Garden Spot townlively.com
OCTOBER 2, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 41
Opportunities to serve BY ANN MEAD ASH
A
rea residents who would like to help influence the next generation for the better have an opportunity to serve with Cross JR! The structured mentoring program meets weekly at Blue Ball and Brecknock elementary schools and twice a week at New Holland Elementary. Julia Bills, mentor and education manager with CrossNet Ministries, oversees the program, which is designed for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Using journal topics, mentors work with students to help build leadership skills and emotional resources while learning about God and doing fun activities. Bills said the program is in need of 10 more volunteers and slots can be filled based on the volunteer’s proximity to the elementary school. Cross JR! meets from 3:15 to 5 p.m. at Blue Ball Elementary each Tuesday, at Brecknock and New Holland elementary
Mentors with the CrossNet Cross JR! program work with students in groups (left photo) and one on one (right photo).
schools each Wednesday, and again at New Holland each Thursday. The program will be held from the week of Oct. 22 through the week of April 29, 2025. According to Julia, each session of Cross JR! begins with the students and mentors together enjoying a snack and completing a puzzle. The ice breaker period
is followed by games and a group time. Each session has a theme such as “I Can Persevere,” “Practice Is Important,” “I Am Loved,” and “I Am Valuable.” “We talk about what to do when things don’t go our way, and we focus on the idea of ‘I’m not good at this yet, and if I work hard, this can help me grow,’” said Julia.
“ The last part is one-on-one time where the student and the mentor work with the journal and do an activity,” said Julia. “If we have time, we do a game at the end before (the students are) picked up by their parents.” Julia, who accepted her position at CrossNet in February, is originally from Huntingdon.
She came to Lancaster County to attend Lancaster Bible College, where she earned both her undergraduate and master ’s degrees in social work. Following school, Julia worked at a foster care agency and then as the social worker for the family emergency shelter at Water Street Mission. She and her husband, Jesse, who See CrossNet Ministries pg 7
The notice from the Bergstrasse Community Clothing Closet (BCCC) that was posted on Sept. 8 on the Terre Hill Kindness Facebook page read in part, “It has been brought to our attention that there is a great need for baby diapers in our community. This would mean so much to some of these families.” In the same notice, BCCC, which is located in the Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran
Church, 9 Hahnstown Road, Ephrata, also asked for volunteer help. Becky Martin, who founded the clothing closet with Pattie Martin in March, said that currently the closet is served by about 12 helpers. “We can always use volunteers,” said Becky, who noted the organization can be contacted by searching for “Bergstrasse Community Clothing Closet” on Facebook and sending a private message. “We have a group chat for volunteers so we all stay connected,” said Becky. See BCCC pg 4
Rockin’ on Fundraiser will support GSFR Cadet Camp BY ANN MEAD ASH
Several years back, Trevor Reed, member of the Rotary Club of Eastern Lancaster County, had an aha moment. Because Reed and fellow Rotary Club member Erin Varley are both in bands, Reed suggested they organize a musical fundraiser. The idea proved so popular that Reed is now organizing the seventh Rotary Rocks benefit concert. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Lititz Shirt
The Reed Brothers Band will be one of two bands to perform at the
See Rotary Club pg 5 Rotary Rocks event this year.
R110429
BY ANN MEAD ASH
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER OCT. 2, 2024
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
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Seeking donations of time and diapers