Conestoga Valley DECEMBER 11, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE: FRIENDSHIP HEART GALLERY PLANS OPEN HOUSE page 15
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVI • NO 2
HOLIDAY MEAL
St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 108 E. Liberty St., Lancaster, will sponsor its 30th annual Christmas Day dinner for those who will spend Christmas alone or are unable to afford a meal. The meal will be served on Wednesday, Dec. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Transportation is available in the Lancaster city area by calling St. Anne’s Church at 717-392-2225 or Lisa Wood at 717-669-6282 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. before Friday, Dec. 20. The dining facility is not wheelchair-accessible.
A Few Good Volunteers pg 2
Widow to Widow Lancaster will meet on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. in the Legacy Room at Worship Center, 2384 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, for a Christmas brunch/social time. Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish/food item to share, along with a serving utensil. Then the group will go to nearby Nathan Village for a Christmas party and to sing carols at 1 p.m. All widows are welcome. For more information, readers may contact Elaine Severein at 717-468-5239.
Mindy Lapp, Jack Herr, and Sean High, founders of Ease the Burden (ETB), have created a brochure to help county residents understand the mission of the organization. “This is a flowchart we made to make it simple for people,” explained Lapp. “It’s a way to fund needs in the Lancaster community by filling in the gaps that might not necessarily be covered by most organizations,” added Herr. ETB was founded to help county residents who do not need help under normal circumstances, but who have come up against a hardship. “We are here for the working class who maybe by a few hundred dollars a year don’t qualify for help,” said Lapp. Hardships might include health care expenses, housing problems, or other expenses that could
NEW YEAR’S TRADITION
squeeze an individual or a family to the breaking point. “This is for the family that is doing everything right,” explained Lapp. “They’re not living beyond their means … (but) they are one furnace breaking down or alternator failing from going under.” To ease the burdens of those in need, ETB founders plan to form partnerships with churches and nonprofit organizations that know the needs of the local community and have the personnel to screen requests and distribute funds appropriately. These organizations would submit grant requests to ETB. “(The organizations) find the need, (do an intake,) and submit the request to us,” said High. “Someone might not be able to pay their rent, and (they) come to a church for help,” said High. “They may not have the funds, but we could bridge See Ease The Burden pg 12
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Local Author Wins National Award By Ann Mead Ash
Joel Moore of Narvon, author of the Civil War series “Journey Into Darkness” is the recipient of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge award known as the George Washington Honor Medal. Moore was notified of the award in a letter from the Freedoms Foundation dated Sept. 12. “Journey Into Darkness” tells the story of a few of the more than 200,000 boys and youths who took part in the battles of the Civil War. Moore began the work in 1960 when he was still in high school. The writing progressed slowly as time and research allowed, and as the years passed, the author attended college, enlisted for reserve military service, married, and began a See Local Author pg 9
Founders of Ease the Burden, a new organization to help residents in the county in need, are (from left) Sean High, Mindy Lapp, and Jack Herr. The organization was inspired by Stumptown Mennonite Church members who reached out to help individuals facing serious financial situations.
Loan Program Will Promote Trade School Enrollment By Dayna M. Reidenouer
Author Joel Moore stands on the steps of a hotel in Christiana as part of a celebration of the Christiana Resistance. Moore was recently notified that he has won the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge award known as the George Washington Honor Medal for his Civil War book series “Journey Into Darkness.”
Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning (LDHL) has launched the E. Ann Klein Trade, Occupational, and Technical Education Loan Program, also known as TOTE Loan Program. The new TOTE Loan Program provides interest-free loans to Lancaster County residents who have earned a high school diploma or GED and are planning to attend an eligible trade, occupational, or technical program. Students are eligible to receive one loan totaling up to $3,400 to aid in their tuition expenses. See Loan Program pg 13
Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning staff members (from left) Amy Heth and Ashley Hemmelstein and board president Samantha Eck announced the creation of the E. Ann Klein TOTE Loan Program for students attending postsecondary schools other than colleges.
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PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER DEC. 11, 2019
Postal Patron
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Kinzer Fire Company, 3521 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, will host its 38th annual pork and sauerkraut dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. The all-you-can-eat dinner will feature family-style seating and homemade sauerkraut. Serving will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Takeout meals will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a cost, with children age 12 and under receiving a discount. Local delivery will be available within a 5-mile radius. Call 717-442-4121.
Latin Percussion Group Will Perform pg 2
Filling The Grain Bin To Ease The Burden By Ann Mead Ash
CHRISTMAS BRUNCH
Dementia Awareness Event Held pg 14