Teen Center

We at the TC have some very exciting newswe recently hired one of our most loved and longtime volunteers, Danielle Pearson!! Danielle brings years of experience in youth programming and development. She has been added as a part-time coordinator for the TC. In her new role she will continue to oversee the Youth Action Board, but not as a volunteer, rather as an employee of For the Cause. And in addition, she is excited to create diverse and inclusive programming. Daniel...le is a very strong advocate for youth and we are exited she officially joined our cause Don’t forget to checkout our weekly programmingSewing is back this Monday from 5:30-7 and crochet will be holding its official first class on Tuesday from 5-7, taught by one of our very own members. Wednesday we will create paper bracelets and this Thursday for expressive arts, we will dabble with spray paint on canvas As always, if you are interested in receiving tutoring services and/or counseling, please either dm @ftcteencenter or email [email protected]

Please check our weekly programmingstarting this week, we will offer a crochet class on Tuesdays from 5-7pm, taught by a local high school junior. In addition, we have some unique art projects planned for this week, such as creating a bowl made out of twine and creating your own zentangle. Find out more by coming and visiting us! If you are interested in receiving tutoring services and/or counseling, please either dm @ftcteencenter or email [email protected] Also, we... would like to give the BIGGEST THANK YOU to our entire community for coming together to raise money in the name of pediatric cancer at our 4th Annual Cause-A-Thon Telethon! We have additional information and a new total to unveil, so tune in on Wednesday, May 5th around 4pm (exact time will be forthcoming) for our check presentation to ThinkBig. Just to be very clear, our new total includes the amount that our generous teachers and administration of the Berwick Area School district raised to add to our teens amazing effortsTHANK YOU!!!! #ftk #causeathon2021 #thinkbigpediatriccancerfund Have a wonderful week

We had a lot of fun at our post holiday open house. Thank you to all those who helped make it happen and to the 3 winners of our Holiday find the pickle game. Check out our weekly programming! And, if you would like to schedule any programs virtually, please dm us. Have a wonderful week!

CONGRATULATIONS to our Teen Center Director, Teresa Peters!! Miss Teresa was awarded as one of ten Bright Lights for the PPL Corporation Grant Program!! In honor of PPL's 100th anniversary, they recognized nonprofit workers who are transforming their communities through the work they do to improve education outcomes and make our communities vibrant and sustainable. Ten Bright Lights grants of $10,000 are being awarded to nonprofit agencies to help illuminate the outstandin...g contributions of individuals working to create a better world. We are so blessed to have Miss Teresa and all the good she brings to our Teen Center!!

We like to start this New Year off by being open this week from 7:50 am until 7 pm, Monday-Thursday and Friday, 7:50 am until 3 pm. Parents: tutors will be on staff in ALL subjects throughout the day as well as after school too. Please check our weekly after-school programming schedule for some new year fun! ... Don’t forget our Holiday Open House has been rescheduled for this Thursday from 4:30-7; Snow globes and some post holiday fun will be happening

As we enter a new year and say farewell to 2020, we would like to give thanks to the year past for allowing us to grow in ways that didn’t seem fathomable prior. We had to shift to a new way of communicating and understanding, creating and executing. And one thing is for certain, not only do we appreciate human interaction, we absolutely need it to survive. It doesn’t matter whether it takes place virtually or in-person, although we have realized in-person is not only appr...eciated but preferred, it is absolutely necessary for human survival. This is truly an unprecedented time in our history. The current situation has intensified existing socio-economic challenges as well as created new obstacles. Food insecurity, academics, and mental health are all major challenges specifically facing youth in underserved communities. We are unaware of the long-term effects this pandemic will have on them; however, we have already witnessed first-hand the gaps in education as well as the mental health crisis our members are experiencing. Pre-existing mental health issues have been exacerbated by isolation and lack of services due to the pandemic. Furthermore, online learning has posed to be difficult, and the lack of personal connection is proving to be less motivating. Again, many youths in our community were already playing academic catch-up due to their socio-economic status, and therefore now more than ever, it is imperative we support them. For the Cause and FTC Teen Center have proven to be great resources, both virtually and in-person, for education, mental health and food security in our community and with continued community support, will be in 2021! Cheers to a new year and thank you 2020 for allowing us to expand and grow beyond our scope. We will take the good with the bad and as the old adage states, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade So, bring it 2021we are ready for whatever you may throw at us, we will adapt and overcome; with these teens leading the way, how can we not!

So many positive things have happened in the past week! First and foremost, we would like to thank our parent organization, For The Cause NEPA as well as the two very generous donors and all those who came forward to help make Christmas a lot brighter at our Bike Giveaway. Special thanks to Kari Militzer Dyer and family for assisting as well as Marc Nespoli for the yummy Polar Express hot chocolate. And, we could not have accomplished this task without our wonderful loca...l school district’s guidance department, THANK YOU!! Also, we are proud to be helping two Berwick Area senior’s with their senior project, Desks for Sucess which we will help roll out in the new year! We will keep you posted on this new endeavor...stay tuned. In addition, we do have a few virtual programs we are offering this week because there is a need. Therefore, please check out what we have going on as well as what we have in store for the week of Jan. 4th! We WILL be open for in-person programming for students in (7th-12th grades) during school hours to help with the Berwick Area School District’s virtual learning week; hours are listed. If you have any questions, please dm us and we will respond ASAP! From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Our parent organization is spreading lots of Christmas cheer on Sunday, Dec. 20th! Read Below and share!!!

Over the past few weeks we have had fun creating holiday crafts, helping our members with their school work/classes, and even had the opportunity to play Santa. We had so many things planned for this upcoming week, but because of the new state mandate, we have to shift to all virtual programming. All virtual programming will end starting the week of Dec. 21st until January 4th in observance of Christmas and New Years. We will reopen Monday, January 4th for in-person programming during school hours (7:45 am- 7 pm ) for anyone in grades 7-12 and will continue with our after school programming. If your Wifi signal isn’t strong enough to support your schooling, and/or you just need a comfortable place to join school virtually with tutors on staff in all subjects, consider coming to the TC. ~Lunch and snacks provided~