Elizabethtown townlively.com
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXII • NO 4
Northwest EMS Holds Food Drive BY CATHY MOLITORIS
According to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, almost 75,000 people in Lancaster County are food insecure. One in five children in the county lacks consistent access to enough food to live an active and healthy life. Northwest EMS is working to address this problem.
Rachel Barnhart, a crisis response counselor with ECHOS, has worked with more than 40 Elizabethtown Area School District students so far this school year.
Helping Teens In Crisis BY CATHY MOLITORIS
here is no doubt this past year has been challenging for everyone. It has been particularly hard on teens, said Rachel Barnhart. She knows firsthand what students have been facing because she’s been working with middle-schoolers and high-schoolers at Elizabethtown Area School District as a crisis response counselor since the school year began. She is employed by Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS) but contracted through the district. “My job came into place because of the rise in crises in schools,” she noted. “School counselors couldn’t keep up with the numbers, and also their position really focuses on other things.” While school counselors may meet with students to go over class schedules and sometimes touch on emotional issues, that’s not their main job responsibility, she said. “When they see a student with suicidal ideation or homicidal
“I’ve never been so impressed with teenagers and their resiliency and ability to adapt.”
and provided more than 70 hours of crisis counseling. “This year has been really tough for teens,” she said. “The pandemic has brought an increase in isolation, depression and anxiety.” Barnhart noted that her position is important not only because it serves students in need, but also because she can help keep students out of hospitals. “I get to reduce over-hospitalization, especially when it comes to conversations about suicidal ideation,” she explained. “I’m able to prevent this in the middle of a pandemic when hospitals are already being flooded for other reasons.” She said this position has taught her not only that there’s a need for her services, but also that students are stronger than she expected. “I’ve never been so impressed with teenagers and their resiliency and ability to adapt,” she remarked. “This has not in any way been an easy year, but they are doing it, and I’m proud of them. I’m honored to work with them and be a part of their journey.”
See Food Drive pg 7
Inviting the public to contribute to a monthlong food drive through Northwest EMS are (from left) paramedic supervisor Michelle Shaffer, EMT Emmanuel Vizcaino-Perez and paramedic Lisa Latsha.
Take A Pledge Against Underage Drinking BY CATHY MOLITORIS
By taking a pledge, parents can help put an end to underage drinking in Elizabethtown. That’s the mission behind No One’s House, a new initiative launched by Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care (EACTC). “No One’s House is a parentfocused campaign that is working to educate parents about the
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 4-H Club Slates Meeting . . . . . . . . .2 Winters Heritage House Plans Programs . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 House Of Worship . . . . . .12 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .13
See Pledge pg 8
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“I’ll refer them to outpatient therapy or, if they need inpatient, I’ll refer them there. Then, I’m here to help them when they come back.” Hired in July, Barnhart has seen a steady increase in the number of students she’s working with. In the first four months of the 2020-21 school year, she worked with 43 students, conducted 112 sessions
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ideation or conflict at home, I get brought in,” she explained. “I could get a referral from a school counselor or another student or a teacher or a family member.” Barnhart’s job is to serve as a resource between what the school offers and outpatient or inpatient therapy. “My job is not to replace outpatient therapy but to create stability for students at the time,” she said.
For the month of February, the organization is holding its annual food drive to benefit local food banks. Donations will be accepted at the Elizabethtown EMS station, 380 W. Bainbridge St., or at the Manheim EMS station, 60 W. Colebrook St. “Our first food drive was in February of 2015,” said Lori Shenk, community outreach manager. “The February food drive, like many of our other outreach initiatives, is an opportunity to connect with individuals in the communities that we serve in hopes that we can impact individual health and community health.” Northwest EMS serves 12 townships and three boroughs, covering more than 200 square miles of response area in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon counties. The
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