PAGE 4
THE DALLAS POST
Sunday, December 18, 2011
MU students offer food
aid to Noxen residents
Fueled by a desire to make a dif-
ference in the region, the Miser-
icordia Campus Ministry has or-
ganized a year-long community
outreach program to assist those
in need in the nearby community
of Noxen.
The community, approximate-
ly 11 miles from the MU campus,
has a significantly lower income
level compared to the national av-
erage and a higher percentage of
residents and families living near
or below the poverty level, ac-
cording to data provided by the
2000 U.S. Census.
Community services in the
small rural community of approx-
imately 1,630 have been stretched
by governmental budget cuts and
recent flooding caused by Hurri-
cane Irene and Tropical Storm
Lee that did severe damage to the
local roads and infrastructure.
Student volunteers are provid-
ing much-needed assistance to a
variety of organizations and pop-
ulations in their neighboring
community.
Spearheading and coordinat-
ing the effort is Misericordia stu-
dent Chelsea Mixon, a social
work major from Bethlehem, who
has undertaken the Noxen project
as part of an internship with the
Social Work Department.
Just a few weeks into the aca-
demic semester, Mixon immedi-
ately stepped in and helped coor-
dinate student volunteers who as-
sisted with flood clean-up efforts
at dozens of homes in the commu-
nity following Tropical Storm
Lee.
“Chelsea was a God-send dur-
ing the flooding,” says Rev. Linda
Bryan, pastor of the Noxen Unit-
ed Methodist Church. “If it wasn’t
for her helping bring student vol-
unteers to our area, people would
still be trying to clean out their
houses.”
Mixon is also working with Pas-
tor Bryan, coordinating student
volunteers each week at the Pas-
tor’s Food Pantry where an aver-
age of 60 to 80 families in the re-
gion are served each month. She
also assists Pastor Bryan on visits
to elderly homebound residents
of the region and is coordinating
assistance from students in the
health science majors, such as
physical therapy, occupational
therapy, nursing and speech-lan-
guage pathology, as needed.
Under Mixon’s direction, Mi-
sericordia volunteers also help-
ing organize and sort clothing at
the community’s Clothes Closet,
a clothing bank set up by the
Community Development Cor-
poration of Noxen, Kunkle and
Ruggles, located in the Old
Schoolhouse Building. Mixon
and a group of students recently
filled a van with clothing from the
Bloomsburg area and delivered it
their volunteer efforts.
Misericordia students Sarah
Munley ‘13, an early childhood
and special education major from
Vernon, N.J., and Alina Busch, a
social work major from Waldorf,
Md., have also established an af-
ter-school tutoring program in
grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the Lake-
Noxen Elementary School. The
tutoring takes place on Mondays
and Tuesdays throughout the se-
mester.
The Misericordia University
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
Chelsea Mixon, right, accepts food for storage from Polly James in the Pastor Byron Food Pantry,
to the Clothes Closet as a part of Noxen. The Misericordia i University intern has coordinated food relief efforts in Noxen.
chapter of Sigma Tau Delta Inter-
national English Honor Society
recently held a book drive on
campus and plans to donate a por-
tion of the books to the flood-
damaged Noxen library along
with two others in the region that
were affected by the recent flood-
ing. More than 1,000 books were
collected during the one-month
effort and will be distributed to
the Noxen and West Pittston li-
braries and the library of the
flooded Holy Rosary School in
Duryea.
Mixon says the student ou-
treach in the Noxen community
will continue throughout the
spring semester. One of her goals
is to increase the level of help to
the library and clothing bank, ser-
vices desperately needed in the
small, rural community.
According to 2000 U.S. census
data, the median income for a
family in Noxen Township was
$35,833, compared to $50,046 in
the U.S. The per capital income
for the township was $14,488,
compared to $21,587 across the
country.
In the community, 13.8 percent
live below the poverty line, com-
pared to 9.20 percent nationally.
The rate of individuals in the
community who live below the
poverty line is 17.1 percent, com-
pared to the U.S. rate of 12.4 per-
cent.
OBITUARIES
ANDERSON - June E., 78, for-
merly of Dallas, died Wednesday,
December 7, 2011, at the United
Methodist Homes Wesley Village
Campus, Jenkins Township.
