Spring Fling/Theme Basket Auction 2008

CSS Auxilary held its Spring Fundraiser on the weekend of April 12-13 at Holy Rosary Church in Hazleton. It was a great success!

CSS Board of Directors

Board of Director members participate in the Spring Fling.

Pictured (L to R): Tim Trently, Jeff Gicking, Ann Marie Pardee, Rosalie Rudegaier, Mary Malone

McNelis Home Care Check Presentation

The Staff of McNelis Home Care Present Neil Oberto of Catholic Social Services a check in the amount of $1500 towards the Century Club Campaign.

First Row (left to right): Cindy Layton, Jeanne Plesh, David McNelis. Second Row (left to right): Neil Oberto (CSS), Mary Emmons, Debbie O’Dell, Dan Bassak and John McNelis

Night at the Races 2008

There was plenty of food at our Night At The Races held on January 26, 2008 at Holy Rosary Church in Hazleton.

Night at Races Crowd

The support at our Night at the Races was wonderful. Thank you to all who donated their time and talent to this fundraiser!!

Another View of the Races

Here's another view of the crowd of our Night At the Races on 1/26/2008.

The Ladies of CSS at the Races

Our staff was so eager to help the betters with their horses at the Night at the Races.

Walden Books Donates to PCHP

Waldenbooks in the Laurel mall had asked patrons if they would donate to the Parent-Child Home Program in the purchasing of books for early childhood literacy. They donated approximately $160 worth of gift cards! We appreciate the generosity of those patrons as well as the enthusiasm of the store in composing this fundraiser! In this photo are: (left to right) Amy Sunder, Ben Hamilton (manager) and Erin Greech posing with some of the books purchased.

Berger Family Dealerships Makes Donation to Christmas Program

Jeff Berger, General Manager of Berger Family Dealerships, poses with Lisa Rodriguez during a presentation of $1125 towards the Toy Gift Giving Program on December 19, 2007. Thank you to Earl Berger and his entire staff for their generous support of our agency and our work!

Filling the Boxes

The Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsyvlania, Troop 4230 recently helped CSS prepare the food baskets for the Christmas Distribution 2007. Thank you for your hard work!

Girl Scouts Troop 4230 Aid CSS

The Girl Scouts Troop 4230 recently helped CSS prepare the food baskets for the Christmas Distribution 2007.

Salute to the Family 2007

Catholic Social Services Foster Care and Adotion Programs sponsored Salute to the Family 2007--a community celebration of National Family Week (November 18-24) and National Adoption Day (Nov. 17th) at the Laurel Mall in Hazleton.

Introductory Remarks

Neil Oberto, Executive Director of CSS, offers a few welcoming remarks at Salute to the Family.

"Kids on the Block"

The United Way of Greater Hazleton's Child Advocacy Committee were on hand with the "New Kids on the Block" Puppets.

"What Family Means to Me"

CSS and local businesses sponsored a writing contest for children in Hazleton and Crestwood School Distrists grades 5th through 8th. The topic was "What Does Family Mean to Me?" One of the winners reads her essay.

The Winners

The grade winners of the writing contest: 1^{st Row: (Left to Right) Nicky Hopeck (1st place-6th grade); Robbie Devigili (2nd place-6th grade); Irene Hudock (1st place-5th grade); Medina Saeed (2nd place-5th grade); and Stacie Snyder (3rd place-5th grade)}

^{2nd Row: Neil Oberto (CSS Executive Director); Leah Majdic (Overall Winner); Kim Wilson (2nd place-8th grade); Tiffany Bobeck (1st place-8th grade); Darren Spare (2nd place-7th grade); Jeremy Kistler (1st place-7th grade) and Joseph Yanuzzi (President of City Council)}

The Cougar Marching Band

The Hazleton Area High School Marching Cougar Band performed at the Salute to the Family 2007 Celebration at the mall. They were a BIG hit!

Play on

Hazeton area band members at the Salute to the Family.

Some of the Crowd

Some of the crowd gathering at Salute to the Family 2007 event on November 17, 2007.

Proclaiming National Family Week

Mr. Joseph Yanuzzi, President of the Hazleton City Council, proclaims November as National Adoption Month and November 18-24 as National Family Week in the City of Hazleton on behalf of Mayor Louis Barletta.

Auxiliary Members

Here are some of our auxiliary members. They are the best!

The 2007 Auxilary

We thank our auxilary for their tremendous help in our endeavors. We are gratefully indebted to them. Thank you.

Staff 2007

Our annual staff photo mugshot for 2007 at the Century Club reception. Watch out for those rain drops guys! (It poured just before the picture was taken).

Enjoy, Enjoy

Some of the staff enjoying some good food (as always) and great conversations.

Neil and Therese

Without these two, Catholic Social Services would not be were it currently is today. Thank you Neil and Therese.

Century Club 2007

Msgr. Kelly speaks to the guest at our Century Club Appreciation Receoption in June 2007. We are very grateful for all who gave of their time and effort to this cause.

