PHOTO PROVIDED The Hudson family is pictured during an outing. After the loss of the father, Damien, JSSB has sponsored a tent for the family to get away to together at the Grange Fair.

CENTRE HALL — The Centre County Grange Fair is a tradition and a big part of many family summer vacations. For the lucky few that get to extend their stay by camping overnight at the fair tent campsite area, it is a special treat. For the last 10 years as a Gold Sponsor of the Grange Fair, Jersey Shore State Bank has donated a tent in the campsite area to a family that could use some time away from the challenges of life and just enjoy being at the fair.

This year with help from Penns Valley Branch YMCA and Advisory Board Member, Jen Snyder, JSSB was able to find a family that could enjoy the overnight accommodation at the fair which runs from Aug. 18 through Aug. 26. This year’s recipients are the Hudson Family: Kate, the mother of Christopher, 11, Andrew, 9, and Isabelle, 7.

Kate lost her husband, Damien, in 2020, three years after being diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer. He went to the doctor with minor symptoms a few years before his cancer diagnosis, but the doctor dismissed all his symptoms. They trusted this doctor, but Damien said he always felt like there was more to it. They pushed for the colonoscopy in 2017 with another doctor, who didn’t think a colonoscopy was necessary but was willing to do the procedure. Damien always tried to help and build up others before his illness and while he battled cancer. Several friends got colonoscopies because of his diagnosis and two found cancer that were successfully treated because they caught it in time. “If any good can come from our experience, it is to watch your health and get second opinions if you think something is wrong — so you don’t have to go through loss like us,” Kate said.

The Hudson family has attended counseling and a few Tides meetings. For 20 years Tides has supported grieving families in Central Pennsylvania. They provide support programming to children, teens and adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. “I am grateful for family and friends who support us. I am grateful for all the support from the elementary school. I am grateful for strangers who reach out with kindness. My heart goes out to those that have suffered similar experiences and I am grateful for their friendship. I also really appreciate all the coaches from soccer, basketball and swimming who have been very supportive and understanding of my kids,” Kate said.

Kate met Damien in Edinburgh, Scotland. They got married and had kids in Melbourne, Australia. Becoming a father was one of the greatest things Damien said he experienced repeatedly. He loved his kids so much and tried so hard to provide them with good memories of going to the park or playing in the stream near their house. However, it was hard as he never went into remission and required over six surgeries and constant rounds of chemo and radiation therapy. After Damien’s passing, the family moved from Australia to Central Pennsylvania to be close to Kate’s family as she continued to raise her three children.

The Hudson children, Christopher, Andrew and Isabelle love gym, math and art in school and swimming, playing with friends and going to fun places in the summer.

“While my kids love food and music, I bet they are looking forward to the rides the most. My parents took them to the fair last year, but I have never been. This will be a wonderful way to experience it. I am excited to create new family memories where the kids can have fun, see friends and experience new things. Thank you JSSB,” Kate said.

The Penns Valley Branch YMCA was also very generous and donated sleeping bags to the Hudson family to use while enjoying their time in the tent city.

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Jersey Shore State Bank and Luzerne Bank. The banks serve customers in North Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania through their retail banking, commercial banking, mortgage services and financial services divisions. Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol PWOD.