Lampeter-Strasburg townlively.com
JULY 14, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 11
The Mission Of Mission Church BY COURTNEY MENGEL
For a long time, it had been the vision of Mission Church, 651 Lampeter Road, Lancaster, to open a food pantry to the community. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the church shifted staff roles to keep everyone employed, and after receiving a donation of 12,000 pounds of food, the staff decided to act on the vision of opening Mission Food Pantry. On April 9, 2020, the church officially landed the pantry. At first, the staff members were unsure of how to run a food pantry, so they contacted several food pantries across the country for
help. Mission Food Pantry operated out of the church’s gymnasium for several months. Knowing the food pantry had to be relocated, the staff renovated four unused classrooms in the facility. By August of 2020, Mission Food Pantry moved into its permanent home. “In the beginning, it was eye opening to see how much need there was in the community,” said Brian Bitler, director of Mission Food Pantry and director of operations and community impact at Mission Church. “ We don’t do income verification. If people say they have a need, we want to make the food available to them.” Mission Food Pantry partners with four different food banks in the area and receives donations from several local businesses. “It’s a community effort,” stated Bitler. “We have the privilege of housing everything, but we’re all working together to help those in need in our community.” See Mission Church pg 9
Director of facility management Jeremiah Miller unloads food for Mission Food Pantry.
Looking For A Few Good Drivers BY ANN MEAD ASH
“My drivers have been phenomenal through (the) COVID-19 (pandemic), and it has not been easy,” said Marie Glass, Paradise point person for Lancaster Meals on Wheels. Glass, who has been involved with the program for more than a decade, said that the lack of contact has been difficult for both drivers and those who receive meals. “People who were accustomed
to visiting with clients can’t talk to them and may not even see them to know they’re all right,” she said, adding that the Paradise volunteer coordinators and drivers have not missed a day of deliveries throughout the pandemic. The Paradise Meals on Wheels program’s coverage area includes part of the Lampeter region. It is affiliated with Lancaster Meals on Wheels, which makes about 350 meals per day for area
Donating With A Twist BY COURTNEY MENGEL
recipients. The Paradise organization is located in a room in the Together Community Center (TCC), 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise. Meals provided by the Lancaster program are delivered to TCC each Monday through Friday. One hot meal and one cold meal are included each weekday for each of about 25 clients. Two drivers pick up the meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and one driver handles the lighter Tuesday and Thursday routes.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. The organization projects that by 2025, this number will rise to nearly 13 million. Additionally, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Based on this statistic, dementia kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the
See Drivers pg 3
See Donation pg 9
Paradise Meals On Wheels Seeks Volunteers For Lampeter Area And More
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Rehabilitating Wildlige At Raven Ridge . . . . . . . . .2 Blood Drive To Honor LHS Alumnus Ryan Smith . . . .4 Youth Sports . . . . . . . . . . .5 Business Directory . . . . . .6 Set In Stone: Fossil And Mineral Club To Host Extrvaganza . . . . . . . . . . .7 House Of Worship . . . . . .10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .12
EPHRATA 1717 West Main St. (2 miles west of Ephrata on Route 322)
717-721-3139
Over 100 In Stock Items Ready to be Taken Home Today!
NEW PROVIDENCE 2318 Beaver Valley Pk. (1 mile north of Quarryville on Route 222)
717-806-7373
www.martinfurniturepa.com
R073591
THURSDAY, JULY 15th FRIDAY, JULY 16th SATURDAY, JULY 17th
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUL. 14, 2021
Postal Patron
LSA B
Marie Glass, Paradise point person for Lancaster Meals on Wheels, is looking for a few volunteer drivers for the program.