self-sufficiency and literacy programs.
Contributed photo by Jamie Cabreza.

More than $35,000 was raised for local programs and services at Simply Savory, ProJeCt of Easton's premier annual fund raising event held earlier this month on October 7 at the Hampton Inn.

"We couldn’t be more pleased with the outpouring of support from the local community
including our culinary participants, sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers," said  ProJeCt Executive Director Janice Komisor. "“The funds raised go toward our mission to help people help themselves with services that include emergency shelter, food pantry and literacy programs."

This year’s culinary participants included: Baker Street Bakeshop, Beyond Cakes, Blue Grillhouse, Constantino’s, Cozze Cakes, deLorenzo’s, Divine Dining, Elizabeth Mulrine Culinary Events, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Green Harvest Food Emporium, Leaf Restaurant & Cigar Bar, Marblehead Chowder House, Marianna’s Pizza Café, Maxim’s 22, Miguel’s, North Star Catering, Pearly Baker’s Alehouse, Sette Luna, Thyme Restaurant & Bar, Two Rivers Brewing Company, Valenca, Vintage, Vintner’s Circle, and Weyerbacher Brewery.

Easton photographer Jamie Cabreza served as the event photographer, and Palmer Township DJ John Harvey served as the emcee.

Numerous local sponsors included: the Hampton Inn; Elaine Emrick; Lexus Lehigh Valley; The Express-Times; Crayola; Seidel Cohen Hof & Reid, LLC; the Brown-Daub Foundation; Follett Corporation; Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC; Abraham, Borda, Corvino, Butz, LaValva & Co. PC; Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP; Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc.; David T. Lyon, MD; Easton Hospital, John & Janice Komisor; Kiwanis Club of Palmer Township; The Nenow Family; Knights of Columbus; AD Computer dba Jet Pay Payroll Services; Alfero Co., Inc.; Easton Endodontic Associates; Embassy Bank; and John T. Eisenhard, CLU, CFBS; National
Penn Bank.

ProJeCt local services include an emergency assistance and food program, case management support to assist people in developing life skills to help them move to self-sufficiency, and educational programs that include adult basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy and supplemental education programs for school-age children. The agency provides assistance to more than 5,000 people a year, serving Easton and the surrounding communities in Northampton County.

Simply Savory to Benefit ProJeCt While Offering a Taste of Fine Area Restaurants

If you need a solid excuse to go out and have a good time on a Monday evening, supporting a worthy local cause is probably one of the best.

ProJeCt of Easton’s signature fundraising event, Simply Savory, will be held Monday, October 7 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in on Route 248 in Lower Nazareth, and reservations are now being taken for the delicious evening.

Enjoy an evening with friends savoring fabulous food, wine and beer of the Lehigh Valley's finest palate-pleasers, including: Baker Street Bakeshop, Beyond Cakes, Blue Grillhouse, Constantino’s, Cozze Cakes, deLorenzo’s, Divine Dining, Elizabeth Mulrine Culinary Events, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Green Harvest Food Emporium, Leaf Restaurant & Cigar Bar, Marblehead Chowder House, Marianna’s Pizza Café, Maxim’s 22, Miguel’s, Northstar Catering, Pearly Baker’s Alehouse, Sette Luna, Thyme Restaurant & Bar, Two Rivers Brewing Company, Valenca, Vintage, Vintner’s Circle and Weyerbacher Brewery.

"We are so pleased with this year’s line-up of culinary specialists for Simply Savory and know it will be an event to remember," said ProJeCt Executive Director Janice Komisor. “This is an important event in that the funds raised go toward our mission to help people help themselves."

Live musical entertainment will be provided during the evening by the Easton High School Flute Quartet, and a silent auction and a raffle are also planned.

The raffle features four prizes including a greens fees for four and cart from Riverview Country Club, a wine and cheese tasting for up to 12 people from Vintner’s Circle, a pearl and gold necklace from Beverly Palm Jewelers.

ProJeCt is a community benefit human service agency founded by local clergy and community leaders in the wake of the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination and in response to the rising tide of poverty and social unrest of 1968. Its purpose was to advocate for action and to provide service to an under- served poor population in Easton.

Today the agency provides assistance to more than 5,000 people a year, both in Easton and the surrounding communities in Northampton County.

Services include an emergency assistance and food program, case management support services that assist people in developing life skills and moving to self-sufficiency, and educational programs that include adult basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy and supplemental education programs for school age children.

Reservations to Simply Savory are $75 and can be purchased in advance at www.projecteaston.org or at ProJeCt's offices at 320 Ferry St. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the night of the event.

All proceeds from the Simply Savory benefit ProJeCt of Easton.

Elementary Students in Need to Receive Summer Food Backpacks

The Peanut Butter Project, in partnership with the St. Paul's Food Pantry in South Side Easton and local school leaders, are working to provide summer backpacks filled with non-perishable food to 30 Easton area elementary school students in need.

Specific items are needed to supply the 30 backpacks, which will be filled by volunteers at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Southside Food Pantry on three evenings this summer and distributed by the school over nine weeks.

