Members of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Keystone Generations project committee are, front row, from left: Rob Lopka, Benco Dental; Betsy Jo Baggs, O’Donnell Law Offices; Theresa Morgan, King’s College; Ryan Hertel, Socialocca; and Lou Spaciano, Borton-Lawson; second row, Jessica Ives, Family Service Association of NEPA; Karen Sepko, Geisinger; Jackie Kendzor, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance; and Steve Alessi, Penn State Extension; third row, Matt Daube, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, group mentor.

Members of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Keystone Generations project committee are, front row, from left: Rob Lopka, Benco Dental; Betsy Jo Baggs, O’Donnell Law Offices; Theresa Morgan, King’s College; Ryan Hertel, Socialocca; and Lou Spaciano, Borton-Lawson; second row, Jessica Ives, Family Service Association of NEPA; Karen Sepko, Geisinger; Jackie Kendzor, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance; and Steve Alessi, Penn State Extension; third row, Matt Daube, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, group mentor.

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WILKES-BARRE — The Keystone Mission has helped homeless veterans and low-income families for years and they are now adding another group to help — grandparents raising their grandchildren.

The Leadership Wilkes-Barre project team — Keystone Generations — is partnering with the Keystone Mission to create a program to assist grandparents raising their grandchildren in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Keystone Generations is looking to raise awareness about the dramatic increase of grandparents raising their grandchildren in NEPA.

“These grandparents have already raised their children, and were looking forward to spoiling their grandchildren,” a statement from the Keystone Generations committee stated. “Instead of this traditional relationship, grandparents have found themselves in a desperate situation where they are now raising their grandchildren on a fixed income without having planned for the financial and emotional support their grandchildren need.”

A fundraiser has been planned for Sunday, Jan. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Benny’s Brewing Co., 1429 Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover Township. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $9.95 for children 6 to 12. Children under 5 will be admitted free.

Keystone Mission has two locations in NEPA — Olive Street in Scranton and on Empire Street in Wilkes-Barre (Sherman Hills).

The goal of Keystone Generations main is to create a sustainable means of distributing goods to the grandparents and grandchildren by purchasing a mobile trailer to store and distribute clothing and hygiene products needed by the grandparents who find themselves in this desperate situation.

Tickets for Sunday’s fundraiser are available on the Keystone Generations Facebook page or from any Keystone Generations team member. Tickets are pre-sale only and will not be available at the door.

The fundraiser will include food, one free draft beer, live entertainment by DJ Kenton, and raffle baskets. Anyone who attends the fundraiser will be entered for a chance to win a 54-inch Toshiba TV.

Anyone who donates any of the following items will be given one free raffle ticket (one free ticket per family.) Items accepted will include: gently used children’s clothing (infant through teen), school uniforms, new undergarments for children, children’s outerwear, hygiene products, diapers (sizes 3 and 4), pull ups and wipes.

After the event The Keystone Generations will continue to collect the above items through donation bins placed throughout NEPA. Each member of the Keystone Generations team will also accept donations.

If you are unable to find a drop off bin, please send a message through The Keystone Generations Facebook page to schedule a drop off location.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.