Central PA Community Action, Inc.
Carol Farzetta

Carol Farzetta had what many would call a normal childhood, growing up in Ambler, Pa., with her parents, sister and brother. But that life changed dramatically when her mother left when Carol was just eight years old.

In an attempt to escape a difficult family situation, a 12-year-old Carol moved in with her brother and began learning survival skills. He was the first person that told Carol that she had the power to make something of her life.

Bouncing bounced between the homes of family and friends, Carol was pregnant at 18, working two full-time jobs and struggling to graduate from high school. She had an on-again, off-again relationship with her baby’s father, whom she was supporting. She soon recognized this was not a healthy environment.

Carol wanted more for her baby. After her daughter was born, she moved in with family, but again recognized, she was not living in a healthy environment. Humiliated and scared, she went to a shelter where she quickly recognized the needed to get away from Ambler. With her sister’s help, she went to live with her mother who was willing to allow Carol and the baby to come to Clearfield County, but not willing to provide any support.

Carol’s move began her journey to self-sufficiency. Spotting an employment ad, Carol interviewed with what was then JTPA, which referred her to Progressive Readiness for Employment Program (PREP), a program provided by Central Pennsylvania Community Action (CPCA). With her PREP instructor, Carol developed a plan to eliminate her barriers to self-sufficiency and develop her self-esteem and self-confidence.

“She was sincere and honest with me and her praise and unfaltering support made me believe in myself and I wanted to work toward my future goals,” Carol said about her PREP case worker. “Sometimes we took baby steps, sometimes giant, but they were always a part of developing the plan.”

The most important part was Carol, who was receiving welfare benefits and living in subsidized housing, still hadn’t lost sight of her dream to “make something of herself” and provide a stable home for her daughter.

Other CPCA services were made available to Carol such as the food pantry, housing assistance and utilities support. She also took advantage of career exploration and study skills programs, which helped her decide she wanted to pursue a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University.

But life threw more obstacles at Carol as she was pregnant with her second child and again, the father was not in the picture. Then during her fourth year at Penn State, she experienced severe health problems that required surgery, forcing her to withdraw from Penn State.

Because of her experience as a client and volunteer at CPCA, Carol, now 29, was hired for a position in Family Services at the agency. Carol’s personal experience makes her an understanding and compassionate case worker and helps to motivate her clients because she knows that no matter how dismal things may be there is help to turn things around.

Working full time has allowed her to move out of subsidized housing. Carol also gives back to the community by serving as the coordinator of the Toys for Tots program, a Boy Scout assistant leader and Girl Scout leader. She is active in the lives of her children ages 10 and 17. She also has been certified as a Family Development Specialist, has twice been elected president of the Health and Human Service Council and was awarded the Dale Carnegie Highest Award for Achievement.

“Without Community Action I’m not sure where I would be,” Carol said. “I knew what I wanted; I just didn’t know how to get there. I’m proud of the person I have become, proud of my children and grateful for my son’s father, who is back in my life. I take pride in my work. I’m thankful that with the support of Community Action I have been able to overcome the trials in my life and now look forward with hope to a stable future.”

Central PA Community Action assess the needs in Center and Clearfield counties, ensuring all of the resources have been tapped to provide programming that helps people move from poverty to self-sufficiency.