Fwd: Bringing Hope to Cocalico—Your October Update

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: REAL Life Community Services <rod@reallcs.org>
Date: Wed, Oct 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Subject: Bringing Hope to Cocalico—Your October Update
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

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This fall, hope is growing in Cocalico. From the joy of the Denver Fair to the excitement of our Thanks4giving campaign, we're reminded that when we come together, hope becomes real for our neighbors in need.

Quick Note!
If you haven't seen the usual volunteer requests or updates, don't worry—it's just us getting used to a new system! You might also want to peek in your spam folder, since a few emails may have ended up there. Thanks so much for your patience while we work out the kinks!

Thanks4giving: A Season to Give, A Reason for Hope

We're thrilled to launch this year's Thanks4Giving Year-End Campaign—our most important fundraiser of the year!

From October 1st - December 31st, we're inviting you to join us in reaching our goal of:

Every gift helps meet urgent needs right here in Northern Lancaster County—whether that's helping a mom feed her kids, keeping the lights on for a struggling family, or ensuring our programs continue serving youth, seniors, and neighbors in crisis. With your partnership, we believe we can not only reach but exceed our goal—and together, bring Hope to countless lives this season.

Mark Your Calendars

As part of our Thanks4Giving campaign, REAL Life is excited to participate in this year's 3-day online giving event, The FaithfulGive, alongside other Kingdom Causes! The event runs Sunday, October 19 through Tuesday, October 21, and our goal is to raise $15,000 during this time. Beyond helping us reach this milestone, participating gives us opportunities to win prizes that will support our mission even further.

Ways to Help Us Win:

Daytime Prizes ($500): Every three hours from 7 a.m.–7 p.m., the cause with the most unique donors (minimum $5) can win $500—up to two prizes per day.
Show Me the Money ($3,000): Each day, the cause receiving the largest single donation during daytime prize hours will win one of three $3,000 prizes. (Checks received before the event count toward Day 1.)
"Just Show Up" Prizes at the Expo ($3,000–$4,000): At the Celebration Expo, causes with the most tickets collected can win additional prizes. All attendees receive three complimentary tickets, with extra tickets available for purchase.

How You Can Get Involved:

Pray for FaithfulGive – Please keep the campaign in your prayers before and during the event, and pray for guidance as donors decide how to give.
Join Events – Participate in the Monday morning Prayer Breakfast (Learn More Here) or attend the FaithfulGive Celebration Event & Expo at DOVE Westgate Church in Ephrata on Tuesday, October 21 from 5–8 PM.
Give During the Event – Every gift helps! While the $15,000 goal for the FaithfulGive is just a part of our $300,000 Thanks4Giving campaign, your support will make a huge difference in helping us meet urgent needs in our community

Let's come together to support REAL Life and other Kingdom Causes—pray, participate, and give to bring hope to those who need it most!

Learn More About The FaithfulGive!

Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL Returns with a Live Auction!
Get ready for the most flavorful night of the season—Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL is back this fall! Enjoy dishes from over six local chefs as they compete for the coveted Top Chef title. Guests receive tickets to sample an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, then vote for their favorites.

This year's event features exciting things like: live music by Sarah Marie, a live auction, a chance auction and a 50/50 raffle. Guests 21+ receive a complimentary beverage. Don't miss this community celebration of food, fun, and local talent—all for a great cause!

TIckets on Sale Now!

Exciting New Partnership!

We're thrilled to share some exciting news—Sauder's Eggs has committed to donating 120 dozen eggs every month to REAL Life! This incredible gift means hundreds of families in our community will have access to fresh, nutritious protein when they come to Warehouse916.

We're so grateful for Sauder's generosity and their commitment to nourishing Northern Lancaster County. Their partnership helps us continue connecting our neighbors to hope—one dozen eggs at a time. Thank you, Sauder's Eggs, for making such a meaningful impact!

If you are looking to support a company that is here for it's community as well as being dedicated to giving back- look for Sauder's Eggs the next time you head to your grocery store!

Fair Season!

This year, our ice cream and milkshake sales exceeded all expectations! We kicked off the week with record-breaking numbers on Wednesday night and followed it up with an incredible Friday—so busy that lines stretched far beyond the pavilion.

In total, we raised $14,430, which is $1,500 more than average made with our REAL Icy Treats stand at the fair. And the best part? We did it all without raising prices—something we believe helped make us such a popular stop for so many people!

The success of this year's booth is thanks to our amazing volunteers and staff! Their willingness to jump in during the busiest rushes—always with a smile that reflects the heart of REAL Life Community Services—goes above and beyond anything we could ask for. And they do it without hesitation! There were so many people who volunteered that week, but here are a few groups we caught on camera!

We hope you had a great time at the Ephrata parade—we know we did! We handed out Tootsie Rolls, which brought smiles to many, but we ran out fairly early. We're sorry if you missed out on candy, though we're sure the kiddos collecting still got their fill!

Fall Programs Getting Started

We're excited to share that the Power Packs season is off to a wonderful start! It was a joy to see both familiar and new faces as families picked up boxes lovingly packed by our faithful volunteers.

The Power Packs Project runs throughout the school year and is open to any family in the Cocalico School District who qualifies for free or reduced lunches. To learn more about the program click here.

A big thank-you goes out to our dedicated volunteers and the Cocalico School District Skills Class for helping us kick off the 2025–2026 season with such a smooth and successful beginning!

Momentum Starts back up Oct. 7th!

We're excited to share that Momentum returns on Tuesday, October 7th! Momentum is our cross-age mentoring program for both middle and high school students, designed to give young people a safe, welcoming place to connect, build friendships, and grow. Each week includes games, real talk discussions, and the encouragement of caring mentors who show up consistently.

Our motto, "Stronger Together," reflects what Momentum is all about—students don't have to face life's challenges alone. If you know a teen who's looking for a fun, supportive community, Momentum meets Tuesdays from 6:30–8:00 PM at the Lighthouse Community Center. No registration required—just show up! if you have any questions or want to receive updates, please contact Beny via email, beny@reallcs.org, or by phone, 717-336-7797 ext. 204.

First Friday Food Drive

October 3rd

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!

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