Wilkes-Barre POWER! holds first event since pandemic

Ryan Evans, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 3—KINGSTON — After a lengthy layoff due to the pandemic, Wilkes-Barre POWER! was back to uniting the community, encouraging networking and benefitting local organizations at Kevin's Bar and Restaurant on Wyoming Avenue on Thursday night.

The evening's gathering was in support of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of Luzerne County. CASA Executive Director Mary Kay Pivovarnik was in attendance and offered her thoughts on having people together again.

"It's incredible," she said. "We really like to come out and see people and talk to people. It's really hard to talk about advocacy when you're in front of a computer screen."

And she was equally appreciative of POWER! for providing an opportunity to spread awareness.

"POWER! gives us outreach that we normally wouldn't have. So, it brings a lot of people to the table who maybe would not have heard of CASA or maybe have heard of CASA, but not knew what our mission was and what we do. So it really gives us the chance us as CASA to have a voice for our kids who need our voice in a completely different way."

POWER! President Bill Corcoran Jr. has been involved with the organization for over a decade now and was thrilled to have the group back at work, benefiting a local restaurant and a worthy cause in CASA simultaneously.

"I know during the pandemic, restaurants really took a huge hit. So, it's nice to be able to be at a locally owned establishment, supporting the restaurant and, of course, supporting CASA as well," he remarked. "It's exciting, it's nice to be back. We're expecting a lot of new members, and it's nice to welcome back the old members."

POWER! holds these networking events once a month, typically on a Thursday. To learn more or become a member, visit www.wilkesbarrepower.com or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @wilkesbarrepower.

CASA of Luzerne County has several upcoming events, including NEPA Sings on June 16, Hawaiian Holiday at Susquehanna Brewing Company on July 9, and CASA Day at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Aug. 11.

The organization was also just given a grant for an art and writing program for the children and is looking for community members to get involved.

For more information on CASA of Luzerne County, visit www.luzernecasa.org, find them on Facebook or contact via email at office@luzernecasa.com