Donegal townlively.com
DECEMBER 15, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXII • NO 45
Riding For Veterans “That first year, we had 11 motorcycles participating, and we When Tyler Stumpf and some raised about $400, which we friends came up with the idea of thought was great,” Stumpf organizing a New Year’s Day motor- recalled. A little over a decade later, cycle ride 13 years ago, they knew the ride draws an average of 450 they wanted to raise money for vet- motorcycles, and the organizers erans, but they didn’t anticipate have raised $213,000 for the how much the event would grow Lebanon VA Medical Center. This year’s charity motorcycle ride over the years. to benefit veterans will be held on Saturday, Jan. 1. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and the ride will leave from the Walter S. Ebersole American Legion Post 185, 255 W. Main St., Mount Joy, at 1 p.m. The 25-mile ride will follow a route along the Susquehanna River and conclude at the Elizabethtown American Legion Post 329, 240 N. Hanover St., where a pork and sauerkraut meal will be served following the ride. A Chinese auction will be held there as well, featuring items donated Hundreds of motorcycles will take to the streets from local businesses. BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Joe McFarland (left) and Clare Funck are among the organizers of a free Christmas Day dinner at Cross Roads Church.
Christmas Dinner Will Feed The Body And Soul hristmas is a time of joy, but for some people, it can be lonely. That’s where Cross Roads Church comes in. For the 24th year, the church, located at 800 Donegal Springs Road, Mount Joy, will be serving a free Christmas meal. The meal will be offered for either takeout or sitdown service on Saturday, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “I know from experience what it’s like to not have anyone to spend Christmas with,” said Clare Funck, one of the organizers of the meal. “My family lives away from here, and my first Christmas here, I was
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alone. I love this dinner because it gives people an opportunity for fellowship, a chance to talk to other people and a chance to meet new friends.” The meal will include turkey, gourmet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a selection of desserts. As Funck noted, it takes a team of volunteers to make the day a success. “We served about 400 people two years ago,” she said, noting that even with only offering a pickup option last year due to the pandemic, the church still gave away about 300 meals. Church members begin prepping for the meal weeks before Christmas and set up the night
Girls On The Run Goes Live!
before. “Our students participate as well,” Funck said. “They serve the meal.” The idea for the Christmas meal came from Joe McFarland, who is still one of the event coordinators. “It was something that was on my heart to do,” he recalled. “ W hen I first thought of this, about 25 years ago, there were a lot of places that offered free Thanksgiving meals, but really nobody was doing free Christmas meals. To me, that’s the most important day of the year. It’s the birth of Christ. I wanted people to have companionship and know someone is thinking about them on Christmas.”
Coming off a successful 5K at Millersville University in November, Katie Sandoe, executive director of Girls on the Run (GOTR) Lancaster, and Jen West, program director, are excited about the 2022 season. “ We are looking ahead to spring,” said West. “We are excited to be back to a 10-week season in person.” Indeed, the program hopes to have teams in every Lancaster County school district for the spring semester, and coaches will
See Dinner pg 7
See Girls pg 10
BY ANN MEAD ASH
See Veterans pg 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE GEARS Sets Winter Programs . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . .11 Candlelight Christmas Concerts Planned . . . . . .12 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .13 House Of Worship . . . . . .16
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BY CATHY MOLITORIS
for a New Year’s Day benefit ride for veterans.
