Easton Area Community Center - Where God's Work is Done

Last Wednesday, I spent part of the day demonstrating the new ExpressVote XL voting machine at Easton Area Community Center, (EACC) once known as St. Anthony's. I thought it was basically an after school center for West Ward kids. I was wrong. It's actually a jewel in the rough, a community center run by dedicated people who serve everyone. They do God's work. They've been doing it, and with little recognition, for the past 67 years.

When I first walked in, I was a bit astonished to see about 20 seniors there. Some were sewing, others playing bingo. There was even a yoga class, which I joined until I was caught by someone with the county, who said I was scaring everyone away. The seniors were assisted by two very nice ladies named Midge and Gladys.

Get this. Their day starts at 8:30 am with the seniors. Around 2:00 pm, they get two hours off, but have to be back to assist the schoolchildren who start arriving at 4 pm. They often just stay there and clean up while waiting for the kids. They are very dedicated and seem to love their jobs.

At close to noon, all the seniors were all treated to a free lunch that consisted of a veggie burger, fries and veggies. These are served up by Food Director Derek, who told me he prepares 50,000 meals a year. These include dinner and a snack for the after-school kids, as well as holiday dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fathers Day and Mother's Day.

I also met Program Director Elizabeth Reyes. "It's real blessing working here," she told me. She started as a social worker with the Salvation Army, and worked there as a volunteer for six months before she began getting paid. For the past two years, she's been at EACC.

Elizabeth loves the children. "Some of them call me mom," she beamed, and showed me that her nails had been done by one of her girls.

She took me on a tour of a three-story building that has certainly seen better days.

The second floor is a basketball court with wooden floors. They host 10 teams.

The third floor is a gigantic wresting room. Though the ceiling is falling in, it boasts the oldest wrestling team in the country.

There are numerous programs for kids and seniors alike: sewing class; cooking class; computer labs; field trips to places like the State Theatre; cops'n kids, to name a few.

Elizabeth told me EACC could use a few things, which I'll list: old sewing machines; basketballs; cardboard boxes for plays; old computers and laptops (they have five); cooking utensils for the cooking class; a copy machine; and household items (awarded as prizes in bingo games). You can drop these items off at 901 Washington Street in Easton.

Instead of awarding $20,000 to restore a church steeple, I'm sure that Northampton County could and should find a little more money for this pearl, located only two blocks from the courthouse.