[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HELP LINE

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of the founding of Help Line, a nonprofit, informational, 
advocacy, and crisis intervention agency serving the Wyoming Valley 
area of my congressional district in Pennsylvania.
  Administered by the Family Services Association, Help Line was 
created by Anne Vernon in 1972 when the raging flood waters of 
Hurricane Agnes shut down all communication in the Wyoming Valley. It 
provided a centralized source of vital information to the victims of 
the devastation. In 1975, the agency entered into an agreement with 
area agencies to provide 24 hour crisis services. Soon other agencies 
signed on to the service and Help Line became the crisis center for all 
Wyoming Valley social service agencies. The information and referral 
component of Help Line now lists over 500 agencies in its local data 
files and over 1,700 total listings.
  Throughout its existence, Help Line has responded to special 
community needs. For example, it assisted in the coordination of the 
local United Way's Emergency Day Camp Program, establishing services 
for the speech and hearing impaired, and assembling a list of 
physicians for people who were unemployed and without health insurance.
  Mr. Speaker, the Wyoming Valley has grown to rely on the services of 
Help Line. Help Line has established the Family Action Network, 
addressing the problems of teen pregnancy, HIV infection, juvenile 
delinquency, and substance abuse just to name a few. Under the able 
leadership of its director, Mr. Michael Zimmerman; assistant director, 
Mr. Gary F. Smith; family services director, Mr. Dennis Gourley, and 
its outstanding board of community leaders led by Mr. Tom Bigler, Help 
Line is one of the most comprehensive 24 hour crisis centers and 
information and referral centers of its kind in the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. Its well trained and dedicated staff are on duty to 
handle crises round the clock.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with the Board of Family Services 
Association and the entire Wyoming Valley in congratulating the fine 
management and staff of Help Line for providing quality service for 25 
years.

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