Keep this in mind for back to school in the Poconos | Something to Think About

The last of the official “summer days” are here. Beginning this coming week, the school buses will be back on the road.

This means there will be kids standing roadside or at the official bus stop— so drivers beware.

The start and stop of traffic will return along with red flashing lights and the “arm” of the bus to give clearance. Remember your bus stopping rule. Unless the buss is on a divided highway, you MUST stop. Everyone wants it to be a safe school year.

For those who have moved to the area over the late spring and summer, school starts on August 29 for generally all districts.

This means you should have already registered your child or children. To find out more about what your district requires, visit their website. Not certain what district you are in, check with a neighbor, or call one of the state representatives offices or the office of your state senator.

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Area organizations help local families. Consider volunteering

As the kids head back to school, there are more visits to places like the public library. There are some programs and projects being done by the Eastern Monroe Public Libraries that may be of interest to adults. There are often folks looking for an ESL (English as a Second Language) class.

The Hughes Library on Route 611 offers such a class. The class meets on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. Those attending get experience with ESL conversations, grammar and usage. To join or for more information, call 570-421-0800, ext. 4.

I have often said that our area is blessed to have many caring and helpful organizations and non-profits to help those when they are in need. One of those organizations is Family Promise.

Family Promise of Monroe County serves both Pike and Monroe Counties. If you were to ask what their mission is, you would be told: “Our mission is to help families experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.”

Part of a translation of that mission is the expansion of help through the Hughes Library and in the future through other branches of the Eastern Monroe Public Library.

A recent addition to services offered at the library include a caseworker from Family Promise who is available on Thursdays at the Hughes Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those with questions about rental assistance, help paying utility bills, eviction, and obtaining food assistance through SNAP and WIC benefits will find help from this caseworker.

Another gem of an organization in Monroe County is its Meals on Wheels (MOW) operation.

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There are many Meals on Wheels organizations throughout northeast Pennsylvania. Each one generally offers the same type of services. Monroe County Meals on Wheels plans, supplies and delivers nutritious and appealing meals, with the help of volunteers, to the homebound who are physically or mentally unable to shop for and/or prepare meals for themselves.

The services provided include meal delivery. On delivery days, volunteers deliver between 10am and 1pm. Income eligible clients pay on a sliding scale, as determined by the organization’s case manager. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may be used to pay for meals and if an individual needs assistance signing up for SNAP, Meals on Wheels can help.

In addition, we can also provide pet food to Monroe County MOW clients needing assistance feeding their pets.

Typically, it can provide one to two weeks’ supply of dog and cat food, sometimes more depending on the current stores of donated pet food. This is where those who would like to donate food come in. There are various locations throughout the county where pet food is accepted, municipal buildings and the various libraries among them.

If you would like to donate pet food, please drop off new, unopened cat and dog wet and dry food at the marked locations. An important note for MOW is the use of volunteers.

If you would like more information about any program or would like to become a volunteer contact MOW at: 570-424-8794. A chance to make a difference for someone and brighten their day!

Debbie Kulick writes a weekly column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Debbie Kulick: Summer's over in the Poconos! Now what?