Erin’s Way

08/06/2026

Guess who’s coming back to Lackawanna County to work?

Our very own Director of Education, Brittani!

Brittani has accepted an exciting new position as Program Director of the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East. The new center is being developed by the Scranton School District to meet the needs of its growing population of autistic students.

Working with children with autism is truly Brittani’s passion. Anyone who knows her has seen the compassion, patience, and dedication she brings to every child and family she serves. This opportunity feels like the perfect next chapter for her—and an incredible gift to our local community.

The best part is that Brittani is not leaving Erin’s Way! She will continue serving as our Director of Education and helping us build programs that create a safer, more understanding, and more inclusive community.

I truly cannot express how proud we all are of her. Welcome back to Lackawanna County, Brittani—we cannot wait to watch you do what you love!

07/30/2026

Many people asked if we have a Venmo for Erins way. We are now an approved Charity on Venmo

Use Venmo to connect with Erin's Way () - To make EVERY child feel like they belong!

07/29/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for sponsoring Katie's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate Program through eCornell. Their compassion and support allowed her to complete this journey and use what she learned to help build Erin’s Way.

Erin’s legacy continues to inspire growth, inclusion, and meaningful change

07/28/2026

Earlier today, we contacted law enforcement agencies throughout Lackawanna County to determine which departments currently participate in the Blue Envelope Program and where envelopes can be picked up.

The flyer includes the locations that have been confirmed so far. We will continue updating this list as additional departments respond and new information becomes available.

The Blue Envelope Program helps create safer, calmer interactions between law enforcement and drivers with autism, anxiety, communication differences, or sensory needs. Please share so families throughout our community know this resource is available!

We have reached out to LVHN who is Partnering with local enforcement agencies for this program asking them to update the list to include Lackawanna county. If you are located in a different county please click the link below to see if our area participates. You can also request a blue envelope from the website.

https://www.lvhn.org/blueenvelope/program-partners

07/27/2026

🖍️ Erin’s Way is Proud to Partner with Christian’s Crayons for Autism! 🖍️

Christian is an amazing 11-year-old with autism who is making a meaningful difference in communities across the country!

He takes donated crayons—even broken ones—melts them down, and transforms them into awesome new molded crayons. He sells his creations to support autism-related organizations and has already donated more than $7,000!

Christian is currently raising funds to support First Due’s mission of providing life-changing autism training for first responders across the United States. When first responders understand autism, they can respond more safely, confidently, and compassionately during emergencies.

There are two ways you can help:

🖍️ Donate new, used, or broken crayons.

🛍️ Place an order for Christian’s awesome molded crayons by clicking on his page. All info can be found there.

When placing an order, please include a note saying that you heard about Christian through Erin’s Way. I can deliver orders throughout Dunmore and the surrounding areas!

Christian also provides crayons and coloring sheets to local first responders to support children with autism during emergencies. These simple coping tools can offer comfort when a child feels overwhelmed, scared, or overstimulated.

Please take a moment to check out Christian’s Crayons for Autism’s page, follow his journey, and see all the incredible things this amazing young man is accomplishing!

We are so proud to partner with Christian and support his mission of creating a more inclusive and understanding world—one crayon at a time! 💙🖍️
Please Check out both these amazing pages for more information.
Christian’s Crayons for Autism First Due Autism Training

07/22/2026

Because I spend so much time researching Project Lifesaver and other safety programs, my feed is full of stories about children and vulnerable adults who wander from home. I wrote about what I see — local alerts, desperate family posts, active searches, rescues, and the ones that never make national news. Read more: https://wix.to/W2er4Fh

Because I spend so much time researching Project Lifesaver and other safety programs, the algorithm has filled my feed with story after story of children and vulnerable adults who have wandered from home. Most people see only the cases that make national news. I see so many of the others…the local...

07/17/2026

🌟 Did You Know? 🌟

Even with a board full of Disney fanatics, this was something we didn't know existed!

Project Lifesaver offers a special Orlando Theme Park Sensory Protection Program for families visiting the Orlando area who do not have access to a local Project Lifesaver agency. Families can rent a transmitter bracelet during their stay, providing an extra layer of protection and peace of mind while enjoying the magic of their vacation. This is not only for children who are prone to wander but also adults with dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain Injury, PTSD or any condition that may cause them to wander away from their loved ones.

As parents of a child with autism, traveling was something we often found ourselves afraid to do. The fear of wandering or becoming separated from your child can turn what should be a joyful experience into a stressful one. We know many families who face those same concerns.

That's why we wanted to share this resource with our Erin's Way families, especially as so many friends and neighbors are heading south to visit the "Main Mouse" and create lasting memories with their loved ones. 🏰✨

We're also incredibly excited to share that Erin's Way is in the final stages of bringing Project Lifesaver not only to Dunmore, but countywide through a partnership. We have some very exciting news coming soon and can't wait to tell you more!

Every family deserves the opportunity to make memories, explore new places, and enjoy time together with greater peace of mind.

If you want to help donate to make this program free to those who need it most. Please feel free to donate.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/project-life-saver

💜 Erin's Legacy. Every Child's Future.

🏰💜

07/13/2026

Meet the Board: Katie & Dennis Feeney

If you've followed Erin's Way for any length of time, you've probably seen our names.

Katie serves as President. Dennis serves as Vice President.

But long before those titles, we were simply Momma and Dadda to a little girl named Erin.

As we share our board spotlight today, on the second anniversary of Erin's passing, it doesn't feel right to talk about our careers, accomplishments, or volunteer experience. The truth is that Erin's Way was never about us.

It has always been about Erin.

People often ask us how we do it.

How do we keep going?

How do we keep talking about autism, wandering prevention, grief, inclusion, and hope while carrying the loss of our daughter?

