Family Service Association has celebrated Employee Appreciation Day the Friday before Labor Day.and presented service awards to employees. From left: Janine Fortney, Cathy Mericle, Theresa Langan, Scott Rave, Mary Morgan, Chris Hughes, Cesar (‘Dan’) Grullon, Evelyn Rowles, Anthony Orlando, and Claire Holly.
                                 Submitted photo

Family Service Association has celebrated Employee Appreciation Day the Friday before Labor Day.and presented service awards to employees. From left: Janine Fortney, Cathy Mericle, Theresa Langan, Scott Rave, Mary Morgan, Chris Hughes, Cesar (‘Dan’) Grullon, Evelyn Rowles, Anthony Orlando, and Claire Holly.

Submitted photo

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WILKES-BARRE — For the last many years, Family Service Association has celebrated Employee Appreciation Day the Friday before Labor Day.

Each year, employees and their families have traveled to Knoebels Grove to enjoy a cook-out and brief employee meeting to celebrate the accomplishments of the prior fiscal year. FSA contributed to the expenses of the day for employees and families.

While this year’s celebration does not include Knoebels Grove due to COVID-19 concerns, on Friday, Sept. 4, FSA continued its tradition of celebrating its employees and thanking them for their contributions, especially in light of their efforts during the pandemic.

Gertrude C. McGowan, Esq., CEO of FSA, said the agency did not close its doors, but rather continued its counseling and casework operations — even handling record volumes of calls in its PA 211 NE/ Help Line services, a 24/7/365 referral service to human services and after hours crisis management.

In addition to pizza and snacks, employees received a gift card and early dismissal from work in appreciation of their daily efforts for their clients. For the first time ever, service awards were also part of the celebration.

Those in receipt of 2020 service awards included: Chris Hughes, 35 years; Cathy Mericle, 30 years; Anthony Orlando, 20 years; Marlene Woods, 15 years; Theresa Langan, 10 years; Evelyn Rowles, 5 years, Janine Fortney, 5 years, Mary Morgan, 5 years, Scott Rave, 5 years, Claire Holly, 5 years, and Cesar (“Dan”) Grullon, 5 years.

“The length of service of these employees is admirable and the community and FSA benefit from their vast experience,” McGowan said. “We are so appreciative for what they do each day. ”

Janyne Gurnari, COO of FSA, added, “Employee Appreciation Day is one of my favorite days at FSA. It affords us the opportunity to reflect on all that we do and the dedicated employees who make it possible. The addition of the Service Awards to the event makes it even more special.”

FSA is a non-profit agency that has been serving the region for over 124 years. For further information concerning its services, please contact FSA at 570-823-5144.