Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley

Second harvest food bank of Lehigh Valley and northeast Pennsylvania distributed 10 million pounds of food to our network of nonprofit organizations throughout the counties of carbon, Lehigh, monroe, northampton, pike and wayne, complementing their efforts to provide food assistance to more than 60,000 individuals each month. Distributed 23,873 boxes of nutritious food to low-income seniors through the pa senior box program. Out of the 10 million pounds of food, 3.4 million pounds was fresh produce, perishable protein and fresh dairy products. Expanded military share box program from one to five counties and now serve 140 military families per month. Seven sites in four counties participated in the healthy pantry initiative, a partnership with feeding Pennsylvania. We doubled our refrigerated and frozen capacity, growing from 48,000 cubic feet to 96,000 cubic feet, thereby increasing storage capacity from 96 pallets to 192 pallets of refrigerated and frozen product. the seed farm provided 180 hours of training opportunities to new farmers and had four new farmers join the farm business incubator.

Sixth street shelter/turner street apartments/ferry street apartments provided short-term housing and case management to 80 families with 172 children. Provided support so that 142 children could move to virtual learning. Provided long-term transitional housing at turner street apartments and ferry street apartments (our 24-month transitional housing programs in allentown and easton, respectively) to 27 families enrolled in educational programs; all 27 adults were enrolled in educational classes and programming.

Weatherization weatherized 472 homes, including residence-specific pressure diagnostics, insulating attics and basements, caulking, weather-stripping, repairing doors and windows, replacing some household appliances and, in some instances, repairing and replacing damaged heating systems. Completed repairs to four homes that were previously deferred from weatherization services due to structural or moisture issues through the liheap deferral program. Repaired or replaced 236 heating systems in crisis situations through the federal low-income home energy assistance program. Through a Lehigh county and united way grant six heating systems and five water heaters were installed for Lehigh county residents in need. Additionally, 17 water heaters were purchased through subcontractors to install for participants who needed assistance.

Campaign for racial and ethnic justice engaged 1,053 individuals across Lehigh, northampton and monroe counties in conversations, trainings, and workshops focused on cultural humility, implicit bias, intersectionality, and racial equity. Conducted engage the facilitator training program, 18 individuals participated. Offered generation next to 290 underserved high school students in allentown, bethlehem and easton with programming designed to help them become the first in their families to be admitted to college and thrive. Twenty out of 21 graduating seniors went on to college. Scholarships were awarded to eight easton area high school students. Offered she (self-esteem, health, education) to 60 girls in grades four through eight using programming designed to assist underserved girls in making the social transition from elementary to middle school. the program focused on social and emotional development through a curriculum based on healthy decision-making, development of character, leadership skills, diversity and inclusion, ending bullying, goal setting, the importance of higher education, career planning and Community service. Community Action homes sold two homes in south bethlehem featuring energy-efficiency upgrades and modern amenities to low-to-moderate income homeowners. Completed eight facades to residential and commercial properties in allentown, bethlehem and the slate belt in collaboration with Community Action development allentown, Community Action development bethlehem, and slate belt rising. Improved four investor-owned buildings in allentown occupied by low-income tenants. Coordinated rehabilitation activities for 27 low-income households in Lehigh and northampton counties. Launched successful "high need" roof and hvac system replacement programs for low-income Lehigh and northampton county homeowners. Housing counseling program conducted seven hud-certified seminars for prospective homebuyers, 150 of whom received certificates of completion; three seminars were conducted in spanish and four in english. Provided individual counseling to 27 prospective homebuyers and pre-settlement counseling to 22 prospective homebuyers. Assisted 45 families in purchasing a home. Provided default and delinquency counseling through the Lehigh county and northampton county mortgage foreclosure diversion programs to 23 financially distressed homeowners; saved 12 households from foreclosure through loan modifications and repayments plans and three homeowners had their mortgages reinstated. Counseled seven active savers in the home ownership savings account program; three will receive 2000 savings match when they purchase a home. Families who received a modification of mortgage or a repayment plan in 2018, 91% of them are still in their home. Conducted six-hour financial education to eight participants. Slate belt rising provided six local students with 500 scholarships to help them pay to further their education after high school. Improved the facades of five buildings in the borough of pen argyl. Received the governor's award for local government excellence for promoting community/economic revitalization. Created vendor markets in conjunction with blue flame events to help support local small businesses. Secured funding to replace the fence at the youth softball field in collaboration with the green and white youth association. Work ready assisted program participants in securing employment. Provided employability training and counseling to recipients of temporary assistance for needy families (tanf) identified by the county assistance offices in Lehigh and northampton counties as the most difficult to employ. Offered life skills training and educational opportunities, including art mentoring, financial literacy (in partnership with Community Action financial services), self-esteem coaching, and access to ged and esl courses. the work ready program closed at the end of september 2020.