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MARCH 15, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Working together to repair ELANCO ack in 2007, Trent Davis, founder of Servants Inc., began offering Home Helps in York County, using home repair skills to help families in need. A little over a decade later, Servants expanded into Lancaster County and partnered with CrossNet Ministries, completing five projects in New Holland in 2021. At the same time Servants Inc. was beginning to help New Holland families, five churches in the East Earl area - St. John’s Center United Church of Christ, Bowmansville Mennonite Church, Bethany Grace Fellowship, Terre Hill Bible Fellowship Church, and Vibrant Church in Terre Hill - began working together using the name CONNECT 2021.
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“This was a community outreach to meet some of the needs of residents and homeowners who needed some help with their properties,” reported Gene Pierce of Bethany Grace Fellowship. The group held a training and kickoff session in July 2021. “Following several months of planning, (CONNECT 2021) conducted a successful week of service work with 20 student youth and more than 20 adult volunteers,” said Pierce, who noted that nine planned and three contingency projects were completed. Contributions from participating churches and local merchants made it possible for the group to perform repairs, maintenance, and cleanup work at no cost to recipients. Group members were excited about the success of the first work
Bob Wenger (left) and Linda Thum both took part in a recent New Holland workday event organized by a partnership between ELANCO CONNECT and Servants Inc.
When Linda Binder was growing up in Bowmansville, she learned to play the piano and the organ, and around the age of 11, she learned to sew in 4-H. Her musical talents led Linda to become the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Holland for more than 40 years. The latter talent also led briefly to a
job in a sewing factory, which inspired Linda to go to cosmetology school and open Studio 1 Hair and Skin Care Center in New Holland, a shop she ran for more than 30 years. In 2017, Linda closed her shop and took an extended motor home trip with her husband, Tom. When she returned to her home in Ephrata, she was interested in exploring a See Whimze pg 5
Linda Binder in the Ephrata sewing workshop where she creates Whimzes and more
First Recovery Auction planned BY ANN MEAD ASH
Lanny Millette, donor director with The Potter’s House, remembers that pastor Jaime Santiago of Restart Training Center Ministries (RTCM) contacted him a few years ago about holding a fundraiser together as a show of unity among recovery ministries in Lancaster County. “It’s bigger than one ministry,” said Millette, who noted that Slow Down Ministries, which helps provide vehicles for graduates of Christ-centered programs like Potter’s House and RTCM, has joined in the effort as well. The Lanco Recovery Benefit Auction, which will include live music,
food vendors, and a candy drop, will be held at 320 N. Ronks Road, Bird-in-Hand, on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4 and 5. Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. on Aug 4 and at 9 a.m. on Aug. 5. Currently, organizers are looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of bands, food, marketing, and more, and for businesses and individuals to donate new items to be auctioned. Among the new items Frank Gaston of Slow Down Ministries has gathered to go up for bids are motorcycle parts and accessories, parts for off-road trucks, and a bicycle. “We would accept gift cards, vacations, or a dinner for six in a home,” said Millette. See Recovery Auction pg 2
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outreach, but unsure how to move forward. “We changed our name to ELANCO CONNECT with plans to continue,” said Pierce, but he noted the group was stymied by planning and logistics. In the fall of 2021, Pierce said, group members first learned about a partnership between CrossNet in New Holland and Servants Inc. “(Servants Inc.) had hired a project manager to specifically meet the needs in the ELANCO community,” said Pierce, who added that ELANCO CONNECT members took part in informational meetings at individual churches and began to encourage members of those congregations to volunteer. “The idea was that when we had volunteers available, projects could be planned,” said Pierce. In October 2022, five volunteers from area churches and a Servants Inc. project manager held a workday in New Holland. “Servants Inc. was able to do the things that we were not good at,” said Pierce, who listed planning the job and managing the logistics of having people, tools, and materials available. Meredith Dahl, executive director of CrossNet ministries, said that CrossNet is thankful for the help. “We are grateful to partner with ELANCO and Servants Inc. to help families in our community with home repair,” she said. “Seeing families have ramps added or new flooring put in to help improve their living situation is a blessing to our community.” Moving ahead, Keith Cotton, director of outreach with Servants Inc., said that plans are underway to enhance the partnership in the ELANCO area. “We just finalized dates for a mini work camp,” said Cotton, who noted that the camp will be held from Thursday, April 27, to Saturday, April 29, and that St. John’s Center United Church of Christ in East Earl will serve as the host site. To learn more about the organization visit http://www.servants.org or call 717-378-0336.
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A stitch of Whimze BY ANN MEAD ASH
Upcoming work camp planned BY ANN MEAD ASH
VOL LIX • NO 12
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER MAR. 15, 2023
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