Student and Family Resources

211 - PA 211 is a free, confidential service that connects individuals and families with local resources and support, including food, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, employment, and other community services. Help is available by phone, text, and online 24/7.

Finding Your Way in PA is a Pennsylvania based mobile and desktop app designed to share services, resources, and information with young people and families, particularly those experiencing homelessness. While using the app, users can search for and request assistance with services and resources in their current location, local communities, and throughout PA to connect them with helpful supports.

The Salvation Army – Food assistance, clothing, emergency assistance, holiday assistance, and other support for individuals and families in need. Tamaqua | 570-668-0410

Carbon County Assistance Office – Helps eligible individuals and families apply for and manage benefits including medical assistance, SNAP, cash assistance, and other state assistance programs. Lehighton | 610-577-9020.

COMPASS - Commonwealth of PA Access to Social Services - cash assistant, energy assistance, food stamps, health coverage, home-based and long-term care | COMPASS Helpline: 1-800-692-7462

Social Security Administration – Assistance with Social Security benefits, new or replacement cards, appeals, etc. Hazleton | 866-388-9878

PA CareerLink® Carbon County – Job search assistance, resume help, career counseling, training opportunities, and employment resources. 50 E. Locust St., Suite 1, Nesquehoning | 570-325-2701

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation - Helps people with medical conditions, mental health problems, or addiction issues who are having difficulty finding or keeping a job due to their condition 45 N. 4th Street, Allentown | (610) 821-6441

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry - Information on employment, career training, unemployment services, and worker resources. | 888-313-7284

Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC) – Pre-K Counts and early childhood education programs for children ages 3-5. Coaldale | 570-393-7233

Kids Corner – Day care and preschool program, serving young children with year-round early learning and care. Summitt Hill | 570-230-7959

Kiddie Kapers – Child care center providing full-time daycare and early childhood care. Lansford | 570-645-4994.

PathStone Head Start – Free Head Start, Early Head Start, and Pre-K Counts programs for eligible children and families. Lehighton | 610-377-5671

Loving Life Lehighton Preschool and Child Care – Preschool and child care, including care for younger children and school-age care. Lehighton| 610-419-1976

Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 12 – Helps Carbon County families find child care and early learning programs, apply for Child Care Works assistance, and connect with Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and other early childhood resources. | 833-229-6926

PA Early Learning / Child Care Provider Search – Statewide tool to find licensed child care and early learning providers, including information about Keystone STARS quality ratings.

Panther Valley Community Food Pantry – Panther Valley Elementary School, Nesquehoning
3rd Wednesday of each month | 5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Coaldale Food Pantry – 
3rd Tuesday of each month | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM

Trinity Lutheren Church Food Pantry – 104 East Abbott Street, Lansford
3rd Monday of each month | 9:30 AM–11:30 AM

Grace Community Church Food Pantry – 15 W. Ridge St., Lansford |
Saturday after the 4th Thursday of each month from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Meed’s Memorial United Methodist Church Food Pantry – 126 W. Catiwissa St., Nesquehoning
3rd Thursday of each month | 1:00 PM–3:30 PM

Summit Hill Food Pantry – Summit Hill Heritage Center
4th Tuesday of each month | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Feeding America – Find Food – Helps individuals and families find free food, groceries, food pantries, meal programs, and local food banks by entering their ZIP code.

Food Resources for Pennsylvanians – Pennsylvania’s resource hub for finding food assistance, including food banks, food pantries, SNAP, WIC, senior food programs, school meals, and other nutrition programs.

Carbon County Housing Authority – Affordable housing, public housing & Housing Choice Vouchers. Lehighton | 610-377-9375

Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services – Emergency housing & rental assistance for individuals and families facing eviction or homelessness. Lehighton | 610-377-6400

Family Promise of Carbon County – Temporary shelter, meals & support for families experiencing homelessness. Nesquehoning | 610-379-4757

Lehighton Cold Weather Station – Cold-weather overnight shelter, meals & basic services. Open when temperatures reach 25 degrees or below. Lehigton | 570-952-4244

PA Housing Search – Free online search tool for affordable and accessible rental housing throughout Pennsylvania.

LIHEAP – Provides financial assistance to eligible Pennsylvania households to help pay home heating bills.

PPL OnTrack – PPL's Customer Assistance Program for eligible low-income customers that can help lower monthly electric bills and address past-due balances.

UGI Customer Assistance Program (CAP) – Helps eligible UGI customers lower their monthly gas bill and may help reduce past-due balances.

Dollar Energy Fund – Pennsylvania Gas & Electric Energy Aid – Provides financial assistance to eligible households struggling to pay their utility bills due to a temporary financial hardship.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission – Utility Assistance Programs – Provides a comphrehensive guide for rewsident struggling to pay electric, gas, water, telephone, and internet bills. 

