Family Service Association of Northeastern PA

08/21/2026

📚 Back-to-School Tips from FSA!

A new school year is just around the corner, and we're sharing a few simple tips to help children and families start the year on a positive note. Over the next few posts, we'll cover routines, communication, screen time, and more.

First up: keep good vibes! A positive attitude can help make the transition back to school a little easier. Remember, every school day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and try something new. 🍎

08/19/2026

There’s nothing better than seeing a community come together to make sure local kids are ready to head back to school! ❤️🎒

FSA was proud to distribute clothing for the Back 2 School Bash with Children, Youth and Families, where we saw approximately 200 kiddos and distributed almost all of the clothing we brought! From new shoes and outfits to winter coats and clothing for families who have recently experienced devastating loss, these donations made a real difference.

And the sweetest part? Hearing directly from the kids and families:

💬 “I can’t wait to match these shoes with my first day outfit. It's going to look so pretty!”

💬 “Grandma your hair is braided and you look so pretty!”

💬 “I just moved to the area from the south and have no winter clothing. We lost everything in a fire. These winter clothes and coats are going to be so helpful.”

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible, including our clothing donors Lolliposh Consignment and Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services for their surplus giving, all of the individuals who donated clothes, everyone who donated bags and provided support, and our friend Gordon for building the clothing racks!

And of course, a special shoutout to FSA’s own DJ Bouncin' Bernie for keeping the event full of music and fun! 🎶

08/13/2026

A big thank you to United Way of Wyoming Valley and F.M. Kirby Center for bringing Camp United to life this summer! ☀️

We were so happy to be part of this wonderful program, spending time with local kids through activities, reading, and plenty of summer fun. Programs like Camp United create meaningful opportunities for children and families to connect, learn, and enjoy their community together.

Thank you for allowing FSA to be part of such a special summer experience! 🌴😎📚

⭐️ 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ⭐️ for filling the F.M. Kirby Center with fun this summer!

𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 welcomed families into the theater for eight weeks of lunches, activities, and group reading ⛺️ 📕 Kids even got free books to take home every week, helping promote literacy in northeastern Pennsylvania 💪 This wouldn't have been possible without United Way of Wyoming Valley and all of the partner organizations that donated their time and resources to Camp United. Thank you for having a positive impact on local families 🎊

This summer also saw the return of the 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, now supported by an amazing partner in The Honesdale National Bank 📽️ Every Tuesday after Camp United, we presented a classic children's movie on The Luzerne Foundation Screen that was entirely free for kids 12 and under to attend, while admission for anyone 13 or over was just $5. We're honored to give families a way to beat the heat with an inexpensive activity, and we’re grateful to The Honesdale National Bank for sharing our vision!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 to this summer's sponsors, participants, and attendees. These events wouldn't be the same without you 👏

08/10/2026

We all scream for ICE CREAM! 🤌🍦🍨

While the temps are running hot, we thought it would be a good day to treat our hardworking staff to a little treat!

The Ice Cream Truck 1961 visited us and made some amazing shakes, sundaes and cones for all of us. Even some local folks and contractors stopped by for a break to have a treat in the heat!

Thank you The Ice Cream Truck 1961 for keeping us cool for the day and thank you to our FSA crew for everything they do daily for our families and community!

08/10/2026

Thank you to the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation for its recent contribution in support of PA 211 NE/Help Line! 🙌

Pictured are Jamie Johns and Sarah Burnett of M&T Bank with Marisue Sack, Jessica Ives, and David Kale of FSA.

We're grateful for M&T Bank Foundation's investment in ensuring individuals and families across Northeastern Pennsylvania can continue accessing vital information, referrals, and support through PA 211 NE/Help Line. Thank you for helping us strengthen our communities! ♥️

08/07/2026

Congratulations to our neighbors at Dress for Success Luzerne County on the ribbon cutting of your beautiful new space! ✂️💜

We're so glad you're staying our neighbors, and we love your new home. From the moment you walk in, it feels warm, welcoming, and inviting. It truly has the feel of a boutique, and it's clear that so much heart went into creating this special space.

Congratulations to the entire team, especially Executive Director Linda Loop, for your passion and leadership in bringing this vision to life. We wish you continued success as you empower women throughout our community!

08/06/2026

The fun didn't stop at the finish line! ☀️🎉 Our free Family Fun Day was filled with smiles and a ton of laughter. From the kids' mini race (led by our amazing event chair, Jamie Johns, in her famous banana costume 🍌) to foam-filled fun, face painting, delicious treats, and a visit from Tux of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, there was something for everyone to enjoy!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special, including The Ice Cream Truck 1961, That Foam Party Guy, Maddy's Doghouse, Kyle and Emalie for face painting, CASA of Wyoming Valley, Osterhout Free Library, Legacy Chiropractic, and Wyoming Valley Chiropractic. We appreciate all of the organizations that joined us to share resources and connect with local families.

One of our favorite moments was giving away 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to local children, helping them head back to school prepared and confident. 🎒✏️📓

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create such a fun, welcoming, and family-centered celebration. Seeing families laugh, play, and make memories together was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible day. We can't wait to see you again next year!

08/05/2026

Congratulations to all of the participants and award winners from the 2026 18th Annual Pauly Friedman 5k Family Walk Run! 🏅🥈🥉

From our overall winners to the top finishers in each age division, we're proud to celebrate EVERYONE who crossed the finish line and made this year's race such a success!! Your determination, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm helped make the day one to remember!

Thank you for being part of an event that supports FSA's mission of strengthening families and communities throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. We hope you enjoy reliving the day through these photos, and congratulations again! 🙌🏆🎉

08/04/2026

What an incredible day! 🙌 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 18th Annual Pauly Friedman 5k Family Walk Run! Whether you ran, walked, volunteered, sponsored, or cheered from the sidelines, you helped make this year's event truly special. From the cheers of the crowd to the high fives, hugs at the finish line, and words of encouragement along the course, the day was filled with positivity!

This wasn't just another 5K. It was an opportunity to honor Pauly's legacy while supporting FSA's mission of strengthening families throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Because of events like this, we can continue providing programs and services that help children, individuals, and families build healthier relationships, navigate challenges, and create brighter futures. From the first runner to the last Family Fun Day activity, the day was a celebration of what can happen when a community comes together for a meaningful cause.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsor, The Friedman Family, for making this event possible. We're also incredibly grateful to our event chair, Jamie Johns, whose passion and countless hours of planning helped bring this event to life. Thank you to our dedicated FSA staff for everything you did behind the scenes and throughout race day, to our CEO, Jessica Ives, for her leadership, to DJ Bernie for keeping the energy high, and to our community vendors for sharing valuable resources and making the day even more memorable.

This event is only possible because of a community that believes in showing up for one another, and we couldn't be more grateful. We're not done sharing the fun just yet! Stay tuned as we celebrate our race winners and share highlights from Family Fun Day. Thank you for helping make the 18th Annual Pauly Friedman 5K one to remember! 👟👏

08/02/2026

FREE Family Fun Day until 1pm! Come down to the JCC in Kingston! Free backpacks for the kiddos, ice cream truck, That Foam Party Guy, and more!