SCRANTON – Although they may be rivals on the football field, featured performers of local high schools in northeast PA came together to volunteer at the NEPA Youth Shelter July 31. Nina Sampogne, Miss Comet of Abington Heights High School for the second year, came up with the idea of bringing the featured performers together to do a projectr.
“I was honored to be chosen as Miss Comet,” Sampogne said. “The one thing I regret is not getting to know the other featured performers. We all represent our schools but don’t know each other on a personal level. But we can make a difference in northeast PA.”
Although more were invited, the other volunteers of the shelter that day were Natalie Buchinski, Miss Spartan of Mid Valley High School; Mariana Leo, Miss Buck of Dunmore High School; and Amanda Merrick-Tompkins, Miss Viking of Riverside High School. They donated food, shampoo, and other necessities to the shelter while also cleaning floors, organizing pantries and helping the children with whatever they needed.
“I like helping people impacting their lives and making a difference,” Leo said.
“I always love to help people who are in need,” added Merrick-Tompkins, who has been Miss Viking for one year.
Buchinski has been Miss Spartan for one year and has been twirling for 15 years.
“I like to volunteer and give back to the community,” she said.
The featured performers were given a tour of the shelter by founder/executive director Maureen Maher-Gray. They got to see the many rooms and features the shelter has to offer, including a game room, a library and a recording studio. The NEPA Youth Shelter provides emergency shelter and services to unaccompanied youngsters from ages 14 to high school graduation.
“We are volunteer-supported,” said Maher-Gray. “Everything we do relies on volunteers during our working hours and especially volunteer groups like these (featured performers) who help us before we are open.”
Summer hours at the NEPA Youth Shelter are 5 to 8 p.m. Hours during the school year are 3 to 9 p.m.
