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Capitol Roundup: Auditor General takes aim at high Rx costs, pharmacy benefit managers

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How to plan your smart home - and weigh privacy risks

<p>Over the past few weekends, my wife and I have taken a few &#8216;spur of the moment&#8217; day trips to do some shopping and celebrate the holiday season. Recently, our travels have taken us to Schuylkill County, Stroudsburg, Winterfest in Berwick, and New York City. (In case you were wondering, New York City is a bit more congested and much more expensive than the others.)</p><p>Our trips, although not particularly well planned in advance, were fun, relaxing, and, for me, a good break from the rigors of our annual United Way campaign. While in New York City, we were fortunate to be able to spend time with Liz Murray, the keynote speaker at our 2015 annual campaign kickoff.</p><p>Liz is among the most inspirational people I have ever met. Both of her parents suffered from drug addictions and both had HIV. Liz became a homeless teenager and, although she missed two years of school, she did not give up on her education. She eventually enrolled in an alternative school and not only earned her high school diploma, she won a New York Times competition and was accepted into Harvard University. Her story was featured in a Lifetime Movie Channel film called &#8220;Homeless to Harvard.&#8221; Today, she is happily married with two children and is focusing her work on developing a powerful mentoring program for middle school students.</p><p>Liz has stayed in touch over the past few years and she really appreciates what the United Way of Wyoming Valley is doing to address childhood poverty. Our work has significantly expanded since Liz spoke here in 2015.</p><p>In addition to all we have been doing to encourage early learning and reading, I am really excited about two of our newest initiatives. In September, we announced a new partnership with the Wilkes Barre Area School District called The Nurse&#8217;s Pantry. Through this program, the United Way is providing supplies and resources to the school nurses in the district&#8217;s five elementary schools to help children meet immediate needs and keep them from missing more school.</p><p>We learned that last year, a child missed four days of school because he split his pants. &#8230; It was the only pair of pants he owned. Another child and his sibling each missed 10 days of school because of head lice. &#8230; The children&#8217;s grandmother could not afford the $18 bottle of medicated shampoo that the kids needed to get rid of lice. We also learned of siblings alternating which days they attended school because they needed to share the same pairs of shoes. Can you imagine?</p><p>By providing material aid items like lice kits, clothing, hygiene items, feminine products, coats, etc., The Nurse&#8217;s Pantry will help kids miss less school and, with increased attendance, do better. The program has already been very impactful and, thanks to a grant from the Luzerne Foundation&#8217;s Millennium Circle, The Nurse&#8217;s Pantry will be expanding to most of the elementary schools in the Wyoming Valley West, Nanticoke, Hanover and Pittston Area school districts.</p><p>Through another initiative called &#8220;Loads of Love,&#8221; we added a washer and dryer to The Nurse&#8217;s Pantry in the five Wilkes-Barre elementary schools. Many low income children have a limited amount of clothes and, in many cases, families do not have access to, or can afford, laundry facilities. Wearing the same clothes that tend to get dirty or smelly over time causes embarrassment, bullying and isolation. Kids who routinely deal with this, like a young Liz Murray, would rather not go to school. It is a bigger issue than most of us realize.</p><p>Each of us, including at-risk children and families, should celebrate the holidays with fun, relaxation, new adventures with those we love and catching up with friends. Yet, the lives of many impoverished children throughout the Wyoming Valley are difficult and most do not have the opportunities others of us may have.</p><p>As we approach the holiday season and wind down a long United Way campaign, I am grateful to our volunteers, donors, and partners who see the need and respond with a wonderful spirit of kindness and generosity. Who knows, by supporting the United Way, you may be helping a future Harvard graduate. Happy Holidays to all!</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Bill Jones</p><p>Guest Columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Bill Jones is President and CEO at United Way of Wyoming Valley. He can be reached at 829-6711 ext. 1230.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Their view: Thanks for the support and happy holidays to all