Pequea Valley townlively.com
MARCH 29, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 14
Still feeding PV Lifeways for Kids continues mission BY ANN MEAD ASH
harlotte Lapp, who coordinates the Lifeways for Kids program, which provides weekend food blessings for elementary school students who qualify for free and reduced-cost lunches in Pequea Valley School District (PVSD), is not one to mince words about the situation the program faced in early 2023. “ We crashed financially,” said Charlotte, noting that during the COVID-19 shutdown, the program lost touch with area donors and nearly ran out of funds. Fortunately, the solution was communication. Charlotte, who works with assistant coordinator Darlene Lapp on the project, connected with PVSD social workers to explain the program, and the fluctuating numbers of food packages requested evened-out at about 80. Lapp and others interested in the program began con-
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necting to local businesses and local representatives of national chains, and the funds began to come in. Lapp also reached out to churches connected to The Factory Ministries. “They are interested in being part of (meeting) the needs of the community,” said Charlotte. “Now I have a list of churches I can contact.” Within a month, the program had raised enough to finish the year. “Now we are securing funds for the ’23-24 school year,” said Charlotte, who has begun speaking to churches and local civic groups, taking along a food pack to show audience members the types of food items sent home. As part of the program, volunteers from about five area churches gather at Ridgeview Mennonite Church, 3723 Ridge Road, Gordonville, each Wednesday at 9 a.m. from October through the end of the school year to pack the bags of food to be sent home on
Volunteers with Lifeways for Kids meet at Ridgeview Mennonite Church on Wednesday mornings during the school year to put together food packs for elementary school children.
weekends with children who attend Salisbury or Paradise elementary schools. Lifeways for Kids provides sustainable, supplemental food for area students. Lapp works to keep the food provided by Lifeways at a certain
nutritional standard. Regularly included items may be macaroni and cheese, microwavable meals, soup, noodle dishes, juice, applesauce, granola bars, crackers and cheese, popcorn, and hot chocolate. The program also provides
hygiene kits, which include a new towel, a hairbrush, a bar of soap, a container of shampoo, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. At Christmas, a blanket, a pair of sweatpants, and two pairs of socks are given to each participating child. See Lifeways for Kids pg 7
Second Grace seeks volunteers BY CATHY MOLITORIS
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Lori Breece, manager with United Disabilities Services (UDS) service dogs, remembers the successful bingo event the organization held in 2019. “At that time that was our largest fundraiser to date,” said Breece, who noted that the event garnered funds to help raise the 16 puppies that are trained yearly to become service dogs. The average cost of the first year of training one dog is $3,000.
The UDS bingo fundraiser will return to the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, on Sunday, April 16. Doors will open at noon, and the first game will start at 1:30 p.m. Tickets, which are necessary to attend, will be discounted through Friday, April 14. Each ticket includes 20 games. Players must be age 18 or older, and tickets are limited. Food and beverage items will be available for purchase. See UDS pg 4
Charlie, an unsponsored United Disabilities Services service dog pup, sits among bingo cards for the organization’s upcoming event to raise the money needed to help him through his first year of training.
King’s Pet
LLC.
Understanding the need for young single mothers to have mentors, Candace Abel created Second Grace. The program matches “Graces” - the mothers - with “Sages” - trained advocates for the mothers. During the initial training period for the Sages, Abel was impressed by the background and passion of one of the volunteers, Deb Louie. She soon asked Louie to join the organization as program coordinator for Second Grace. “I really identified with Candy’s vision,” said Louie, whose background includes 10 years working with Dauphin County Children and Youth and 13 years in mental health counseling. With Louie on board, Second
ng Heati ns o i t u l So er y fo r E v t ! e g Bud
Grace is looking for more mentors. The organization will hold information sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12; from 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 15; and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. The sessions will be held at Second Grace, 1610 Landis Road, Mount Joy. Currently, Second Grace has a core group of six Sages. The goal is to match each of the young mothers one-on-one with a Sage, who will make a two-year commitment to work with the mother. “It takes about six to 10 hours a month to serve as a Sage,” Louie stated. “The Sages can talk to the Graces on the phone, meet in person to do things, go to appointments with them or do whatever they need for support.” See Second Grace pg 5
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UDS bingo event to support puppy program
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… And Bingo was his name-o: