Gehman Mennonite Church - Online Church Bulletin Board

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: REAL Life Community Services <rod@reallcs.org>
Date: Mon, Jun 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Subject: Hope in Action: June News, Summer Programs & Ways to Serve
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

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When Home Is Suddenly Gone

Within weeks of meeting one Ruth*, we met a second. Two women with the same name, both seniors, and both living in a hotel/motel room. One spent twenty-two (22) days in what she and her husband thought would be their “forever” home when a natural disaster struck. The other spent a lifetime in her home, when a family dispute displaced her.

There is so much to endure when someone loses a home. Finding the next home feels overwhelming and difficult to navigate. A lifetime of belongings and memories placed into boxes. Something as practical as receiving mail becomes a task. There is excitement and wonder when we plan a hotel stay for a week or a weekend. When you find yourself there for an extended period, the luster tends to wear off.

Praise the Lord, our two special women have been able to check out of their extended stay! Our REAL Life team was able to connect with a very special family who happen to own a small mobile home park in our area. Ruth and Ruth are now neighbors in safe and affordable homes that they love. We are blessed to be part of their journey. God reminds us that faithfulness and courage lead us to where we were meant to be.

*Name has been changed for purposes of anonymity

Photo used for illustrative purposes only. This is not the actual home referenced in this story in order to protect the privacy and anonymity of those involved.

Community Support Fuels Hope at REAL Life Fundraiser

REAL Life is incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support shown at this year’s Cruise Night fundraiser, which completely sold out thanks to our amazing community. Because of everyone who came out and supported the event, we can continue serving our community and bringing hope to those who need it most. The evening was a wonderful reminder of how much can be accomplished when people come together for a meaningful cause.

A special thank you goes to Unruh Insurance Agency, Inc. for hosting such an incredible Cruise Night and helping draw such a great crowd. We also want to thank Pastor Craig of Swamp Christian Fellowship for serving up what many called the best pulled pork sandwiches in Northern Lancaster County. To everyone who attended, volunteered, and supported REAL Life — thank you for making the night such a tremendous success.

Community Garden Season is Underway!

The Community Garden is officially up and running, and this season is already off to an exciting start. In partnership with First Fruits Farm and Orchard, volunteers have been hard at work planting bell peppers, tomatoes, and squash at a new plot of land in Ephrata, along with hundreds—if not thousands—of onions at the farm in Stevens. With additional space to grow even more fresh produce this year, we are excited for the opportunity to help even more struggling families gain access to healthy fruits and vegetables they may not otherwise be able to afford. As the season continues, we look forward to seeing how this expanded growing space will impact our community and increase the amount of fresh produce available to local families and organizations.

The Community Garden also offers a meaningful and hands-on way for people to get involved and give back. Volunteers work together throughout the season preparing soil, planting, tending crops, pulling weeds, and harvesting vegetables, all while learning new skills and building connections. The produce grown throughout the season will be shared with local nonprofits, churches, and organizations that help provide food for those in need, making every hour spent in the garden truly meaningful. Whether you can join us once or throughout the season, there is always a place for you in the garden. If you enjoy being outdoors and want to make a tangible difference in the community, we would love to have you join an upcoming Community Garden day.

Whether you join us once or come regularly, you’re always welcome. If you’re interested, click here to email Beny and let him know you’d like to take part in an upcoming Community Garden day—we’d love to have you join us.

Acts of Love

As summer begins, many families in our community face the added challenge of making sure their children have enough to eat while school is out. Through the Acts of Love Summer Program, REAL Life is once again partnering with the Cocalico Ministerium and Ephrata Area Social Services to help meet that need by providing ready-to-eat lunches to families throughout Adamstown, Denver, Reamstown, and Reinholds.

Each Wednesday between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM, volunteers head to local parks to distribute 150–200 meals to children and families in the area. But the program is about more than food—it’s also about building relationships, offering encouragement, and reminding families that they are seen and supported by their community. The kindness and dedication of our volunteers make this outreach possible week after week, creating meaningful connections through simple acts of care. Through every meal shared, the message remains the same: our community is stronger when we support one another.

A Season of Service: Community Members Improve Our Grounds

The REAL Life properties have gotten a wonderful refresh over the past few weeks thanks to the hard work and generosity of local volunteers. A fantastic group of 3rd graders from Hinkletown Mennonite School spent time weeding and planting flowers, helping brighten the property and bring new life to the grounds. More recently, a volunteer team from LCBC Church joined in to revamp the flower beds and refresh the playground area with a new layer of mulch, creating a welcoming and beautiful space for everyone who visits.

We are incredibly grateful for opportunities like these, where members of the community come together to serve in such practical and meaningful ways. The care and effort poured into these projects help keep REAL Life’s properties looking their best and create spaces that reflect the love and support of our community. As we look ahead to the fall season, we would love to continue partnering with individuals and groups who enjoy serving hands-on. If you or your group would be interested in helping with future property projects, please contact Beny—we would love to have you involved!

Another Opportunity to Serve

Do you have a flexible daytime schedule and a heart to serve? We’re looking for volunteers who can help provide occasional rides for individuals and families we support—whether it’s to our monthly shopping program, a doctor’s appointment, or a meeting with a social worker.

Many of these needs come up on short notice, so flexibility is key. Your willingness to step in can make a meaningful difference in someone’s ability to access essential care and support.

If you’re able to lend a hand (and a ride), we’d love to connect with you! If you have volunteered with us in the past, please click here to email and notify our staff of your interest in helping in this way.

If you have never volunteered with us before, please click the button that says 'Volunteer Sign-Up' so that we can add you to our list of transportation volunteers as well as any other volunteering opportunities you might find yourself interested in!

Volunteer Sign-Up

Join us in Prayer & Praises

We know there are many meaningful ways to partner with us, and one of the most impactful is through prayer. That’s why we’re beginning a new initiative—inviting those who visit our office or warehouse to share their prayer requests with us.

If you’d like to come alongside us in lifting up these needs, we’d love to have you join our prayer email list. Simply click the button below to sign up and receive updates so you can pray with us regularly.

Join our Prayer Team!

This Month’s Prayers & Praises

Praises:

We are incredibly thankful that two more families were able to find stable housing.
Our Cruise Night fundraiser was a huge success — we completely sold out of pulled pork sandwiches!

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for beautiful weather for our Golf Tournament on June 10th.
Please continue praying for protection over our staff, the friends and families we serve, and our organization as a whole. We have been feeling the weight of spiritual attacks, and we ask for prayers for wisdom, peace, discernment, and protection as we navigate the things happening in the places we cannot see.

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer — it truly makes a difference.

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

Give Now

First Friday Food Drive

June 5th

Every first Friday of the month, we host a food drive in the back parking lot of the Declaration House. 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 Friday.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Mondays, 8-9PM

Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

Momentum

Tuesdays, 6:30-8PM

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!