Community Involvement

Penn East joined 90 exhibitors, from several unique industries, at Junior Achievement’s 4th Annual Inspire 2026: Career Exploration Experience to help local students ready themselves for the workplace. During the two day event, Penn East interacted with an estimated 3,000 students by handing out free snacks, refreshments, and the chance to win an Amazon gift card! Our volunteers had a wonderful time socializing with our incoming workforce and our peers!

Penn East enjoyed partnering with several local financial institutions to explain budgeting and real-life financial scenarios to Hanover Area Jr/Sr. High School students. Thank you to Corner Post FCU for hosting this terrific, and educational, event!

Recently, Penn East and Brewster’s Safety Training hosted the Stop the Bleed Program for our community members! Attendees learned how to apply lifesaving techniques, such as tying tourniquets and packing wounds. Thank you to Ken Brewster for providing safety insights and training our members on ways to properly navigate perilous bleeding situations!

Several local schools and pre-schools welcomed Penn East volunteers during their Read Across America week: Lackawanna Trail, Dana Street Elementary, McNichols Plaza Elementary, Little Visionaries Early Learning Center and the Greater Scranton YMCA Early Learning Center.  Penn East enjoyed celebrating the gift of reading and informed several grades, Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd grade, the importance of literacy in the workplace! Penn East will always believe in having a positive impact on our communities, and that includes our youngest members!

This past weekend, Penn East took a dive at the annual Polar Plunge, hosted by the Special Olympics Pennsylvania! The Northeast PA Region raised over $100,000 in support of programming for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our communities. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to such an incredible cause.

Penn East and Brewster’s Safety Training held an interactive and informative CPR and Safety Class for our community!

Together, attendees learned valuable dos and don’ts of proper CPR application and AED protocols through practical hands-on training, and how to react in a future medical crisis. Also, we want to give a round of applause for our dedicated educator and guest, Ken Brewster!

Our 2025 year ended wonderfully with commitment, cheer, and community!

The results of our 5th Annual Holiday Food Drive were astounding. Penn East CU members and staff collected over 500 pounds of nonperishable food items to donate to CEO Weinberg Food Pantry. Furthermore, this drive accumulated roughly $700 in monetary donations for the receiving organization.

Thank you to our participants! You illustrate the core value of people helping people.

Penn East partnered with Allied Skilled Nursing and Outreach to spread some joy this holiday season! 

Penn East adopted 25 Allied Residents and 7 Angels from the Giving Tree Program and Adopt an Angel program, respectively. All in all, Penn East fulfilled 35 Christmas wishes before jolly season ended. With these collaborations, Penn East provided a little bit of the jolly Christmas spirit to several families while enjoying the act of gift giving.