Pocono News Section

Surviving a Layoff, Help is Here

Surviving a Layoff, Help is Here - Monday, March 30, 2009 at 4:59PM EST

TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - Pennsylvania CareerLink organized an event to help people who have lost their jobs. It's called Surviving a Layoff. Help is Here. It was held at Northampton Community College in Tannersville Monday.
For people like Martin Ziolkowski finding a job has become a job. Hundreds of workers who lost their jobs attended the event. Donna Gerrity of CareerLink said, "We started at ten and we had people lined up at the door waiting to get in."

Roadway Express laid Martin off three weeks ago. He said, "It was just inevitable. We knew it was going to happen." He said he wasn't going to sit home and worry about his future. Instead, he came to the event to learn.

There were 22 booths. They included information on CareerLink, services for veterans, and unemployment compensation. Martin said he was glad to learn the government will help unemployed people pay for health insurance.

Gerrity said, "There are a lot of services and assistance in Pennsylvania that people aren't aware of."

Janet Laguerre also learned a lot. the laid off teacher said the even helped lift her spirits. She explained, "Sometimes as an individual you feel sorry for yourself and this says to me as an individual just try and pick myself up."

Janet and Martin prove just because you've been laid off doesn't mean you have to take it lying down. There is help available.

There is another Help is Here event Tuesday at the Steam Town Mall in Scranton from 10-3.