Hempfield
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IN THIS ISSUE: FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES POSTED page 3
APRIL 15, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXVI • NO 4
Building On: IMPACT! Missions Continues To Serve By Dayna M. Reidenouer
“Now that county residents have been ordered to shelter in place, it is more important than ever that every family has somewhere to stay that is warm, dry, and livable,” IMPACT! Missions (IM) founder and executive director Matt Beakes wrote in an email newsletter on March 31. “As this crisis unfolds, IMPACT! Missions has not wavered in its commitment to making a difference in the lives of our Lancaster County neighbors who are struggling with poverty and limited housing.” The IM emergency repair ministry to low-income homeowners is continuing to operate, albeit with modified protocols. The work crews are averaging two projects a week. These have included building a wheelchair ramp for a woman who needed to come home to avoid being quarantined in a physical rehabilitation facility, dealing
with mold remediation and installing new cabinets in a kitchen with an ongoing leaky faucet, and replacing a leaking shower head and repairing damage to the ceiling and wall as well as installing handrails for safety in the home of a single mother with four children. “We are practicing social distancing by working on open air projects, and the enclosed projects we are separating by rooms, and family units are staying together,” Beakes related. “We also provide cleaning materials and wipes to wipe off tools and materials. We have hot water and soap on hand as well as packets of hand sanitizers. We do have masks - not the preferred ones used by the medical community - and request anyone not feeling well in any manner to stay home.” On a limited basis, IM is continuing to renovate blighted properties for eventual resale. Four houses are in process, with the
Framing a wall while maintaining social distancing is challenging, but IMPACT! Missions volunteers Paul Mason (left) and Cody Mackentee did their best to stay safe while working to fulfill the mission of making homes warmer, safer, and dryer for low-income residents.
goal to have them ready to be shown as soon as possible once the situation improves. A significant amount of working capital is tied up in those projects, however, as the sale proceeds are IM’s single largest source of operating revenue. That has put some financial strain on the organization. Another source of uncertainty has been the temporary closure of the IM building products store at 55 Refton Road, Refton. The store was closed to the public in mid-March in compliance with state directives. Ironically, one of IM’s goals for 2020 was to expand the store’s operating hours from two days to three. Having to go in the opposite direction has resulted in a loss of about $2,500 in revenue every week. Community support has been integral to IM’s ongoing work in Lancaster County. The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary on Feb. 22. IM started out in See IMPACT! Missions pg 2
Hitting The Ground Running
Student-Athletes Celebrate Commitments
Dayspring Turns To Online Educating After Three-Day Break
On March 13, before Gov. Tom Wolf announced that schools would be closed, Dan Stone, Upper School principal at Dayspring Christian Academy (DCA), 120 College Ave., Mountville, talked with the school’s senior students. “I jokingly told them they might have to graduate in July,” said Stone, who noted that the seniors were not happy with his announcement. “I told them it was a joke, (but) I can’t promise it will be May 30 (as planned). That might move a couple weeks.” All joking aside, Stone said that first and foremost, the school has taken a posture of prayer in response to the COVID-19 crisis. “We are praying … for our nation that the virus is short lived. We are praying for leaders on federal and state levels,” he said. Following Wolf’s initial announcement, DCA students were off only three days before resuming their studies from home. According to Stone, staff at the school, which pulls students from 11 Lancaster See Dayspring pg 2
Alli Troxell, a third-grade Dayspring Christian Academy student, participates in a class lesson from her home using Zoom. Dayspring was able to move to online learning just a few days after schools closed in Pennsylvania due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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By Ann Mead Ash
On Feb. 5, the Hempfield Athletic Department hosted the National Day of Signing recognition ceremony at Hempfield High School. Assistant athletic director Dennis Vicidomini formally recognized the senior student-athletes who have committed to colleges and universities to study and play a sport their freshman year. Senior student-athletes were supported by their teammates, families, friends, and coaches in the audience. Honored students were Anastasia Berardi, softball, Mansfield University; Abby Burdyn, soccer, Lock Haven Hempfield High School student-athletes were recently honored University; Grayson Dague, at a National Day of Signing recognition ceremony. lacrosse, Cleveland State University; Lindsey track and field, Penn State University; Owen Durkota, lacrosse, University of Cincinnati; Zoey Hanzelman, volleyball, Messiah College; Anika Eckman, mountain/road cycling, Lees-McRae Col- Haski, soccer, George Washington University; lege; Madison Gibbel, volleyball, Messiah College; Ashley Hollinger, soccer, Eastern University; Braeden Glass, soccer, Bucknell University; Bradley Gabrielle Hollinger, soccer, Eastern University; Ava Green, lacrosse, Westminster College; Megan Grube, Hostetler, track and field, West Chester University; See Hempfield Athletes pg 4