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Family Connections outlines food, after-school and early-learning supports for Easton students
Summary
Family Connections of Easton presented program expansion and service statistics to the board, highlighting pre-K readiness work, expanded after-school programming at Chesterton and Paxonosa schools, and large food/backpack distributions; staff asked for volunteer support for the upcoming holiday "Stuff the Bus."
Kila Vincent, executive director of Family Connections of Easton, told the board the nonprofit has served the Easton Area School District since 1998 and described current programs that connect families to supports that reduce barriers to learning.
"My name is Kila Vincent. I'm the executive director of Family Connections of Easton," Vincent said, introducing the organization’s work and staff. She said the center recently added two community school coordinators to work across Chesterton and Paxonosa schools and outlined partnerships with the Easton Police Department, Saint Luke’s and Lafayette tutors for after-school enrichment.
Vincent highlighted early‑learning and family-support figures: she said Parent Child Plus (a pre‑K and kindergarten‑readiness home‑visiting program) had 28 families participate last year and that graduates were “50 percent more likely to be prepared for kindergarten” and “performing 10 months ahead of their peers” by chronological‑age measures. She noted that participation is relatively small but important for children without other preschool access.
On after‑school programming, Vincent said Family Connections operates PALS (Paxonosa After School Learning Club) and CCLC (Chester Cougar Learning Club) two days per school each week, providing snack and dinner. She reported roughly 80 students registered for CCLC and about 100 for PALS, and said the organization will launch a "Crazy Eights" math club in November running through mid‑January with baseline testing planned in January.
Vincent also reviewed family support and food-distribution numbers: she said Family Connections’ family support team served more than 5,800 children and adults last year, had delivered 186 backpacks with school supplies, ran a clothing boutique that served 141 people, prepared 550 kindergarten‑readiness bags for the Rover Ready program, and distributed 538 food bags in October. She added the district pantry at Paxonosa offers refrigeration and free clothing/toiletries and that roughly 700 people used the pantry service in October.
"Stuff the Bus is our campaign that we've been running probably for about 8 years now," Vincent said in asking the community to donate for the holiday shop and student support. She invited board members and community members to upcoming events and offered to answer questions.
The presentation closed with an invitation to community members to attend a free screening of the film Count It Out at the Bridal School Auditorium on Nov. 5, and with a request for continued volunteer and donation support for the holidays.
