Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville !
Inside /townlively
NOVEMBER 4, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 39
Christmas Food Boxes Will Support Community or more than 30 years, the Columbia Lions Club and Sunsnappers have been providing free Christmas dinner food boxes to the community. A pandemic wasn’t going to stop that, said John Meshey, project coordinator. “There is a need for this in our community,” he noted. “This year, a lot of people are hurting.” Christmas dinner boxes will be delivered to the community on Sunday, Dec. 20. The deadline to register for a box is Friday, Dec. 4, and early registration is encouraged. To register, readers may email ColumbiaChristmasFoodBoxes@gm ail.com or call 717-715-3592. Each box will contain the fixings for a traditional Christmas meal, Meshey said. “It will include a turkey, bread, milk, potatoes, canned vegetables, stuffing and a few other items,” he stated. The organizations expect to pack 700 boxes for families in the Columbia and surrounding areas, he noted, adding that the event has
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grown significantly over the years. “ When this started about 35 years ago, we had one family we helped,” Meshey recalled. “We knew there were people who could use something over the holidays to brighten their day. It just grew from there, and this year especially, we’re really happy to be continuing the tradition.” COVID-19 has changed a few things about the operation, he said, including how the boxes will be packed. “We are looking for community groups to sign up to pack boxes the Friday and Saturday before we distribute them,” he explained. “We want people to schedule a time to come in and help so that we can keep the groups small.” On delivery day, a system will be set up to limit contact as much as possible, Meshey said. “When people come to help deliver the boxes, we’re going to load up their car and then they’ll go off and deliver,” he said. “They won’t be going inside anyone’s home. They’ll leave the box on the porch.”
Columbia UMC Will Offer Free Thanksgiving Meal BY CATHY MOLITORIS
On Thursday, Nov. 26, the fellowship hall at Columbia United Methodist Church will be empty, but the community will still feel the church’s love. That is the day the church will give away Thanksgiving dinners, as it has done for the past 10 years. “We usually have a sit-down dinner, but we couldn’t do that this See Thanksgiving Meal pg 5
AJ’s Surplus Grocery Marks One Year
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
“When the Musser’s (supermarket space) became available, it seemed like a good fit and something the community could embrace,” mused Chris Smiley, founder of AJ’s Surplus Grocery. “I had been a business owner in Columbia for 20 years, and I wanted to provide an opportunity to help the community by providing
REMEBERING PAULINE H. ENGLE, CO-FOUNDER OF EPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 GET AWAY TO JIM THORPE . . . . . . . . . .6
See AJ’s Surplus pg 2
BUSINESS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . .7
AJ’s Surplus Grocery employees include (front, from left) Madison Handy, Sherry Pobee, Daniel Moreta, (back) Austin Sheetz, Sharon Jenks, Gloria Hall, Betty Leese, Melanie Cruz-Bernard, Carly Myers, and Darby Papez.
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . .8 HOUSE OF WORSHIP . . . . . . . . .12
APPLES 22 Varieties Plus, Many Homegrown VEGETABLES
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER NOV. 4, 2020
Postal Patron
CWM
See Food Boxes pg 4
Sunsnappers member Don Ernst (left), Lions Club member John Meshey (center) and Jack Gamby, president of the Lions Club and a Sunsnappers member, invite community members to register for a free Christmas food box.
PUMPKINS every size, shape, color! 400 Long Lane at Marticville Rd. (Rt. 741 & 324) 3 Miles S. of Lancaster
717-872-9311
Outlet Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8-6
MUMS! www.cherryhillorchards.com
R065191
BY CATHY MOLITORIS