In Times of Need, Northeast Pennsylvania comes to the aid of its own. In our regular column, Patrice Wilding provides a platform for area residents facing a variety of obstacles to create awareness and connect them with much-needed help.
Who: Family describes Margaret “Peggy” Curtis Farina as a witty, fun-loving, “true Irish lassie from Archbald,” and a kind and giving friend to all who know her for her constant support of local charitable causes. The 71-year-old wife of Gary, mother of daughter Melissa Farina Zawislak (and husband, Rob) and doting grandmother of 6-year-old Gianna Zawislak, aka “the love her life,” Farina is active with the Eynon-Archbald Lions Club, the Archbald Democratic Committee, American Legion Hricak McAndrew Post 869 Auxiliary and Christ the King Parish. A pillar of her local community, Farina is usually the first to show up to any kind of event and offer a hand. Now, she needs help in return as she undergoes treatment every other week at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for central nervous system lymphoma. There, Farina fights against the malignant cells that have formed in the lymph tissue which is found in the brain and spinal cord.
What: Donations payable to Peggy Farina can be mailed to the care of Ellen Marie Faliskie, 974 Constitution Ave., Jessup, PA 18434. Supporters also have organized Fighting for Peggy, a pasta dinner benefit that will also include a basket raffle. Dinners are take-out only. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased by calling Diane at 570-313-9064 or Erin at 570-351-2307.
When: Sunday, Oct. 13, noon to 3 p.m.
Where: Rossi’s Ristorante, 150 S. Main St., Archbald
Why: Proceeds will decrease the financial burden and stress weighing on Farina and her family.
In her own words: “This means a lot to me and Gary. Never did I dream, with all the fundraisers I worked on, they would be doing one for me someday.” — Peggy Farina
Patrice Wilding is a 13-year employee of the Lifestyles Dept. at The Times-Tribune, where she worked her way up from a clerk to a web video producer to a full-time reporter, writer and copy editor. An Olyphant native, she graduated from Mid Valley Secondary Center and earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with concentration in media arts, political science and communications from Wesley College, Dover, Delaware. She lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, Justin, and their son, Johnny. Contact: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5369; @pwildingTT
