IN THIS ISSUE: CHURCH SEEKS DONATIONS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY page 4
Garden Spot /townlively
APRIL 22, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVI • NO 19
Crafting Masks In New Holland By Ann Mead Ash
New Holland resident Brittany Flexer, a wife and the mother of two young children, has been facing the challenge of supporting her children’s online schooling while sometimes working until 1 a.m. making masks for essential workers and others in need of them due to COVID-19. While being interviewed for this story, Flexer was cutting out material for the 60 orders she was preparing to complete. Flexer, who was first asked to make two masks in mid-March by a friend who is a WellSpan nurse, is known for creating bibs, blankets, and more for babies, but this was her first venture into making masks. The nurse who contacted Flexer was not required to wear a mask at that time, but she was not comfortable without one, and supplies
were running low. Wanting to help out, Flexer began hunting for patterns. “I spent five hours doing research to see what types of masks could be made and which would be the best,” recalled Flexer, who added, “She was coming to me as a friend, and I wanted to give her the best I could do.” Flexer chose a version that resembles a dust mask. The design calls for two layers of nonwoven interfacing - a manmade fabric that may offer more protection than a woven material. The front and back outer layers are made of cotton. The mask includes wire at the bridge of the nose for a tighter fit. Flexer is making masks that either tie or have loops that go around the ears to hold the masks in place. Flexer donated the first two masks she made to health care workers. See Crafting Masks pg 2
By Dayna M. Reidenouer
Brittany Flexer of New Holland began making masks for health care workers in March, and she has since had many requests to make masks for area workers and residents. Flexer makes the masks by donation so that she can replenish her supplies of materials to make more.
Ministry To Offer Food Boxes Blessings of Hope (BOH), a wholesale food bank located on Becker Road in Leola, started out small. “We started in 2006 in a little garage in Farmersville,” said David Lapp, a representative of the ministry. The group recognized that food that was being wasted could be used to feed people in Lancaster County and beyond, and it
Like so many other organizations, Black Rock Retreat, 1345 Kirkwood Pike, Quarryville, has had to adjust its operations. The Christian camp and retreat center has canceled all retreat groups that had been scheduled for the next few weeks. The shutdown has resulted in a loss of income, and executive director Peter Fiorello noted that Black Rock depends upon retreat revenue, summer camper fees, and donations to pay staff members and to maintain operations. “As groups cancel, we have had to trim our staff, which stretches our ability to prepare for summer and the future,” Fiorello said. “We as a team continue to pray for wisdom and seek God’s help during these times. We are diligently See Retreat Center pg 4
Unleashing The Power Of Music
eventually developed relationships with more than 80 food producers. “We get semi-truck loads of product, and we redistribute to food pantries, outreaches, halfway houses, and ministries,” explained Lapp. “We serve the organizations that serve the people that need the food.” In the last few weeks, the changes wrought by COVID-19 restrictions have affected the ministry in a variety of ways. Most recently, the See Blessings Of Hope pg 6
Volunteers load food boxes into waiting cars at a Blessings of Hope outreach. The wholesale food bank has seen a significant increase in the food it provides to families in need in the last few weeks.
Fairmount Brings Concert To Residents By Ann Mead Ash
On March 19, Mitchell Hanna, director of marketing, and other members of the Fairmount team were brainstorming ways to make life at the retirement community easier for residents who were affected by COVID-19 restrictions. “We had been talking about what we could do to meet emotional, spiritual, and social wellness (needs) of our residents,” said Hanna. “We had our chaplain doing small group sessions inside, but we were feeling bad about all the activities and group events (that had been canceled).”
Cedric Steiner, who had been shadowing team members at Fairmount in order to complete his training in nursing home administration, made a suggestion. “I know somebody who can sing,” noted Steiner, who taught at Lancaster Mennonite High School for 18 years. The singer Steiner had in mind was Manheim resident Mackenzie Brubaker, currently a junior at Messiah College See Fairmount pg 3
Manheim resident Mackenzie Brubaker, a Messiah College junior, sang hymns to Fairmount residents from five different outdoor spots on the campus on March 21. The music provided the residents, who are on lockdown, with some enjoyment to boost their spirits.
• Plan, Save, and Finance Your Next Project!
salesdept@martinsflooring.com martinsflooring.com PA005901
• Call, Text, or Email for Details
R057852
• Now Offering Virtual Measures and Consultations
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER APR. 22, 2020
Postal Patron
GDN
By Ann Mead Ash
Retreat Center Makes Adjustments