Conestoga Valley townlively.com
JANUARY 5, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 2
Finding New Ways To Serve BY ANN MEAD ASH
“It started a long time ago and has always been the third Friday of the month,” said Patty Williams, one of the organizers of the free community meal held at Zion Lutheran Church, 18 Quarry Road, Leola, on the third Friday of the month beginning at 5:55 p.m. The program was initiated more than 20 years ago by Heather Furman. Prior to the onset of COVID-19, church members were feeding 60 to 100 area residents at a sit-down meal in the fellowship hall. “Everything changed for COVID,” explained Williams, noting that the organizers switched to a takeout format in 2020. “But we didn’t miss any meals.” The drive-through meal distribution is now accomplished by volunteers working under the church portico. Masked and gloved volunteers work out of coolers, handing out individual meals that were made and packed at the church.
Community Meal Organizers Soldier On Meals include a main dish, such as macaroni and cheese, meatballs, chicken strips, pot pie, beef barbecue, or Amish wedding casserole, which mixes meats and sides associated with Thanksgiving. Side dishes are usually green beans, applesauce or fruit, and a dessert is included. In addition, the group also receives bread from Panera, which is handed out with bottles of water. Zion Lutheran partners with Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers, and volunteers from that church cook and distribute the meal every other month. The church now gives away an average of 150 meals each month. Williams explained that since instituting the takeout system, volunteers work in crews to limit the number of people in a small area. “We have two cooks and two people to pack (in the kitchen),” said Williams, adding that this is a reduction from four packers previously. “Karen Brunken comes in on a Thursday to get everything ready,”
Sweet Family-Style Fun
Zion Lutheran Church free community meal volunteers include (from left) pastor Karen Larson, Karen Brunken, Marie Antolick, and Patty Williams.
Food For Thought
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Local Author Visits School
Christmas Tree Mulching Program Posted . . . . . . . .4
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Valentine’s Banquet To Feature Local Talent BY ANN MEAD ASH
Jaime Santiago, founder and executive director of Restart Training Center Ministry (RTCM), is looking forward to a bit of a change in this year’s Valentines Sweetheart Banquet. The event, which in the past has been solely for couples, will be a little more open. “ We thought we would have a little See RTCM pg 6
Author Shelleen Weaver (left) and Locust Grove Elementary School principal Miles Yoder as Love Bird prepare for a chapel presentation at the school.
When New Holland author Shelleen Weaver spoke at Lancaster Mennonite School’s Locust Grove Campus, 2257 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, on Dec. 6, she brought along her friend Love Bird, the title character from her first book in a series on the biblical Fruits of the Spirit. Principal Miles Yoder took on the persona of the mockingbird, handing out bookmarks and candy to more than 100 children in prekindergarten through fifth grade, and once mocking Weaver as she began to read from the second “Fruit Fables” book, “Glub Glum’s Ship Flip.” See Locust Grove pg 5
Concert To Feature Works By Robeson . . . . . .6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9 House Of Worship . . . . . .12
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See Zion Lutheran Church pg 2