She was born in Toms River,
N.J.,, and was employed by the
Dallas Area School District,
working in the cafeteria at the
Westmoreland Elementary
School until her retirement in
1985.
Surviving are daughters, Diane
Golightly, Shavertown; Heidi
Wagner, ' Shavertown; Tamara
Jenkins, Dallas; five grandchil-
dren; one great-granddaughter;
sister, Rose Johnston, William-
sport, Md.; brother, Edward He-
wett, Shippensburg; nieces and
nephews.
Memorial donations to United
Methodist Homes Wesley Village
Campus, 209 Roberts Rd., Pitt-
ston, PA 18640 or to the Hospice
of the Sacred Heart, 600 Balti-
more Dr.,, Wilkes-Barre, PA
18702.
DENMON - Kenneth D., 81, of
Beaumont, died Monday, De-
cember 5, 2011, in the Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital after a
short illness.
He was born September 12,
1930, in Forty Fort, and was a
graduate of Beaumont High
School, class of 1948. In 1950, he
enlisted in the U.S. Navy and
served for four years on the USS
Menard during the Korean Con-
flict.
Prior to his retirement, he was
employed at Klein Auto Parts of
Tunkhannock for over 30 years.
He was a member of the Noxen
United Methodist Church.
Surviving are his mother, Julia
Hilbert Denmon, of Beaumont;
his children, Rick, Monroe Town-
ship; Mark, Noxen; seven grand-
children; two great-grandchil-
dren; brother, Sherwood, Upper
Black Eddy; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the
Noxen United Methodist Memo-
rial Fund, 3390 SR 29S, Noxen,
PA 18636.
EDWARDS - Nancy S., 85, for-
merly of Wilkes-Barre, died on
Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at
her residence at The Village at
Greenbriar, Dallas.
She was born January 5, 1926,
in Kingston, graduated from
Wyoming Seminary and attend-
ed Hood College, Frederick, Md.
She then graduated from Drexel
University, Philadelphia.
She was an instructor in the
practical nursing program at
Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech. She was a
member of Church of Christ Unit-
ing, Kingston. She also was a
member of the Luzerne County
Historical Society.
Surviving are a son, T.H.,
Camp Hill; a daughter, Debra
Evans, Kingston Township; two
grandchildren; two great-grand-
children; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the
American Red Cross, 256 N.
Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre, PA
18702.
FRITZGES - Beverly S., 84, of
Lakeside Nursing Center, Dallas,
and formerly of Shavertown, died
Sunday, December 4, 2011, at
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Med-
ical Center, Plains Township.
She was born in Scranton on
Feb. 18, 1927, was a graduate of
West Pittston High School, class
of 1943 and of College Misericor-
dia, Dallas, class of 1947, with a
degree in education.
She was employed as a teacher
at several local school districts.
She was a member of the Trucks-
ville United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her sons, James,
Dallas; Barry, Wilkes-Barre; sis-
ter, Margaret Mitchell, Lake Wi-
nola; nieces, nephews and cou-
sins.
Memorial donations to the Lu-
zerne County SPCA.
KINNEY -Evans D., 87, of Har-
veys Lake, died Thursday, Dec. 8,
2011, at the Meadows Nursing
and Rehabilitation Center, Dal-
las.
He was born on Oct. 13, 1924,
in Hanover Township, was a ser-
geant of the United States Army
and a veteran of World War II and
the Korean War.
Surviving are his wife of 57
years, the former Theresa P.
Spernoga; sons, Barry and Da-
niel.
KISHBACH - Linda Jane, 54, of
Shavertown, died Saturday, De-
cember 3, 2011, in the Hospice of
the VNA at St. Lukes Villa,
Wilkes-Barre.
She was born in Bristol Town-
ship, Bucks County, was a gradu-
ate of Dallas High School class of
1975 and a Magna Cum Laude
graduate of Misericordia Univer-
sity. She was employed by Gene-
sis Health Care as an occupation-
al therapist, working at Little
Flower Manor, Wilkes-Barre.
She was very active with
Candy’s Place, Forty Fort, and its
various support groups.
Surviving are her son, Mathew
Joseph, Shavertown; three grand-
children; step-son, Justin Rosser,
Wilkes-Barre; sister, Carol Ann
Davis, Kingston; brother, Chris-
topher W. Davis, Tunkhannock;
nieces and nephews.
