WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 19, 2020) – As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Luzerne Foundation will temporarily close its offices and community conference room on River Street in Wilkes-Barre and all employees will work from remote locations, effective immediately.
The Luzerne Foundation will continue to function under its emergency operations plan. The Foundation anticipates resuming normal operations on Monday, March 30. The best way to contact The Luzerne Foundation staff during this time is via email. Contact information for each staff member is here:
General information, Sylvia Stowe – [email protected]
Diane Dutko, COO – [email protected]
Donna Eiden, Grants & Scholarship Administrator – [email protected]
Debbie Buczynski, Finance Administrator – [email protected]g
Charles Barber, CEO – [email protected]
“We’re monitoring guidance from federal and state agencies,” said Charles Barber, The Luzerne Foundation president. “We’re also remaining in contact with local nonprofit organizations that may be adversely impacted by operational shutdowns and event postponements. We also continue to check in with other organizations that could see an increase in demand for services during this global pandemic.”
During normal operations, the community conference room is in frequent use by local nonprofit agencies. As a precaution, and in accordance with recommendations regarding public gatherings and social distancing, the Community Foundation postponed events in the conference center until further notice.
In 2011 after the September floods, The Luzerne Foundation helped form the Disaster Recovery Coalition of Luzerne County, a COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster). This coalition of organizations coordinates local responses to regional disasters.
The Luzerne Foundation has the ability to create a Luzerne County Covid-19 Emergency Recovery Fund to collect donations for victims, their families, and long term community needs that could arise. The Foundation is still evaluating whether such a fund will be necessary to respond to COVID-19 in Luzerne County.
Upon creation of a Luzerne County Covid-19 Emergency Recovery Fund, The Luzerne Foundation will connect with key responders, such as healthcare providers, disaster relief agencies, as well as decision-makers in local government, nonprofits, and business to determine initial financial needs, if any.
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