thanks To the Harry Plankenhorn Foundation

 There are warm tones of yellow paint being applied by men on scaffolding. Students and their instructors from the Pennsylvania College of Technology are aiding in repairing electrical problems.

The windows are being replaced to allow the sunlight to illuminate the stained glass works depicting Jesus praying.

“Happy spring! It’s happening…” said Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz watching as the transformation of the interior of the nonprofit organization’s headquarters at 501 High St. took place before her eyes this week.

“Thanks to a grant from Plankenhorn Foundation, our sanctuary/multipurpose room is getting a needed update,” she said, as skilled laborers with Hamm Improvements and Pennsylvania College of Technology Electrical Department, its apprentice students and seasoned instructors offered their time for only the cost of materials for the lighting.

 For the Rev. C. Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz executive director of Sojourner Truth Ministries, the United Way has helped with more than just the ministry’s feeding program.

“Our feeding program goes into everything else that we do. I’ve also been able to call with professional questions and teambuilding questions and board questions and things like that,”.

“I truly feel like they are a partner with us and it’s not limited to finances. As we share in victories or stories of things that have happened directly as a result of the United Way, then it’s the impact that we have in the lives of individuals in our community,".

PAstor Angelique shared the story of a man who had moved to the area to help care for grandchildren following the death of a family member.

“Four to five times a week he has brought the grandchildren so that they can see positive role models and so not only does the family get fed physically…so we give them regular food but then they get all kinds of “soul food,”.

“I think it’s really important to be a part of supporting the United Way because it doesn’t just go to necessarily the things you might think like the high profile organizations which are great, but also lie the little people that might otherwise fall through the cracks,”.

“And United Way seems to, through the support of many, just spreads the wealth kind of and also with that…they spread their support,”.

 Summer, 2022  

Not only have we received Wows and multiple compliments, even thanks for the new brightness of the sanctuary community room, but we can safely open the windows to let in fresh air.

Some have said the room feels more open, and more peaceful.

Having access to fresh air through all windows has been WONDERFUL!

It feels safer to be able to look out the window to see who is there or what activities are going on.

Without the grant from you, this would not have been possible.

We also look forward to the efficiency of the windows as the cold season approaches.