


Thanks to CNK dynamic duo of grandfather Mike McNeil and grandson Brandon, free children’s books are regularly supplied to the St. Luke’s University Health Network pediatric clinics.

December 2024
One young West Ward resident saw a way to help her community and rose to the challenge. Five year-old Eva Pierson reflected on her love of books and conducted a book drive so other children might know the same joy of reading as she does. With the assistance of her teachers at her school, Holy Infancy Elementary School, and her karate club members, she was able to collect 973 books to the amazement of all – including her mother, Colleen Pierson.
The book drive benefitted Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton, which is located at 901 Washington St. The literacy program provides five free books for each child to keep with every visit to the Reading Room. This makes it possible for them to access books in their own home, and encourages reading and the fun that books make possible every time the books are opened. Thanks to Eva ( and her mom) for being a caring neighbor and sharing a love of reading through this fantastic book drive!
September 2020


Meaghan Ickes, a high school Girl Scout member of Troop 856, spent a large part of the summer conducting a book drive and preparing book shelves to be stocked and located in places including the Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton Reading Room at the Easton Area Community Center. Enlisting the assistance of some friends and her community involved grandmother, she was able to successfully pursue and fulfill the badge requirement for her Silver Award Project, “Book for Friends.”
December 2019
Berry Steiner has a magical gift of sharing stories and delightful songs full of joy with her sidekick, her ukulele. Her background as a children’s librarian and teacher makes the Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton Saturdays at KidsZone at the Easton Public Market a very special experience. Berry provides the happy connections with books and reading for which Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton is known.
December 2019


Utilizing her professional skills as a retired teacher and abiding interest in the children’s early education process, Susan McNeil shares her time with Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton as a reader and leads literacy-related activities in the Reading Room at Northampton Community College site and one of two Saturdays providing story hour in the KidsZone at the Easton Public Market. Sue makes herself available as a reader representing Cops ’n’ Kids at Pre-K educational centers as requested, as well. She clearly gets her energy from the kids’ enthusiastic responses.
December 2019
Claire Hsu, a senior at Easton Area High School, began volunteering with the Cops ‘n’ Kids of Easton when she was in the eighth grade. Claire, being an avid reader, fully understands and embraces the mission of Cops ‘n’ Kids. She knows that reading is an essential skill that will help her in all facets of her life and those of the kids that she helps.
Claire has spent many hours of her spare time eagerly sharing story time with visitors, participating in the literacy-related crafts and activities, most especially because of her artistic interests expressed in her drawing skills. She shares her love of crocheting by making crocheted Christmas tree ornaments each year for all of the kids who visit the Reading Room during the holidays and has donated her beautifully designed and crocheted quilt creations for the free tricky tray event at Cops ‘n’ Kids annual birthday celebrations. In addition, as her schedule allows, she helps with numerous book distributions at community events in the area outside of the Reading Room.
Though her studies always come first as an honor student, Claire finds time for other extracurricular activities that include dance, having studied ballet for ten years, as well as HipHop and Modern forms. With Cops ‘n’ Kids involvement, Claire hopes to have a balanced blend of experiences that will help her pursue a college education and access to many opportunities in the future. – August 2015


Walter J. Howell, Jr. , a native of Phillipsburg, NJ, and graduate of Phillipsburg High School in 1968, moved to Easton, PA in 1969. After working as a machinist, he became a police officer with the City of Easton Police Department in 1973. During his 30 year career in law enforcement, he served as a patrol officer, juvenile officer, detective, and court liaison officer. During that time, he earned his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Lehigh Community College and Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/ Anthropology from East Stroudsburg University, retiring in 2003.
During that time, he sought ways for the police to interact with community youth and became one of the founders of the the Easton Police Athletic League, serving for 19 years as President for 7 years and Vice President for 12 and continues to serve on the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee of the Cops ‘n’ Kids of Easton, a sponsored program of the organization. He became and continues to be an active member of the Easton Kiwanis Club, Lehigh Valley Crime Stoppers. He was a Boy Scout troop leader and Police Advisor to Law Enforcement Explorers in the Minisink Trails Scouting Council, a camp guide and weekend guide for the blind and visually impaired, an active and dedicated member of Grace Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg, serving in numerous capacities.
Since that time, Walt spends much of his waking hours volunteering and helping others who benefit from his breadth of knowledge, experience and big heart. Cops ‘n’ Kids of Easton is one of the organizations that benefits from his enthusiasm and boundless energy interacting with the kids who visit the Reading Room, serving as coordinating liaison to the Easton Police Department and the Easton Area Police Athletic League, participating in community book distributions, organizing volunteers for labeling of donated books, and being a general community resource whenever the need calls for his engagement. The Cops ‘n’ Kids of Easton is indebted to Walt for his dedication and willingness to respond to any and every need when called upon. As a volunteer, he provides a legacy of community service that is exemplary and for which Cops ‘n’ Kids will always be most appreciative.
Cops ’n’ Kids of Easton thanks the Career Institute of Technology Skills USA members, Delilah Diaz, Kayla Weidner, Deisy Prudencio, Josh O’Bryon, Emma Wortman, and Alexis Johnson and their advisor, Susan Day, for the spirited generosity and support during the holiday season. Their collection of 1,700 books made it possible to provide wonderful books to children in need in addition to toys that they may have received from various other community organizations. They set the example by collecting books from each of their home schools of Easton, Bangor, Pen Argyl, Nazareth and Wilson. This significant effort on their part shows that this is a community of people who care about the children and their future.


Brendan Lubarsky,17, Boy Scout Troop 29 member and a 2014 graduate from Notre Dame High School, diligently worked on his Eagle Scout Award project to benefit Cops ëní Kids of Easton. Brendan began his journey as a Cub Scout at age 7 and continued the past 11 years with one goal in mind, his Eagle Scout Award. Brendan wanted to center his project on helping the community in which he resides. The Cops ‘n’ Kids program is the one that Brendan felt very strongly about and decided to make that program his target. Brendan solicited a group of volunteers to help promote his project by handing out flyers and collecting books for the Reading Room. With hard work and dedication Brendan collected over 4,800 children’s books. He proves that when a community pulls together, anything is possible.
August 2015
Jessica Wain and Jonathan Phillips, both juniors at Bangor HS, volunteered time to assist with the distribution of 500 + books to students at the Bangor Middle School during the culminating event of the One Book One Community initiative. A dusting of snow on February 29 prevented the planned outdoor activities; but the energy was high, as students made their choice of books.
March 2012
