In The Valley, Press Release

Team Renew and Restore Hosts Brunch Bingo Event in Support of Laundry Room and Clothing Closet at New Recovery House in Wilkes-Barre



WILKES-BARRE, PA – Renew and Restore, a team of Leadership Northeast’s Core Class of 2026, is hosting a Brunch Bingo event on Sunday, April 19,  2026 at the Maltby Volunteer Fire Company located at 253 Owen St, Swoyersville, PA 18704. Doors open at 10:30am and the bingo will take place from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The event will have bingo, basket raffles, with food and bingo daubers available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the creation of an on-site laundry room and clothing closet at Clem-Mar House’s new halfway house for women in recovery in Wilkes-Barre. The cost for this event is $25 in advance or $30 at the door per person. Registrations can be sent via Venmo @Rebekah-Cleary-1. Please include that payment is for Brunch Bingo and the names of individuals being registered. Cash will also be accepted at the door the day of the event.

Drew Popish, Northeast Regional Director with the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, calling each bingo round. With his dedication to public service and support of the local community, Drew will bring his dynamic presence and ability to connect with audiences to create a remarkable event. During the event, the team will also collect laundry products to support the new space. Examples include laundry detergent, dryer sheets, stain removers, etc. A collection box will be available at the Maltby Volunteer Fire Company during the event for any products. Community members are welcome to contact Team Renew and Restore to coordinate any additional donations.

Drew Popish, Northeast Regional Director, Office of Governor Josh Shapiro

Beyond this event, the team welcomes the community to get involved in the following ways:

  • Monetary donations: Monetary donations can be made via Venmo @Rebekah-Cleary-1. Checks can be made payable to Leadership Northeast with “Team Renew and Restore” in the memo and mailed to 4 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. Online donations can be made via PayPal at leadershipnortheast.org/donate with “Team Renew and Restore” added in the “Write a Note” section.
  • In-kind donations and request information: If you would like to make an in-kind donation or have questions about our project, please email us at renewandrestorelne@gmail.com.
  • Follow us: Check out our Facebook page for the latest news and updates, including fundraisers and Amazon wish list, @Renew and Restore – A Project of LNE 2026

About Team Renew and Restore: A Leadership Northeast Community Impact Project, as members of Leadership Northeast Core 2026, Team Renew and Restore is made up of seven community members from all different industries and geographies. Ashley Antolik is a Secretary from the Department of Veterans Affairs and a Master’s student at Marywood University studying social work. Rebekah Cleary is a Fiscal Analyst at Luzerne County Head Start. George Korn is a Packaging Engineer for The Hershey Company in Hazleton. Anthony Melf is Operations Director at PA Inclusive and Coffee Inclusive, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Helene O’Boyle is a Branch Manager for the new Northwest Bank in Luzerne. Jack Parente is the owner of Two Jacks Cycle and Powersports, a family business on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre. Emma Thompson is the Senior Director of Conservation and Operations of North Branch Land Trust, helping eight counties in Northeastern PA conserve precious land forever.

Clem-Mar House’s new facility will be only one of 13 halfway houses for women in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. A halfway house provides a home-like atmosphere within a local community that is accessible to public transportation and provides opportunities for independent growth and responsible living. In-home laundry rooms are rare, if not non-existent, in these facilities, making this project unique and meaningful for an underserved population of women. The facility will accommodate up to 34 residents at a time.

“Women stepping down to a halfway-house level of care often face significant barriers, including trauma histories, housing instability, caregiving responsibilities, involvement with child-welfare systems, and limited employment opportunities. Without safe, structured, and trauma-informed transitional housing, many are forced to return to unsafe or unstable environments that jeopardize their recovery progress and well-being, “ Kathryn Wilk, Project Director at Clem-Mar House, said. “The impact extends beyond the individual woman served, children experience greater stability, families are strengthened, and communities benefit from reduced emergency-service utilization, lower justice-system involvement, and increased workforce participation.”

Through a holistic approach that emphasizes life skills, personal accountability, and community integration, residents are given the tools they need to live healthy, independent lives. Over a three-to-six month period, clients participate in group and individual counseling sessions led by certified drug and alcohol counselors, while also learning to navigate employment, relationships, self-help programs, and community responsibilities.

“When I was given the opportunity to live in a structured, supportive halfway house, everything began to turn around. That halfway house gave me what I couldn’t find on my own: stability, accountability, and hope. It was a place where I could rebuild not just my life, but myself. Today, thanks to that experience, I am sober, stable, and moving forward,” says Brandon B., a 2024 Clem-Mar House Graduate.

Information provided to TVL by:
George Korn