BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A non-profit is doing everything in its power to provide the local homeless population with support.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape met with the founders of the organization to find out how they're picking up the pieces Keystone Mission left behind.
Saint Elizabeth's Way, a support group from Saint Elizabeth's Church in Bear Creek, has been hard at work the past few months.
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They're trying to make up for the lack of community resources left in the wake of Keystone Mission's closure, and the group's founders say they can use all the help they can get.
"It was like, abrupt. Just out of the blue. No warning, no nothing," recalled John Crognale, Founder, St. Elizabeth's Way.
John Crognale is talking about the closing of Keystone Mission's Wilkes-Barre shelter in July.
He and his wife Linda had been providing meals at the center with their non-profit, Saint Elizabeth's way, for close to a year prior to the closure.
Now, they are trying to fill the gaps that closure left behind, and as many bellies as possible in the process.
"They had a dinner every night, you know, and thank god for St. Vincent's, they have lunch everyday. But, you know, we would like somehow, someway down there close to the need where they can access it so they can have dinner too," expressed Crognale.
For John, his wife Linda, and roughly 20 volunteers, it's a labor of love.
And something they hope to expand going forward. Recently they partnered with Saint Stephen's church in Wilkes-Barre to provide the homeless with 40 to 50 meals every Wednesday and Friday.
Friday, it's chicken alfredo along with some sides and deserts provided by other volunteers. The pair say they regularly switch up the menu and the responsibilities.
"We all take turns, because it's a lot, and some of them are older, but it's nice because we do it so often that we always take our turns," said Crognale.
The public is stepping up too with donations and volunteer hours, help, the Crognale's say is really appreciated.
They hope to eventually provide dinners every night of the week, and maybe even a code blue shelter if space becomes available downtown.
For now though, they are doing everything they can to make sure nobody has to go to bed with an empty stomach.
"You see somebody in need, we just help. That's it. You know, just like everybody should. You know, respect," stated Crognale.
John and Linda say they are open to working with other organizations in the area as well as the city of Wilkes-Barre to help fill that void Keystone Mission left behind.
They are also still providing meals at the mission's other Wilkes-Barre location twice a month.