LYONS - Theresa Austin, 82, of
Washington Square Apartments,
died Tuesday, December 6, 2011,
at Mercy Center in Dallas after a
short illness.
She was born March 26, 1929,
in Wilkes-Barre. She retired from
Mercy Hospital, where she was a
unit secretary.
A member of the Parish of Our
Lady of Fatima, she was a com-
municant at the Church of St. Ma-
ry of the Immaculate Concep-
tion.
Surviving are her children, Ju-
dy McCray, Cindy Flynn and Jim;
five grandsons; two great-grand-
sons; and sisters, Aileen Heck,
Margaret Eckert, Mary Hannon
and Betty McEvoy.
Memorial donations to the Sis-
ters of Mercy, PO Box 369, Dal-
las, PA 18612.
POWELL-EdwardS, 81, of Ide-
town Road, Dallas, died Friday,
December 9, 2011, at Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital.
He was born in Wanamie and
graduated from Newport High
School, class of 1947. He served
in the U.S. Army during the Ko-
rean Conflict.
He had resided on Idetown
Road in Dallas for the past 56
years. Prior to his retirement, he
was employed as a salesman for
Whiteman Tower Paper Co. Ear- RE
lier, he was employed by Zoeller
Paper Company.
He was a 50-year member of
Idetown United Methodist
Church. He was past president of
the Lehman Fire Company and
was active with the Irem Temple
for 50 years, serving as Potentate
in 1983. He was captain of the
Arab Emeritus Patrol for many
years. He was a member of Ge-
orge M. Dallas Lodge No. 531
F&AM and Caldwell Consistory,
Bloomsburg.
Surviving are his wife of 61
years, the former Dorothy Ogin;
sister, Barbara Haydock, Alden;
nieces and nephews.
vA EV LT
Coal Stoves
Regency Classic
Wood Stoves
2540 SR 29 Ss, Tunkhannock 298-2150
www. fireplacegallerynepa.com
STOP IN TO SEE HOW THEY BURN!
SIMCHICK - Ashley, of Dallas,
died suddenly in her home on
Sunday, December 4, 2011.
She was born in Kingston on
January 2, 1986. She was a 2004
graduate of Dallas Senior High
School and was employed as a
veterinary technician.
Surviving are her parents, Jill
Ketchel, Swoyersville; and John
Simchick, Shavertown; her step-
father, John Ketchel; step-moth-
er, Lijang Simchick; sister, Mallo-
ry; maternal grandparents, Do-
nald and Blodwen Shaffer; pater)
nal grandparents, John and An-
toinette Simchick.
Memorial donations to the Lu-
zerne County SPCA or to the
Blue Chip Animal Shelter.
Sterling Silver Estate Rings
Over 400 Styles to Choose From
5
Oclimare's
18 Church St., Dallas ® 675-5872 www.ochmans.com
Holiday Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm © Sat 10am-7pm ® Sun Noon-6pm
TT EET "
Want: To Give The Best:Gift This Hollday Season? |
Want Whiter, Brighter Teeth for the New Year?
Then call my dentist, Gary M. Nataupsky, today
for a gift certificate for Zoom Teeth Whitening.
Dr. Gary Nataupseky ©."
Riverside Commons, 575 Pierce Street
Suite 201 Kingston « 331-8100
>) www, Ar-ginn.« com
ma
Interstate Windows
will keep you
warm this winter!
High quality “Made in America” components
Energy saving insulated glass packages
Incredible dl values
NFRC Certified & Energy Star Qualified
Limited Lifetime Warranty
* Double Hun + Hopper
+ Picture Window - Bow
- Casement + Bay/Garden
+ Awning Patio Door
Ask about
LOIT 0 1 @ 7 atk Joc HK a
iBY INTERSTATE
The Next Generation of Windows
Since 1938
— Distributor of Siding, Roofing
N TERST ATE Doors, Decking and Kitchen
| Cabinetry by Wellborn
Building Materials, Ine.
322 Laurel Street, Pittston
800-338-9997
www.interstatebldg.com
Showroom Hours:
Mon thru Fri - 7:30 to 4:30 pm
Sat - 8 to noon
EE —— a—rrybhtv