Step inside The Gathering Place in Clarks Summit, and you’ll immediately feel a sense of welcome. This nonprofit community center at 304 South State Street is filled with art on the walls, music in the air, and the kind of warmth that comes when people gather with purpose.

The Gathering Place began with a mission to bring people together through creativity and learning, and today that vision comes alive in countless ways. Local artists fill the gallery with ever-changing exhibits, while the Coffee House Concert Series draws neighbors to share evenings of live music in an intimate setting. Groups meet regularly for reading, writing, weaving, and even playing the ukulele, while programs like Tech Tutors and the Community Classroom provide practical tools for everyday life.

Perhaps what makes The Gathering Place most special is its inclusivity. Programs such as the Memory Café and Craft & Chat ensure that people of all abilities and backgrounds can participate. Volunteers are the heart of it all, creating an environment that feels less like a center and more like a family. Whether you come to learn, to listen, or to create, The Gathering Place is where community thrives.

“The exciting thing about The Gathering Place is it’s a little like planting a petunia and growing a rosebush. It has exceeded my expectations as it grew and evolved.”

As a founding member of the Abington Area Community Classroom, Waters develops and administrates adult education programing for the residents of the Abingtons and surrounding communities. Dolores, Dori, was the owner and operator of a NARHA Accredited Therapeutic Riding Stable for ten years, in which time she developed a creative curriculum for riders with special needs and worked with children and adults of varying abilities. Currently the owner/operator of the Clearwater Farm Special Olympics’ Riding Stable, she is continuing her work with a variety of intellectually and physically disabled riders. Waters’ first encounter with organizing instructional writing and arts workshops occurred when she was the Proprietor of The Art & Book Boutique. Since then she has received the Rotary of the Abingtons’ Four Way Award for community involvement and volunteerism and was named the Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Volunteer of the Year for having a significant impact on local youth. Waters has a B.A. in English from Hofstra University.

“Having lived in NEPA all my life, I believe this area has a wealth of heritage and knowledge. The Gathering Place offers many opportunities for people from our local communities to come together and share our love of art and learning. The Gathering Place has evolved from a small venture into a wonderful community resource, and I am looking forward with pride to its future possibilities.”

Anne Armezzani was a teacher for the Abington Heights School District for thirty-nine years, most of which were as a seventh grade English teacher at the middle school. She is presently retired and able to devote time to the Community Classroom, which is a major part of The Gathering Place. She is the facilitator of the Classroom’s Book Group, supervises the Teen Board, and is a member of the Monday night Writers’ Group sponsored by The Gathering Place. Anne lives in Scott Township with her husband. She received her B.A. in education and English from East Stroudsburg University and her M.A. in English from the University of Scranton.

The organization has transformed the first floor of the former Clarks Summit firehouse and features an art studio, kitchen, classrooms, and space for small events, exhibits and theatrical productions.