Meghan Loftus
What’s your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give me a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?
Since July 2017, I have been the President & CEO of Friends of the Poor. We are a nonprofit agency sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Scranton, PA. Our mission is to ease the burden of poverty and enhance the quality of life for all those living in low- to moderate-income communities. We do this by offering emergency assistance in the form of food, clothing, household items, furniture, rent/utility assistance, and transportation to medical appointments. We also offer programs and activities to the residents of the Scranton Housing Authority Family Developments, such as after-school programs, summer camps, and social/educational field trips.
What would you say most motivates you to do the work you do? What are you most passionate about?
My passion is providing a hand up for those in need. I want to make sure that as many people as possible are given the opportunity to succeed. No child can concentrate on schoolwork if they are hungry. No parent can focus on their child or their home when they are stressed about keeping the lights on and the water running. I don’t believe that anyone in a country as wealthy and developed as ours should be without the basics they need to survive. So, even when I hear the most gut-wrenching stories and see the most impoverished families in our community, I am inspired by our volunteers and donors who believe so much in our mission that they are called to help. Seeing the relief on the faces of those we serve when they realize we can help ease their burdens motivates me to continue and expand our work.
Where did you grow up and did you go to a college/trade school after high school? Where did you go, and what was that like? How did you end up in NEPA?
I grew up in Scranton and Dunmore, PA. I went to the University of Scranton for undergraduate and Marywood University for graduate school. At the University of Scranton, I took part in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA) Honors Program. The basis of the program is a community atmosphere that encourages excellence and service to others. Being a small part of that program changed me in a number of ways, but mostly it made me approach every new thought, idea, or story from multiple angles. I began to see the world in shades of gray and each person’s story as enigmatic. I’ve never left NEPA for more than two months at a time, but that is by choice. I have a wonderful life here made possible by the opportunities and gifts I’ve been given by our community. I feel like it’s my responsibility to give that back and hopefully see the next generation do bigger and better things.
Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are? Tell a bit about them and what they did that influenced you.
I’ve been molded by many people in my life, starting with my parents, grandparents, and siblings. Each believed in me and knew I was capable of more than I ever thought I was myself. In college my professors at the University of Scranton and Marywood University had a tremendous impact on me because they consistently challenged me to work harder and do more. Now, I’d say my biggest influence is Sr. Ann Walsh, IHM. She “retired” when I was hired, but that really meant she went from working 100 hours a week to about 60. Her energy, compassion, and willpower amaze me every day even after working directly with her for almost three years. She describes our day-to-day jobs as putting out little fires. In reality, from morning to night she is meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and trying her best to help them. She never turns anyone away. If we can’t help at Friends of the Poor, she’ll work nonstop with them until she finds someone who can. She is a remarkable woman, and I hope to be half of the person she is one day.
How did you learn about Leadership Lackawanna? In what class year and program did you participate? Describe your experience. How did the program affect you post-graduation? What has your involvement with leadership Lackawanna been post-graduation?
I participated in the 2017 Core Program. It was a wonderful experience meeting professionals from all different fields working to make Lackawanna County a better place. It was interesting to me to learn so many new things about a place I’d already lived for 27 years, and it was a great learning experience to work in a large group on a project for a local nonprofit. Often we can get stuck in our way of doing things so we begin to approach problems from the same perspective, but working with a group of ten forces you out of that habit. Ultimately, the project and the person are better for it.