Centre County Youth Service Bureau gets boost from grant, Lift Zones. Here’s what’s planned
Like other nonprofits, the Centre County Youth Service Bureau faced new challenges during the pandemic, but grants and community support have brought needed improvements for kids served by its programs.
In November, Comcast donated $100,000 to benefit low-income students and families in transitional housing across Pennsylvania, and $25,000 of that total went to the YSB. It came on the heels of the YSB being selected for “Lift Zones,” where Comcast provides free Wi-Fi to help families and children stay connected.
Lift Zones are a “part of (Comcast’s) ongoing commitment to help students and adults get online, participate in distance learning or remote work, do homework or look for and apply for jobs,” said Josephine Posti, director of public relations for Comcast’s Keystone Region.
The YSB’s three Lift Zone sites are the Bellefonte Youth Center, the Stormbreak Girls Group Home and the Burrowes Street Youth Haven, which is the organization’s teen shelter.
Through the partnership with Comcast, Centre County Youth Services Bureau CEO Christine Bishop said she and her team were able to increase internet speed at these locations for no extra cost, which was particularly vital over the pandemic, when schools were operating remotely.
“That really helped, especially when we had, not only kids in our group home, all needing to log on to school at the same time, but we had kids without consistent access to internet service in their homes stopping by our Youth Haven and going there to complete assignments, logging onto computers with us. ... To have that partnership was really critical for our kids,” Bishop said.
The new $25,000 grant will go toward improvements at the Stormbreak Girls Group Home and its Lift Zone. The Stormbreak program is funded by counties that place girls at the home, but that funding, Bishop said, only covers normal operating expenses. Improvements and further costs must be covered by fundraising initiatives, which has proved challenging since early 2020. Still, Bishop said the community has pulled through to support the entire YSB over the last 21 months.
“I think COVID-19 brought a lot of uncertainty. Right away, during the first year, we had to cancel all of our in-person fundraising events,” she said. “Our community pulled together and supported us in new and creative ways, and ... just worked with us and said, ‘OK, I normally give at this event, but what do you guys need this year? How can I support you differently?’ That was truly amazing to see.”
According to Posti, the Stormbreak Girls Group Home was an ideal fit for not only a Lift Zone location, but also the extra grant, both of which are part of Comcast’s Project UP.
The Stormbreak Girls Group Home will use the grant funds to make repairs and improvements, making it easier for residents to study, live and overall enjoy their experience at the home. Bishop said specific plans include improving the home’s outdoor living space and dining area, as well as converting an office space into a study area. Currently, the facility is home to five girls between ages 12 and 19, and Bishop believes that one of the grant’s biggest impacts will be simply showing those girls that their community cares.
“The kids that we see come through our doors at Stormbreak, they’re going through a really tough time. It might be because there’s a family crisis. It might not be safe at home right now, and they need a place to stay that’s safe and stable. We provide that for them,” she said. “We want to be as welcoming and as home-like as possible, to help them through that tough period of their lives and get them on the right track, to be able to go on and do whatever it is that they want. It’s important for them to see the community is here to support (them).”
Those interested in supporting the Stormbreak Girls Group Home or any of the YSB’s other initiatives can check out the organization’s website, ccysb.com, or call the main office, 814-237-5731, for more information regarding volunteerism opportunities.