Resource Family of the Year Award Ceremony

Some of the Foster Care and Adoption Staff enjoy the good food at the 2nd Annual Resource Family of the Year Award Ceremony on May 10, 2007.

Always Smiling

Kelly Myers (foster care worker) and Nicole Delazio (adoption and foster care worker) enjoy a good time at the Resource Family of the Year Award Ceremony.

And the Award Goes To...

Kendra Haslam, Foster Care and Adoption Supervisor listens Msgr. Kelly offers a few remarks at the Resource Family of the Year Ceremony.

Snowfall February 2007

A typical winter day in Hazleton, PA. Many of the staff managed to make it to work this day! We are so dedicated.

Craig in Action-Snowblowing

Craig attempted to clear some of the snow in February 2007 during our Valentine's Day snow fall. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful at his job.

Adoption Month Training 2006

Dr. Cecilia Rowland (native daughter of Hazleton) recently presented a training entitled "Helping Difficult Children." Dr. Rowland is noted for her work at the Child Study Center at Yale University.

CSS Staff 2006

Again we gather for the famous CSS Staff Photo during the annual Century Club Reception. Looking very nice!

Our Old Building

We were first located on Broad Street in Hazleton. We eventually grew too large and moved to 81 S. Church Street.

Our New Location

Growing again, we moved across the street to a larger complex: 214 W. Walnut Street. We love our new location.

Dedication

Our new building was officially dedicated on June 10, 2004. Thank you to all those who have donated so generously of their time and money.

Food Boxes

Every Thanksgiving, we prepare hundreds of boxes with enough food for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

In the Kitchen

Alice prepares a wonderful meal for the staff and volunteers helping at the Thanksgiving Food Distribution.

Friendly Faces

Lisa L. and Sherri welcome the clients at the registration table during the Thanksgiving Food Distribution.

PCHP Group

Some of the staff from the Parent-Child Home Program, the Center for Schools & Communities, and Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 posed for this photo at a meeting in April 2004.

Our Beloved Director

When Neil is not at his desk, he is in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

Retreat Reflection

Pat Tomsho, the Executive Director of United Charities, helped us reflect on the meaning of social work and our role to the community.

CSS Staff 2004

While at the staff retreat, the staff of CSS gathered for a group photo.

Actively Listening

Pat captivated our attention at the October retreat.

Summer Picnic

The staff getting together for a little competitive volleyball game at the staff summer gathering.

Love the Dog!

Sharon and Dolores at the summer gathering.

Let's Eat!

Our cook, Craig, grills up the burgers and the hot dogs. They were delicious.

Preparing the meal

Another photo from the summer gathering.

Pasta Fagoli

During Lent 2005, CSS sold Haluski and Pasta Fagoli as a fundraiser. Here Neil and Jen prepare the soup.

Soups-Up

Our director Neil preparing his famous Pasta Fagoli.

Preparing the Deliveries

Sharon and Joe prepare the orders for delivery around town.

Still Smiling!

After much preparation and work, the staff keeps smiling while preparing the orders of Haluski.

Answering the Busy Phones

One of the daily sights at CSS, Maria answering the phones.

Chinese Auction

One of our fundraisers last year was a Chinese Auction.

A View of the Baskets

The baskets looked great!

Sharon and Paul

Sharon and Paul after a hard day's work at the auction. Overall it was a success.

Inspecting the Baskets

There were so many great looking baskets, many had to take just a closer look.

Biking for Habitat for Humanity

A group of dedicated youth were biking across the country to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. They stopped by CSS to a well-deserved rest.

Look at all those bikes

The bikes are line-uped against the wall and the food is prepared.

Another view of the bikes

Just another view of the bikers equipment.

Century Club Reception 2005

Ed Abdo, board president, addressed the attendees. Neil Oberto, director, and Msgr. Joseph Kelly, Diocesan Secretary of Human Services are in the foreground.

CSS Staff 2005

The staff gathered for a photo outside our building with Msgr. Kelly.

Century Club Reception Prep

Some of the staff preparing the food for the reception.

Enjoying some socialization

Some of the staff enjoy some down time at our agency retreat on August 19, 2005.

We are all ears!

The staff attentively listen to Msgr. Joseph Kelly speak about our role in the community as Catholic Social Services.

More attentive staff

Msgr. Kelly gave us an inspiring talk on the meaning of our mission as a social agency.

Our NEW Diocesan Executive Director

Msgr. Joseph Kelly speaks to the staff at our agency retreat on August 19, 2005.

Staff Photo-8/19/2005

Here is some of the staff and their family members from our recent retreat held at Beach Mountain Lakes on August 19, 2005.

All Fired Up about the Grills!!

Neil Oberto, our executive director, gets inspired with the sight of all those grills.

Nice Apron

Craig Lukatch, Adoption Caseworker, sports his new apron.