Nonprofits connect with fans during NASCAR weekend

MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — The fan fair section at Pocono Raceway is hopping with families out and about, and area organizations are getting out to meet people from the Poconos and beyond.

Stan Lewandowski is a recovery specialist here in Monroe County. He’s highlighting the county’s LETI program and teaching people about the importance of overdose awareness.

“We just have a quick two-minute tutorial, the signs of an overdose, and how to use the Narcan, but you do make a lot of connections.” 

Families are getting an up-close look at the inside of a medevac helicopter with members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

“This is the helicopter you might see that comes in and rescues you whether it’s a flood, and we are using our paramedics to pull you off of a roof, if there’s fires and we have to evacuate you out of there to a safer area,” said William Fletcher, PA National Guard pilot in command.

For different organizations, being out here at Pocono Raceway is the perfect opportunity to meet people where they are.

“A lot of people are from all over the country, but they have the same problems there as well, and it is just nice to get our message out from Monroe County,” said Lewandowski.

“NASCAR weekend at Pocono is incredible because there’s a lot of walks of life, there’s a lot of people who come out and engage with us; it’s a very entertaining time with how many people are here, we interact with everyone from children all the way up to veterans,” added Fletcher.

Another organization from northeastern Pennsylvania rolled in with a piece of local history. The Stuart Tank Memorial Association from Berwick was on hand to show off “Lady Lois,” a tank that the organization has worked for years to restore.

“It’s great to share it here, it’s great to share it with the people of NEPA, there were 9,135 workers from 177 different towns in PA that built these tanks,” said Tom McLaughlin, Stuart Tank Memorial Association secretary.