Gehman Mennonite Church - Online Church Bulletin Board: Fwd: Community Impact Update

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: REAL Life Community Services <rod@reallcs.org>
Date: Mon, Sep 1, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Subject: Community Impact Update – September at REAL Life
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

View this email in a browser

September is here! As we head into fall, we're so grateful for the incredible support our community has shown in August. From meals shared at local restaurants, to generous donations toward our fundraising campaign, to preparing Cocalico student for another year of school—your support is what makes this all possible

Sweet Treats, Sweeter Impact!

The fair is coming to town—and so is our Icy Treats Stand! Grab a milkshake, cool off with friends, and know that every bite supports hope right here in our community. It's the sweetest way to enjoy the fair!

Want to join the fun behind the counter? We're looking for volunteers to help swirl, smile, and serve. Together, we can turn fair fun into community impact—one icy treat at a time! Click the button below to sign up to help serve!

Volunteer Now!

Back to School Success!

Our community showed up in a big way at National Night Out—150 backpacks filled with school supplies were given to Cocalico students so they could start the year prepared and confident!

This was made possible by generous donors, faithful volunteers, and partners like Middle Creek Church and UGI who pitched in with backpacks, supplies, and hands-on help. Because of this overwhelming support, we're raising next year's goal to 200 backpacks—because the need is great, and so is the hope. Together, we're building a stronger Cocalico—one backpack at a time.

September is Hunger Action Month—a time to raise awareness and stand together against hunger. This Friday, September 5, is both National Food Bank Day and our First Friday Food Drive!

Bring non-perishable food or personal care items to Warehouse 916 (behind the Declaration House, 240 Main St., Denver) between 3:00–5:00 PM. Every item donated fuels hope for our neighbors in need.

Together, we can fight hunger—one donation at a time.

Fresh Paint For A Fresh Start! 🎨

A huge thank-you to the amazing team from Sherwin-Williams who rolled up their sleeves to help us get an apartment move-in ready for its next tenant! In just six hours, they patched, sanded, and painted the entire space a crisp, beautiful white—bringing new life and warmth to the home.

Because of their hard work (and perfect timing!), we were able to clean, replace carpets, and prepare the apartment in time for our new tenant moving in on September 5. We're so grateful for this partnership—thank you, Sherwin-Williams, for helping us create a fresh start filled with hope!

Growing Hope in the Garden

What a season it's been in our Community Garden! Thanks to the hard work of local volunteers, thousands of fresh vegetables made their way to families across Lancaster County. Together we harvested 5,000 onions, 10 boxes of broccoli, and an incredible 43,680 ears of corn—all picked by hand!

Of that bounty, over 150 pounds went straight to Warehouse 916 so clients of REAL Life could choose fresh, nutritious food when they shopped at our Client Choice pantry. The rest was shared with partners like Blessings of Hope, Ephrata Area Social Services, and others—ensuring even more families had access to healthy food, free of charge.

As this year's harvest wraps up, we're already excited for what's to come next summer. Volunteering in the garden is more than pulling weeds or picking corn—it's planting seeds of hope for our entire community. We'd love for you to join us in the fields next season!

Early Learning Mentor Update!

School is back in session and our youngest Eagles need opportunities to soar! For our birth to five year olds, we will soon begin our fall Play and Learn series – free to families living in the Cocalico School District! These are designed to provide children with interactive and meaningful learning experiences. Parents and caregivers have opportunities to gain knowledge regarding developmentally appropriate ways to support their child's learning while making connections with others in the community. We always have a great time!

For more information, reach out to Deeann Sherman at dsherman@caplanc.org

Thank you SO much for coming out this week, eating at our local spots, and supporting REAL Life. Every bite you enjoyed helps bring food, housing, and hope right here in Cocalico.

You all made this week amazing—thank you!

Stay tuned on our social media pages to find out what are total is from last week!

Now, for the moment you have all been waiting for........

This summer we raised over $81,000 together! We couldn't be more thankful for the generosity we did see. Every single gift represents trust, sacrifice, and partnership, and together we've made a real difference for our neighbors who are struggling right now.

We believe that God provides in His timing and in His ways, and we are excited to see how He continues to move through this community in the months ahead. Your support encourages us to keep pressing forward with hope and confidence.

And as we look ahead, we'd love for you to join us again this fall for our Thanks4Giving campaign, launching in October with the Faithful Give. It will be another incredible opportunity to come together and make a lasting impact in our community.

Thank you for standing with us—because of you, lives are being changed.

Mark Your Calendars!

First Friday Food Drive

September 5th

Every first Friday of the month, we will be hosting a food drive. It's a way the community can give back and help donate items that we need.

You can drop off food at any time from 3-5 pm on that day.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Mondays, 8-9PM

Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

Momentum

Tuesdays, 6:30-8PM

Starting October 7th!

Momentum guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. A child needs to know that they are not alone in dealing with the day-to-day challenges of life.

Momentum meets at the Lighthouse Community Center throughout the school year following the Cocalico School District calendar.

Young at Heart

Wednesdays, 9-11AM

All events are free and are for individuals that are 60 years and older. Coffee, chatting, games, speakers, and MORE! Come out and get to know others in your community!

1st & 3rd Wednesdays we meet at Adamstown Area Library!

2nd & 4th Wednesdays we meet at Faith Evangelical United Lutheran Church in Denver!

Help us keep these programs and more going! Consider a generous gift today to Connect the Community to Hope!

Give Now