New Roots Inc.'s Willow Foundation received a $40,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant to make water damage repairs to its facility at 100 South Wyoming Street in Hazleton into a day shelter for homeless individuals.
The mission of New Roots is to identify service gaps and unmet needs and develop evidence-based programs to respond to those needs. It created the Willow Foundation to focus on homelessness, housing instability, and food insecurity for individuals across Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.
The organization's new day shelter offers services from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Greater Hazleton, including preparing and serving daily breakfast and lunch.
Sarah Helcoski, President of New Roots, said, “The mission of New Roots is to provide hope and support to individuals with a substance use disorder and their families and to facilitate the journey towards a healthier life through meaningful relationships and community engagement. Since its inception, New Roots has served 1,266 unduplicated individuals impacted by a substance use disorder. Many of these individuals were also experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.”
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email