Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation, Inc.

Merry Christmas from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation! This holiday season, we are filled with gratitude for the generosity and kindness of our community. To everyone who has donated or supported our mission this year, thank you. Your contributions are making a real difference for families in need, and your support embodies the true spirit of Christmas! Together, we are bringing joy, hope, and brighter tomorrows to many. From all of us at the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation, we wish you and your loved ones a season filled with peace, love, and happiness.

We are so very grateful for our generous donors that have helped us help others this year. Thank you!

The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney recently received a $1,000 donation from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutal Foundation! The Shields Insurance Agency, a fourth-generation agency in Punxsutawney, PA, was chosen by Carrie Nicewonger, and they selected the church to receive the money.   Each month the church provides approximately 170 free, takeaway meals with their Community Meal Program. The meals are prepared with care by their church members, are served cold and to be heated at home. Previous meals have included things such as scrambled steak over whipped potatoes, taco stuffed shells, and chicken broccoli alfredo. We thank the Shields Agency for giving back to their community and we thank the members of the for helping fight food insecurity in their corner of the world! Pictured are members of the Shields Insurance Agency: Front row: Lindsay Cressley Back row: Michelle Elliott, Marcie Wolfe, and Keith Shields (Agency Principal)

How great is it when a charity receives not one, but two donations on the same day? Recently the Son Light House was selected by Roger W Myers Agency to be the recipient of a $1,000 donation from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation! In addition, Roger Myers matched our donation, and the organization received $2,000 that day! Son Light House is a non-profit, community-supported resource that provides food, clothing, and furniture to individuals and families in need and that qualify on family income guidelines set by the state and federal guidelines. Based in Muncy, PA, Son Light House was established in 1982 by the husband-and-wife directors, Ken and Delores Frey. They receive donations of food, seasonable clothing, toys, and furniture at specific times each week. Approximately 45-50 volunteers help with the food distributions that take place twice a month. Pictured below (from left to right): Roger Myers, Agency Owner; Ken Frey, Director of Son Light House; and Stephanie Stanton, CISR, AFIS Stanton, Territory Manager at Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company.

What started as one community garden to meet neighbors, has grown into something much bigger! Together We Grow was awarded the $1,000 donation from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation a few weeks ago. Ryan Schriber, President of Madison Collins Stephens (MCS), in Newark, OH selected this non-profit to receive the money. Together We Grow became a non-profit in 2012, focusing on sustainability and access to fresh produce for low income and “food desert” areas of Newark. They now have six (6) community gardens around the city of Newark, as well as educational programs at all seven (7) elementary schools. Individuals can rent a raised garden bed for as little as $10 a season! The organization provides all seeds, equipment, and education about growing their own produce. The gardens provided over 7,500 pounds of fresh foods last year. The education at the elementary school level is often for children who would have no exposure to gardening otherwise. In addition, Together We Grow has a hands-on gardening program for adults with developmental disabilities and they recently started a legends program for senior adults. U-pick markets are also held at different locations throughout the summer enabling the public access to reduced price, fresh produce. Pictured (from left to right): Ryan Schreiber, President at MCS; Stacey Hocker, Senior Territory Manager at Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company; Vanessa Cross, Director of Together We Grow; Kristen Little, Assistant Director at Together We Grow; and Mike Birkmeyer, Account Executive at MCS.

The Holy Family Institute in Pittsburgh, PA received a $1,000 from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation after being referred by the James L Smith Insurance Agency! This charitable organization was founded in 1900 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth first as an orphanage, but in 1931 is when they became “Holy Family Institute,” to reflect their shift from being a true orphanage to a small-group living facility serving both orphans and other children in need. Today, the majority of their services include educating behaviorally challenged children, counseling families, preparing youth and young adults with workforce development, offering drug and alcohol addiction counseling to children and youth, and providing outpatient mental health counseling available to the community. Pictured below are Malory Eiter, Customer Service Representative, and Skip Mayhew, Director of Marketing, both are employees of the James L Smith Agency.

In early September, I had the privilege of attending the Wyoming County Fair and participating in the 4H livestock auction on behalf of Tuscarora Wayne and Mutual Capital Services. Witnessing the dedication and hard work of kids as young as 10 up to high school seniors showcasing the animals they raised was truly inspiring. These youngsters not only trained the animals but also put in hours pitching to local businesses and individuals for the auction. It's incredible to see the valuable skills and independence they are cultivating at such a young age. We secured the winning bids on three hogs, all of which were distributed today to different pantries in our communities. I'm immensely proud of the determination and resilience displayed by every 4H member. Being part of an organization that prioritizes giving back and making a positive impact fills me with pride. Together, let's continue to strive towards leaving the world a little better than we found it. 💕 #4HClub #LivestockAuction #CommunityImpact #GivingBack #YouthDevelopment Mutual Capital Services, Inc. Mutual Capital Group, Inc. Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation, Inc.

Miller Insurance, Jonestown, PA, was recently given the opportunity to choose a local charity that will receive a $1,000 donation from the Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation.   The agency selected JOY (Jonestown Outreach Pantry) to be the recipient!   JOY was created with one idea in mind… to create a hunger-free community in the Northern Lebanon School District (PA). Last year, JOY merged with the Caring Cupboard in Palmyra, PA, and this merger has allowed them to now serve 40% of the population in Lebanon county.   JOY is a choice pantry. Four times a month, families may come in and select their own items. This organization receives close to 1,000,000 pounds of donated food each year which helps them serve their mission.   Pictured below are Chris Miller, Principal Agent, Miller Insurance; Stephanie Stanton, CISR, AFIS, Territory Manager at Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company; and Shila Ulrich, Executive Director of JOY.

The Tuscarora Wayne Mutual Foundation was happy to work with Lighthouse Insurance Agency to distribute a $1,000 donation to the Erie City Mission! The city of Erie is the home to the poorest zip code in Pennsylvania, and the Erie City Mission exists to eliminate poverty in their city through its programs and services. The Erie City Mission works to cultivate a community of new life, break the cycle of hopelessness, and remains true to their mission of “Restoring Hope, Transforming Lives.” They serve free public breakfast and lunch daily in the Hagen Hall dining room to hundreds of men, women, and children. In an effort to reduce waste and to help feed the hungry, several local restaurants partner with the Mission in a food recovery program. This, along with monetary donations, have helped the Mission to serve over 119,000 meals to those in need! We thank them for their service to the community! Pictured below are Barbara Fargiorgio, Commercial Lines Agent at Lighthouse Insurance Agency, and Carrie Nicewonger, Senior Territory Manager for Lebanon Valley Insurance Company.