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Northeast Woman: Lisa Reidenbach

  • September 19, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Lisa Reidenbach is giving her kids a hands-on lesson in the importance of helping others.

Besides juggling two jobs and raising three kids on her own, the South Scranton resident involves herself in a number of charitable endeavors, which almost always includes assistance from her daughters, Kalie, 18, and twins Ashley and Taylor, 16.

"We’ve always done stuff together," Ms. Reidenbach said.

For the last decade, Ms. Reidenbach has been an active volunteer for the local branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That came about after Kalie, born with a serious heart condition, became a Make-A-Wish child at age 7. Kalie’s granted wish was a trip to Disney World, and she later was named Make-A-Wish Princess.

"you see the kids, and you want to help them like (Make-A-Wish) helped Kalie," Ms. Reidenbach said.

She and the girls have taken part in a number of Make-A-Wish fundraisers in recent years, including the organization’s annual telethon, where they’ve sold their homemade sun catchers, refrigerator magnets and tree ornaments.

All told, they’ve raised close to $4,000 for the organization, said Ms. Reidenbach, noting donations to the nonprofit have been down ever since former director Jessica Hardy was sent to prison a few years back for embezzling more than $55,000 in Make-A-Wish funds.

Three years ago, Ms. Reidenbach started bartending part time at American Legion Post 585 in Duryea. In addition to providing her with extra income, the job gave her another charitable outlet.

She’s a member of its women’s auxiliary, which coordinates several veterans-related projects each year, from a dance-a-thon that raises money for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games to hosting regular dinners and bingo parties for residents at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre.

"It’s nice. you give them a simple dinner. Maybe meatloaf and mashed potatoes. they play cards, they hang out," Ms. Reidenbach said of the dinners. "When you see how happy they are, the smiles on their faces, it makes you feel good. God love them, it doesn’t take much to make them happy."

The girls are involved in the auxiliary, too. Kalie recently became an adult member, while Ashley and Taylor are in the junior auxiliary.

Ms. Reidenbach also does many good works through her day job at Prudential Financial, where she processes 401-K retirement plans. At Christmastime, she hands out gifts at Taylor Nursing Home. Right now, she’s serving meals to kids through Moosic Youth Center’s Summer Feeding Program.

Some things Ms. Reidenbach and the kids do entirely on their own, like handing out cards at nursing homes on Valentine’s Day.

According to Ms. Reidenbach, her giving ways were instilled in her from a young age by her mother, Rose Karwaski.

"My mother always had us do good things for the neighbors," Ms. Reidenbach said.

Thus, it was important for her to pass the same values on to her daughters.

"I enjoy doing stuff for people," Kalie said.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Ms. Reidenbach usually is embarking on some sort of new project at her cute and cozy home. she does it all – carpentry, plumbing, even electrical wiring. among her more recent accomplishments were converting her sun porch into a den and building new dressers for the girls.

"I like the challenge of trying something new," Ms. Reidenbach said. "I love tools. My ultimate one-day dream is to go on a Lowe’s shopping spree."

"She’s like a mom-dad," Kalie said. "she does it all."

Contact the writer: jmcauliffe@timesshamrock.com

TO NOMINATE A NORTHEAST WOMAN, please submit requests via e-mail to lifestyles @timesshamrock.com or mail them to Northeast Woman Nominations, The Sunday Times, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Please include the woman’s name, address and the reason the reader feels the woman is deserving. those submitting need to include their name and a daytime phone number.Meet Lisa Reidenbach

At home: Resides in South Scranton with her daughters, Kalie, 18, and Ashley and Taylor, 16. she is the daughter of Rose Karwaski and the late John Karwaski. she has a brother, John.

At work: Processes 401-K plans at Prudential Financial and bartends at American Legion Post 585 in Duryea

Inspiration: "My kids."

Aspiration: To travel to Italy

Diversions: Doing home improvement projects

Aversion: "When the lights are left on around the house."

Quote: "you see the kids, and you want to help them like (Make-A-Wish) helped Kalie," she said, explaining her reasons for volunteering for the local branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Northeast Woman: Lisa Reidenbach

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