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Free, confidential support for anyone experiencing a mental health, emotional, or substance use crisis. Available 24/7. Call or text 988

Greater Lehigh Valley Warmline – Peer support for individuals experiencing emotional distress or who simply need someone to talk to. 6:00 AM–2:00 AM, 7 days a week | 610-820-8451

PA Statewide Crisis & Referral Helpline – Provides crisis support and connects individuals with mental health and behavioral health resources. 1-855-284-2494 | TTY: 724-631-5600

988 Spanish Support – Spanish-language crisis support through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 988 and press 2 or text AYUDA to 988

Crisis Text Line – Free, confidential crisis support by text message. Text HOME to 741741

Safe2Say Something – Anonymous reporting system for students to report concerns about safety, bullying, self-harm, mental health, or threats of violence. 1-844-SAF2SAY (1-844-723-2729)

Veterans Crisis Line – 24/7 crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families. Call 988 and press 1 or text 838255

Disaster Distress Helpline – Crisis counseling and emotional support for individuals experiencing distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. 1-800-985-5990

SAMHSA National Helpline – Free, confidential information, treatment referrals, and support for individuals and families experiencing mental health or substance use concerns. 1-800-662-4357

Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Helpline – Confidential support, information, and referrals for survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones. 1-888-772-7227

National Domestic Violence Hotline – 24/7 confidential support, safety planning, information, and referrals for individuals experiencing domestic violence. 1-800-799-7233 | Text START to 88788

School-based Support:

Danielle Bales – Panther Valley Elementary School | School Counselor | Email: balesd@panthervalley.org
Maria Kosciolek – Panther Valley Elementary School | Social Service Coordinator | Email: motikam@panthervalley.org
Maddie Biechy – Panther Valley Intermediate School | School Counselor | Email: biechym@panthervalley.org
Lisa Shubeck – Panther Valley Intermediate School | Social Service Coordinator | Email: shubeckl@panthervalley.org
Aaron Joyce – Grades 7 & 8 | School Counselor | Email: joycea@panthervalley.org
Lisa Ogozalek – Freshmen, Sophomores, & Juniors | School Counselor | Email: ogazalekl@panthervalley.org
Trish O’Gurek – Seniors | School Counselor | Email: ogurekp@panthervalley.org
Janelle Ondrus – Panther Valley Junior Senior High School | Social Service Coordinator | Email: ondrusj@panthervalley.org
Cartwheel – Virtual mental health counseling and family support for Panther Valley students.
St. Luke’s YESS – School-based mental health counseling and support for students.

Community Counseling & Behavioral Health Resources:

Victims Resource Center – Free, confidential support and services for victims of crime, as well as family members and friends affected by the incident. Carbon County | 610-379-0151
Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health & Developmental Services – County behavioral health system that connects individuals and families with mental health services, crisis services, case management, and other supports. | 610-377-0773
Keystone Renaissance Family Services – Specialized individual, family, and marital intervention services to adults, adolescents, and children that have behavioral and emotional difficulties. 906 North Street, Jim Thorpe | 570-287-5549

School Health Services:

Victoria Smith – Panther Valley Elementary School Nurse | Email: smithv@panthervalley.org
Brandi DeAngelo – Panther Valley Intermediate School Nurse | Email: deangelob@panthervalley.org
Regina Kuzma – Panther Valley Junior Senior High School Nurse | Email: kuzmar@panthervalley.org

Community Health Resources:

Star Community Health – Affordable medical and health services for children and families. Lansford | 272-639-5020
Star Community Health – Affordable medical, dental, and health services for children and families. Tamaqua | (570) 645-1950
Star Community Health Dental Van – Dental screenings, preventive care, and dental services for children. | Contact your child's school nurse
St. Luke’s Primary Care – Primary care services for individuals and families, including routine checkups, preventive care, and treatment for common health concerns. 75 E. Catawissa Street, Nesquehoning | 570-645-1920
St. Luke’s Care Now – Walk-in urgent care with no appointment needed. Lab and X-ray services are available on-site. Tamaqua | 570-645-1520
St. Luke’s Care Now – Walk-in urgent care with no appointment needed. Lab and X-ray services are available on-site. Lehighton | 570-645-1000
St. Luke’s Lehighton Medical Associates – Primary care and medical services for individuals and families. 575 S. 9^th Street, Lehighton | 570-645-1990
St. Luke’s Hospital– Hospital services, emergency care, medical imaging, laboratory services, and specialty care for individuals and families. 360 W. Ruddle Street, Coaldale | 484-526-1000
Carbon County Maternal & Family Health – Nutrition support and resources for eligible pregnant women, infants, and young children | 610-880-8432
CHIP - Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. | 1-800-986-KIDS (5437) and Application Assistance: 1-866-550-4355
Carbon County Area Agency on Aging – Provides services and support for older adults, including meals, transportation, care assistance, and connections to community resources. Palmerton | 800-441-1315

Check ParentSquare regularly for updates on pop-up events, giveaways, and community resources that may be available to support you and your family.

New opportunities and event details will be shared through ParentSquare as they become available.