The Peanut Butter Project was formed by Forks resident Nancy Walters in response to a specific request for peanut butter donations for Easton's Downtown Interfaith Food Pantry run by ProJeCt.

“Our local food banks continue to struggle to provide food to more and more families,” said Walters.  “Our first effort was to provide peanut butter, which is a great source of protein, can be used at any meal, and requires no refrigeration.  Now we have expanded the program to include the priority staples that are always needed at all food pantries...and  partnered to create the backpack program."

Items that the groups are requesting include:

• Individual non-refrigerated milk packs (parmalat type) of any kind of milk, including regular, rice, soy, almond, and chocolate
• Individual fruit juices, non-refrigerated packs or pouches, preferably all-juice or juice/veggie blend, with no added sugar
• Cereal - individual cereal bowls or regular size boxes,  healthy choices such as cheerios, raisin bran, chex, etc., as opposed to high-sugar cereals
• Protein or granola bars - look for high protein - five grams is good
• Individual fruit cups, preferably with no added sugar or packed in fruit's own juice
• Individual boxes of raisins
• Jars of peanut butter--any size is fine
• Plastic bottles of jelly or jam, preferably squeeze bottles
• Paper grocery bags, for packing and distributing goods 

The groups are also accepting grocery store gift cards--any denomination is appreciated.

Monetary donations are welcome too, which will be put towards purchasing items that are not donated.

Checks, designated for “Summer Backpacks", can be sent to Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd, Easton, PA 18040 or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 610 W. Berwick St., Easton, PA 18042.   

For more information on backpack donations or the Peanut Butter Project, contact Nancy Walters at 610-253-0726 or nancywalters@rcn.com

Film Screening to Promote Awareness of Food Insecurity

The Peanut Butter Project will present the documentary film, “A Place at the Table” on Thursday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Nurture Nature Center, 518 Northampton St., in Downtown Easton. 

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event includes a local food reception catered by Balasia. 

"This film presents the true portrayal of what it is like to be 'food insecure' in America today," says Nancy Walters, a Forks Township resident and the founder of the Peanut Butter Project.  "The movie is powerful, and all too true; the hidden reality is that hunger is local.  Over 500 families, 1800 people, rely on our downtown food pantry, and Easton has several other neighborhood pantries serving others. Hunger is not just an urban issue; our suburbs are also in need of food assistance programs, and access to healthy food is a critical issue."

Attendees are asked for a $10 donation to cover the cost of the reception and film and to bring a jar of peanut butter (any kind, any size) or jelly (plastic jars) to be donated to ProJeCt’s interfaith food pantry.

All are welcome, but seating is limited. RSVPs are appreciated. Please call 610-253-4432 or email Nancy Walters at "nancywalters" at rcn.com to RSVP. 

The Peanut Butter Project was founded in June of 2012 to respond to an emergency need for peanut butter at the ProJeCt food pantry in Downtown Easton.  It has evolved to promote hunger awareness and improve community understanding of local hunger issues, which includes poverty, inadequate food assistance and the high cost and availability of healthy food, which affects child development, education and health. 

The Peanut Butter Project has established additional food pantry collection locations, organized food drives, provided speakers on local hunger issues, partnered to create a “backpack” program for schoolchildren, organized collection of priority staples and will be announcing an app for Android phones in the near future to provide real time information about food pantry needs and collection points.

For more information about the Peanut Butter Project, contact Walters via email at  "nancywalters" at rcn.com or call her at 610-253-0726.

ProJeCt Benefit Event Is "Simply Savory"

Need an excuse to go out on a Monday night? Want to do something good for the community? Next week, there's a delicious chance to do both.

ProJeCt of Easton will hold its annual fundraiser, Simply Savory 2012, offering guests an exciting and delicious evening of food, wine, and beer tasting from local eateries.

Featuring 20 of the Lehigh Valley’s finest restaurants including Blue, deLorenzo’s Italian Restaurant, Edible Arrangements, Elizabeth Mulrine Culinary Events, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Green Harvest Food Emporium, Leaf, Marianna’s Pizza Café, Miguel’s, The Mint, Pearly Baker’s, Porters’ Pub, Rodale Catering & Events, Sangria, Solemio Italian Grille, Thyme Restaurant & Bar, Valenca, Vintage Restaurant & Bar, Weyerbacher Brewing, and Widow’s Tavern, guests will also enjoy live entertainment provided by the Easton High School Chamber Orchestra, a silent auction, and a raffle for prizes including a $1,000 gift certificate to Beverly Palm Jewelers.

Reservations are $75 and can be purchased in advance or the night of the event, which is to be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn on Route 248, Easton (Lower Nazareth).

All proceeds benefit ProJeCt of Easton, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people help themselves by providing social and education services to residents of Northampton County and beyond.

Last year, ProJeCt provided assistance to more than 5,000 individuals.

To purchase tickets in advance, click here.
For more information about ProJeCt, visit www.projecteaston.org