ProJeCt was founded by local clergy and laity in the wake of the King assassination and social unrest of 1968. Its purpose was to advocate for the at-risk population of Easton, Pennsylvania, by establishing programs to break the cycle of poverty. The agency name reflects the Protestant, Jewish, and Catholic religious heritage of its founding members. ProJeCt’s interfaith heritage provides a unique source of strength and connection to the Easton community. This connection also helps ProJeCt to identify Easton’s unmet needs and to develop appropriate programs to address them.
Throughout our history, ProJeCt has recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion while initiating programs for the Easton community. Early accomplishments include the establishment of: a youth center, a dental clinic, and a well baby clinic, a drop-in center for the functionally disabled, a citywide weatherization and housing rehabilitation program, a restitution program for juvenile offenders, and a shelter program. These programs were either spun-off to other organizations or discontinued due to changing needs.
As ProJeCt worked to advance our mission in the community, the agency eventually abandoned the emphasis on “bricks and mortar” programs in favor of programs focusing on people. We began our literacy efforts with a volunteer tutoring program for adults in 1979. With the addition of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Act 143 funding in 1986, our programming expanded to include classroom-based instruction by trained adult educators located in borrowed space. Over the years, ProJeCt has added targeted instruction for every level of adult learner, as well as ESL instruction, through both one-on-one tutoring and classroom-based instruction.
In 1985, ProJeCt established ASSIST to provide emergency services other than food. In the early 1990s, ProJeCt assumed operation of the Interfaith Food Pantry. After school programs, a summer literacy day camp, and the Easton Middle School Success Program were introduced during the 1990s to meet the needs of school age children.
Clearly, ProJeCt has a history of visible, proactive leadership in providing collaborative services to the community. We enjoy healthy partnerships with numerous other human services agencies, faith communities, educational institutions, and a corps of dedicated volunteers.
Today, services are focused on two critical areas of need ~ Language and Literacy and Emergency Assistance.
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