The answer is that sometimes we don't know.

There are many days when we don't want to get out of bed. Days when the grief is so heavy that simply making it through the day feels like an accomplishment. Days when we wonder how we're supposed to keep moving forward without her.

We hear people tell us we're strong.

The truth is that strength isn't really a choice.

When you lose a child, the world doesn't stop. The sun still rises. The bills still need to be paid. The laundry still needs to be done. And most importantly, there are still children who need their parents.

Every morning, we look into the faces of our children and are reminded that they need us.

Our children have experienced more heartbreak than many adults will face in a lifetime. Some witnessed the unimaginable. Others have carried the weight of loss in different ways as they watched their family navigate grief. Every one of them lost a sister they loved deeply.

Yet despite everything, they continue to move forward. We have watched them celebrate milestones, cheer each other on, graduate, get married, play sports, make new friends, and continue building their lives while carrying Erin in their hearts.

There are moments when we see Erin reflected in each of them—in their kindness, their resilience, their protectiveness of one another, and the way they continue to show up for our family.

Despite everything they have endured, they still laugh. They still dream. They still find joy.

Watching them choose joy has taught us that we have to keep choosing it too.

Not because it's easy.

But because they're worth it.

And because Erin is worth it.

Who would continue telling people about the little girl with the beautiful smile and the unique way of seeing the world?

Who would tell them about the child who stacked every ring backwards, placing the biggest purple ring on top? It was as if she were reminding us that different isn't wrong, it's just different.

Who would make sure her story continues to help other families?

That is why Erin's Way exists.

It exists because we know firsthand the challenges families face. We know the fear that comes with wandering. We know the exhaustion of advocating for your child. We know the heartbreak of loss.

Most importantly, we know the power of community.

When our world fell apart, this community carried us.

Friends showed up. Neighbors showed up. Complete strangers showed up.

The love we received during our darkest moments helped us survive. Erin's Way is our attempt to give some of that love back.

Every sensory kit, every educational program, every wandering prevention initiative, every mobile calming space, and every family we support is part of Erin's legacy.

We would trade every one of those things for one more day with her.

But since we can't, we will continue doing everything we can to make sure her life changes the lives of others.

As we remember Erin today, we want to thank everyone who has walked beside our family over the past two years.

You have cried with us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and believed in a mission that began with one little girl.

You have celebrated our victories, carried us through our hardest days, and loved our children as they have learned to navigate a world without their sister.

Because of you, Erin's story continues.

Because of Erin, children and families are finding support.

And because of Erin, we will never stop working to create inclusion, compassion, and hope for every child.

With gratitude,

Katie & Dennis Feeney

Mommy & Daddy to Erin
Founders, Erin's Way

07/12/2026

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" — Fred Rogers
Read Katie Feeney’s heartfelt post about the moments that mattered and the way people showed up when it counted: https://wix.to/mlPEXGJ

Share if you’ve experienced the kindness of community in hard times.

To all that helped us over those few days and continue to show up there isn't a large enough thank you. You gave us what no one else could. You gave us a peaceful good by surrounded by love. There are so many I am probably missing. I don't remember every face from that night but I remember every oun...

07/12/2026

We are proud to introduce Laura Mills, Treasurer of Erin's Way.

Laura brings a wealth of professional expertise, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to serving her community. She serves as Vice Chair of the Scranton Chamber of Commerce and as Vice President and Middle School Liaison of the Dunmore PTA, where she previously served four years as President. She is also a current board member of Scranton Tomorrow, Advocacy Alliance, and Bianca's K-9 Haven, as well as serves on the Lackawanna County Women's Commission, Circle200 and various committees at her church. In addition to her board service, Laura has devoted many years to youth athletics through leadership, coaching, mentoring, and volunteer service, most recently with both the Dunmore Missy League and the Dunmore Jr. Bucks, reflecting her passion and dedication to the next generation.
Her commitment to helping others extends far beyond the organizations she serves. For our family, Laura has been a source of strength, compassion, and unwavering support through the most difficult moments of our lives.
When Erin's accident happened, Laura immediately traveled to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. She quietly told the hospital staff not to interrupt us or even let us know she was there. She wasn't looking for recognition, she simply wanted to be close by in case we needed her.
After Erin passed, our family left to take Sarah home, leaving Dennis and me to spend our final moments with our daughter. We were given the gift of bathing Erin, holding her, rocking her, and saying goodbye. When it came time to leave the hospital, I couldn't do it.
I could not walk away from my child.
It was Laura who sat beside us during those moments. This was not long after she had experienced a devastating loss of her own, yet she put her own grief aside to help carry ours. She stayed by our sides and, when I was unable to take those steps myself, she physically helped me walk out of the hospital doors without Erin.

That moment perfectly captures who Laura is.

There are moments in life that reveal a person's true character. For us, that was one of them.
Laura has shown us time and time again how deeply committed she is to children, families, and the people she loves. She understands that support is not always found in words. Sometimes it is found in simply showing up, sitting quietly beside someone, and helping them take the next step when they cannot do it alone.
Beyond her friendship and support for our family, Laura has continually demonstrated her dedication to helping children and strengthening our community. Whether serving on nonprofit boards, volunteering her time, or supporting families through difficult moments, she leads with compassion, kindness, and a genuine desire to make a difference.
As Erin's Way grows, we are incredibly fortunate to have Laura's leadership, wisdom, and compassionate heart guiding our mission. Her dedication to serving others and her belief that every child deserves love, support, and opportunity make her an invaluable member of our board and a treasured friend.
Thank you, Laura, for walking beside our family when we needed it most and for continuing to help us build Erin's legacy for other children and families. Erin's Way is stronger because of you, and we are grateful every day that you chose to walk this journey with us