Warwick DECEMBER 17, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 13,270 HOMES
VOL LXVI • NO 41
Grant Reinforces North Star Initiative’s Mission BY JEFF FALK
W
ithin the complex world of nonprofits there exists a separate, supportive world - the world of grants. Subsidized by philanthropic foundations, organizations and businesses, financial grants serve a very practical purpose. But also associated with grants are this connectivity piece and a very specific affirming element. “Anytime we receive a grant it’s a communication of trust,” said Melinda Clark, who’s been the CEO of North Star Initiative (NSI) for three years. “It means that people and organizations see the importance of our mission. It means we can do amazing work for (human trafficking survivors), and they’re flourishing. It’s a vote of confidence and support for our mission.” On Oct. 20, NSI, a Lititz-area nonprofit dedicated to assisting
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individuals who have been victims of human trafficking, received a $15,000 grant for daily operations from B.J.’s Wholesale Club, which is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass., and operates a local location at 110 Centerville Road, Lancaster. The grant process, which was initiated by a local supporter and volunteer of NSI, took about four months to complete. After B.J.’s W holesale Club invited NSI to apply for the grant, NSI composed a formal grant proposal and submitted it, after which the request was granted. “It’s a big part of our annual budget and a grant we haven’t gotten before,” said Clark. “To have a local tie to a national business is meaningful. I’d say that it’s larger than average. It’s a really big deal to us.” “B.J.’s has a deep commitment to supporting families in the communities where we live and work,” said Kirk Saville, B.J.’s Wholesale Club’s See North Star pg 6
North Star Initiative CEO Melinda Clark reviews a grant application.
BY JEFF FALK
Celebrate
Festive
See Servant Stage pg 3 Staff members move into Servant Stage’s new digs in East Lampeter Township.
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Everybody deserves a place to call their own. Everybody needs a home. Servant Stage’s new home is also the nonprofit’s first. Not only are Servant Stage’s new digs a product of growth, the location is also a space where it can continue to grow. “It’s almost hard to put into words,” said Johnathan Bauer, the founder and executive director of Servant Stage. “It hits every once
in a while. This is a home. Like, ‘Wow, this is for real.’ It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. There are a lot of firsts in this place that are really special.” Following 12 years of serving the Lancaster County community through theater and the performing arts, Servant Stage moved into its new headquarters at 1842 William Penn Way, Lancaster, in East Lampeter Township in October. Up until that point, Servant Stage had been doing the best it could with what it had, while the mission around it was flourishing.
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Home Is Where Servant Stage’s Heart Is
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