Conestoga Valley /townlively
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVI • NO 40
Practicing “Resilience” BY ANN MEAD ASH
This Conestoga Valley School District student was happy to receive a backpack and school supplies during Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services’ recent back-to-school giveaway.
Ready For School! Backpack Giveaway Provides Supplies To CV Students
August 2020 was not the first time Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS), located at 2420 Gehman Lane, Lancaster, held a backpack giveaway for Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD) students, but it was the first time backpacks were distributed drive-through style. “This year, with COVID, we were forced to look at it differently,” said Angela Trout, director of advancement with CVCCS, who reported that the organization gave away more than 100 backpacks during two distributions held Aug. 12 and 19. To facilitate the distributions, families that are connected to the ministry through the CVCCS food bank were invited to register for one of the two pickup times. Information concerning the
number of students and grade level - elementary, middle, or high school - was ascertained. During the pickup, a CVCCS representative would ask for the students’ names. “(Our) list may say (a family has) an elementary school girl and a middle school boy,” said Trout. “We have (backpacks) … (and) we go and pull those and bring them out.” Trout noted that registrants received more than backpacks and school supplies during the pickup. “We also had a ton of cookies donated from food stores,” she said. “Whenever you come to our food bank whether for a backpack distribution or for food, you always leave with more than enough.” COVID-19 restrictions did not only affect the way the backpacks were distributed this year, but they also caused CVCCS to change the way backpacks and school
supplies were collected. “We were forced to look at it differently,” said Trout, who noted that in the past, area churches had collected items for the giveaway. “Each church had a list,” she recalled. “Stumptown gathered pencils and pencil boxes, and Groffdale brought erasers and pens. It worked pretty well, but (with churches not meeting), we couldn’t do it this year.” Instead, CVCCS organizers decided to hold a community event. The organization reached out via social media, newspapers, and emails to invite area residents to help Stuff the Truck with backpacks and school supplies at the Worship Center on New Holland Pike on July 25. During the low-contact event, volunteers met donors at their cars and took donated items to the truck. “It went well,” recalled Trout. “We had a steady stream of cars,
See “Resilience” pg 13
GOTR To Screen Film Focused On Anxiety Free Link To Connect Families To “Angst” BY ANN MEAD ASH
Sarah Yohe, development director with Girls on the Run (GOTR), has an analogy concerning the different types and levels of anxiety people are feeling in relation to the pandemic. “We are all in the same storm, but we all have our own individual boats with their own holes in them that we are trying to keep plugged to stay afloat,”
See Backpack Giveaway pg 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER . . . . . . .2 LANCASTER HEART WALK SLATED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 HOUSE OF WORSHIP . . . . . . . . .14 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . .16
See Film pg 4
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CON B
BY ANN MEAD ASH
When the 48 members of the Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS) marching band gathered at the school, 650 Juliette Ave., Lancaster, in mid-August to start practicing the fall drill, they knew camp would be a little different. “The world is different, and we are changing with the world,” said Jacob Fertal, vice president of the band, referring to the pandemic and the restrictions associated with COVID-19. The band members met from Aug. 10 to 13 to begin learning the drill to a program titled “Resilience.” Practices were also held Aug. 18 to 20 and Aug. 25 to 27. “Resilience” will be performed in three parts, beginning with “We Are Family,” moving into the ballad, which is “The Sound of Silence,” and finishing with “Daft Punk Medley.” Fertal explained how each segment of the show relates to the theme. “With everything that is going on in the world, we think a lot of resilience is needed,” he said, noting that “We Are Family” focuses on staying together to get through hard times and
that “Sound of Silence” talks about being strong enough to work out your problems. “‘Daft Punk Medley’ (includes) the words ‘harder, better, faster, and stronger’ (because) after you get through your struggles, you’re better than you were before.” Band director Paul Murr said that he and assistant director Daniel List chose the music for the drill with the uncertainty of fall in mind. “When school was shut down in March, we started thinking about how it would affect summer and fall,” he said, noting that “Resilience” was picked from about seven different ideas because it would be easier to learn and allowed for social distancing. Student director Sarah Scott noted that the drill utilizes curves and interconnecting circles and other shapes. “We move around each other and connect at different points,” she said. “A part of the band will break off from the rest and then reform into some other shape together.” High points will include a woodwind feature at the beginning of “Sound of Silence,” which will also spotlight the color guard. This year’s band has seven color guard members
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