Pocono News Section

Help is Here for Unemployed

Help is Here for Unemployed - Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 11:29PM EST

The unemployment list in Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to grow. Wednesday, 200 people were laid off at the Cinram plant in Olyphant. But a special transition fair is on its way, which will help hundreds, maybe thousands.
County Workforce Investment Boards and Pennsylvania career link are making this happen. It's going to hopefully cut out a lot of stressful steps while searching for a new job.

The past few months haven't been easy for John Carpenetti of Kidder Township "It was very difficult to keep it afloat during the bad times and eventually had to close the business and now I'm looking for a job in sales," says Carpenetti.

High gas prices crippled his business in kidder township last summer. He closed shop and has been looking for work since. "I'm optimistic. Like I said I want to get in sales," says Carpenetti.

Four big events at the end of this month could help people like Carpenetti. They're called Help is Here; an unemployed worker transition fair in four different counties.

You can talk directly to agencies designed to help, cutting out lengthily phone calls and costly travel. Desirae Anselmi of Exeter says, "It's just hard. I'm like losing my mind looking for a job. It's crazy what's going on around here."

Anselmi knows the ins and out of a stressful job search. She's been looking for work since her layoff from Golden Technologies in Old Forge. "I'm really not getting any call backs and I've been applying everywhere," says Anselmi.
Anselmi will keep plugging away and head to the help is here fairs if she hasn't found a job. With the number of layoffs in Northeastern Pennsylvania growing, she won't be alone.

Sites and times for the Help is Here fairs are as follows:

Wednesday March 25, 2009, 10AM to 3PM Luzerne County

at Luzerne County Community College Educational Conference Center

Thursday March 26, 2009, 9AM to 3PM Schuylkill County

at Fairlane Village Mall

Monday March 30, 2009, 10AM to 3PM Pocono Counties

at Northampton County Community College

Tuesday March 31, 2009, 10AM to 2PM Lackawanna County

at Boscov’s Steamtown Mall

For more details including a complete listing of the session times, visit Click on Current News or call your local CareerLink.

All unemployed workers are asked to please attend the session most convenient to you.