Penn State Hazleton alumni groups partner to support students and community

Group of men and women lined up outside in front of Nittany Lion statue and cardboard box full of food donations.

Participating in the presentation of collected food items to Catholic Social Services were (from left): Neil Oberto, Catholic Social Services; Robert Knight, Penn State Hazleton; Rick Barrett, Alumni Chapter second vice president; Jaculin Scarcella, Penn State Hazleton; Sandy Lagana, Alumni Chapter president; Denise Corcoran, Alumni Society president; and John Skwierz, Alumni Chapter treasurer.  

Credit: Penn State

HAZLETON, Pa. — The Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association and Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society recently held their annual food drive to help support students and members of the community who may be dealing with food insecurity.  

The groups spearheaded the effort to collect food products for Catholic Social Services in Hazleton, part of a yearly effort to give back to the community during the Thanksgiving season. Nonperishable food items were collected at Penn State Hazleton.

The groups also collected $1,275 in monetary donations for the Lion’s Pantry at Penn State Hazleton, which provides food and other resources to students facing food insecurity so they can focus on their education.

The Greater Hazleton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association is a geographically based group of more than 200 members that conducts an extensive calendar of special events for members, their families, and the community throughout the year.

The Penn State Hazleton Alumni Society, meanwhile, is a "virtual" network consisting of all Penn State Hazleton alumni. The group works closely with the campus Alumni Relations office to promote the campus' mission through on- and off-campus activities and events.

More information on the alumni chapters is available on the Penn State Hazleton website.