Abide Coffeehouse

“Abide Coffeehouse, located in the heart of the business district in Wilkes-Barre, strives to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all who visit. Our goal is to bring people together from all walks of life to establish relationships and strengthen bonds in order to build upon a growing city. We love to serve the community by offering a place to enjoy refreshment, play games, or take advantage of our other activities such as trivia nights, music nights, paint nights, pop-up shops and so much more. We encourage all to stop by and pay us a visit!

The three owners – Dan, Austin, and Melissa Shission – love serving the community and finding ways to unite people in a ‘third place.’  A little bit about us:

Dan has a background in accounting, serves as a part-time pastor, and has significant experience in working with the underserved and addicted. You’re most likely to see Dan walking around and talking with a coffee in hand ensuring everyone is feeling cozy and welcome.  However, he can also be seen behind the bar serving up the drinks when he’s in barista mode.

Austin has a diverse background with an undergraduate in microbiology, a master’s in business administration, and a master’s in biological sciences. In addition to handling all the administrative duties, social media, and online sales of the coffeehouse, Austin is self-employed as the owner/operator of E-Commerce Accelerator. He’s also been known to take on a barista shift every now and then.

Melissa’s background is in business and works full-time in the healthcare administrative sector.  You’ll never see her behind the bar making drinks, as she prefers to stay behind the scenes making gift baskets, ensuring the fun activities such as games and events are in order, and keeping our event chalkboard up to date.” - Abide Coffeehouse

Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, Inc. 

“Thank you for this incredible honor. For over a century, Lewith & Freeman has been deeply committed to serving and uplifting our region. Our dedication to community and progress is woven into everything we do, from helping families find their dream homes to guiding businesses in their growth. We are proud to have been a part of Northeast Pennsylvania's development for 103 years, and we have seen firsthand the strength, resilience, and vibrant spirit that make this region a wonderful place to live and work.

Our relocation department embodies this commitment to regional collaboration. Every day, they tour newcomers through the beauty and potential of Northeast Pennsylvania, offering not just homes but a true welcome to our communities. They work as ambassadors for our region, proudly showcasing the places and people that make this area unique and helping others see it as we do — a place rich in opportunity, culture, and community connection. Thank you again for recognizing Lewith & Freeman’s ongoing commitment to regional progress.” - Lewith & Freeman Real Estate, Inc.

Keystone Mission

“Keystone Mission began in 2005 with very humble beginnings, feeding the homeless out of the back of a food truck, and almost 20 years later, we serve both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties in various ways. In Lackawanna County, specifically in Scranton, we operate the first of our locations – the Scranton Innovation Center for Homelessness and Poverty, in addition to our Emergency Code Blue Shelter, during the winter months, from November through March. In Luzerne County-Wilkes-Barre, PA, is our second location – the Male Transformation Center. This is our residential facility that houses men who are battling addiction and homelessness. Just in this past year, we celebrated the opening of our third location – the Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center for Homelessness and Poverty (WBIC), as the first Day Room in Wilkes-Barre's history, in October 2023, and most recently, in June of 2024, our 365-Overnight Shelter, that serves both male and female guests.

We are honored to be a 2024 recipient of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce Regional Collaboration and Progress Award. The population we serve as a human and social services organization is a marginalized group. These guests and residents have experienced homelessness for a length of time due to their unique and various circumstances – broken relationships, substance use, mental health disorders, and alcohol dependence, just to name a few. We are given the opportunity, through grace and love, to make a difference in someone else’s life through a myriad of services. With each community partnership, we are giving each man and woman a chance to take hold of their life again and dream and hope that their lives can be better. As we approach our 20th year anniversary in February 2025, we vow to continue serving the communities as we fulfill our mission, to bring help and hope to the homeless, hungry, and hurting people in Northeast PA. We thank the Chamber for this recognition, and also congratulate the other award recipients. Let us continue to work with and support each other, because, as a TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves.” - Keystone Mission

Make sure to join us for our Chamber Annual Dinner on November 14th to celebrate them and the rest of our honorees that night! Click here to register today!