Fwd: October 1st

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From: REAL LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES <robyn@reallcs.org>
Date: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Subject: October 1st
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV

Fair Week Impact     What an incredible week at the Denver Fair!     This year we were blown out of the park in exceeding our sales EVERY NIGHT in almost every category! We even sold a record breaking amount of Milkshakes on a dreary rainy Thursday night.     But as exciting as the numbers were, one of our favorite parts of the week had nothing to do with sales.     We loved seeing just how many people stopped by to say hello. Some came for an ice cream or milkshake, while others simply stopped to catch up with our staff and volunteers. It was such a wonderful reminder of just how interconnected our community is and how much people value relationships.     We are incredibly thankful for every volunteer who gave their time to serve ice cream, make milkshakes, greet our neighbors, and help make the week such a success. Your willingness to show up and help out made REAL Icy Treats possible! And together, this year's event raised just over $5,200 to support the work of REAL Life Community Services.     REAL Icy Treats may not be our BIGGEST fundraiser, but it certainly is our most delicious one!      More than anything, we're grateful for the opportunity to spend a week surrounded by people who care about this community and about one another. What a sweet reminder of what makes Denver such a special place to call home.

Hope Happens Here     Today marks the beginning of another Thanks4Giving season at REAL Life Community Services!     Each year, Thanks4Giving gives us an opportunity to pause, look at the work happening throughout our community, and celebrate the ways God is bringing Hope into the lives of our neighbors.     This year, our theme is simple: Hope Happens Here.     Because every day, we get to watch Hope happen.     We see it when a family has food on the table. We see it when a young person finds someone who believes in them. We see it when a neighbor takes a step toward independence, when a senior finds connection, or when someone realizes they don't have to walk through a difficult season alone.     Some days we get to watch Hope come into someone's life. Some days we watch it grow. And on especially beautiful days, we get to see Hope thrive.     Over the coming weeks, we're excited to share some of those stories with you. Stories of people, relationships, programs, and everyday moments that remind us why this ministry exists.     Our Thanks4Giving goal this year is $350,000, which will help provide for the work of REAL Life throughout the coming year. But before we talk about a goal, we want to spend this season showing you what that support makes possible.     Because Hope Happens Here. And we can't wait to share what that looks like with you.

The Faithful Give is Coming!     We’re excited to share that REAL Life Community Services will once again be part of Faithful Give, Lancaster’s online giving event celebrating Christian generosity!     Now in its fourth year, Faithful Give brings together more than 100 faith-driven organizations and the people who believe in their work. For three days, our community has the opportunity to support organizations serving others, sharing Christ, and making a difference right here in Lancaster County.     As one of Faithful Give’s “Kingdom Causes,” we’re grateful to invite our friends and supporters to be part of it with us. This year, we’re cooking up something special, so stay tuned to hear our exciting anouncement!      This is just the beginning of our Thanks4Giving journey toward our $350,000 goal, and we’re excited to start by celebrating generosity together through Faithful Give.     When you give to REAL Life during Faithful Give, you help us continue doing everything possible to connect people to Hope through food assistance, housing support, transportation, mentorship, and so much more. And There’s More Than Giving! Faithful Give will wrap up with a Celebration Event & Expo: Tuesday, October 20 | 5:00–8:00 PM The Junction Center 1875 Junction Road, Manheim     Come enjoy family fun, an expo, worship, excitement, and prize awards, including three “JUST SHOW UP” prizes totaling $10,000!     These prizes are awarded to the causes with the most supporters at the event, so bringing your family and friends to support REAL Life could help us win additional prize money!     Mark your calendar, invite your friends and family, and join us for three days of joyful generosity and celebration.     October 18–20, give, pray, share, and help us continue connecting our community to Hope.

Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL Tickets Are ON SALE!     Today is the day! Tickets for Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL are officially on sale, and if you’ve been waiting for the most delicious event of the year, it’s time to grab your spot!     Last year, we had so much community support that we packed the event space to capacity.        This year, we're making sure everyone has room to enjoy the evening, so we are limiting attendance to the first 200 guests.     Over six local food vendors will compete for the title of Cocalico Area Top Chef, and you'll get to taste their creations and help decide who takes home the title!     And there's plenty happening beyond the food! Enjoy LIVE Music, a Live Auction, Chance Auction, and 50/50 Raffle, all while spending an evening with friends, local chefs, and fellow community members.     It's more than a meal. It's a chance to experience the incredible culinary talent in our community, enjoy a fun night out, and support the work of REAL Life Community Services. Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL 📅 Thursday, November 12 | 6–8 PM 📍 IronSpire Complex 🎟️ Tickets are available today!     With only 200 spots available, don't wait too long to reserve yours. We can't wait to see you there! Get Your Tickets Now!

Power Packs Still need CrockPots     As another school year gets underway, Power Packs is once again providing local families with groceries, meals, and snacks to help make sure children have food waiting for them at home.     Many of the meals included in Power Packs are designed to be prepared in a crockpot. For busy families balancing work, school, homework, and after-school activities, being able to put a meal in the crockpot earlier in the day can make getting dinner on the table much more manageable.     That's why, as Power Packs kicks off another school year, we're collecting new or gently used crockpots to provide to families who could benefit from one.     A special thank you to everyone who has already donated a crockpot! Your generosity is helping us provide families with a practical tool that can make mealtimes a little easier.     If you have a crockpot you'd like to donate, we'd be grateful to put it to good use! Please click Here to email marybeth@reallcs.org to coordinate a crockpot donation.     It's one small kitchen appliance, but for a busy family, it can mean one less thing to worry about at the end of a long day.     We're grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside local families in practical ways throughout the school year.

Momentum is Starting!     A new school year means a new season of Momentum!     Starting Tuesday, October 6, Momentum will once again bring middle and high school students together each week for an evening of games, conversation, friendship, and connection.     Momentum is a cross-age mentoring program designed to give students a safe and welcoming place to be themselves, talk about life, build friendships, and spend time with caring mentors who consistently show up for them. Our motto, “Stronger Together,” reflects what we hope every student experiences: knowing they are seen, heard, valued, and never have to face life's challenges alone.     And this year, we're excited to see Momentum grow!     Many of the students who have been part of Momentum over the past few years are growing up. They're getting jobs, becoming more independent, and taking exciting steps toward becoming successful young adults. We couldn't be more proud of them, even if it means they have a little less time to hang out with us on Tuesday nights!     Their growth is a reminder of why Momentum exists in the first place. Now, we're looking forward to welcoming a new group of students and building relationships with young people who may be looking for a place to belong, a trusted adult to talk to, or simply a fun place to spend a Tuesday evening.     Momentum is open to students in 6th grade and above, regardless of school district, background, or belief system. 📅 Tuesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM 📍 Lighthouse Community Center 🗓️ Beginning October 6     We're excited for another year of Momentum and for all the new friendships, conversations, laughter, and growth that are ahead.

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 A new little blessing: One of our previous Declaration House tenants welcomed a baby girl! We praise God for new life and the joy she brings. A new intern: On August 31, we welcomed Siera Horst, our Lancaster Bible College intern for the year. We are excited to see how God uses her gifts and experiences throughout the year. REAL Icy Treats: What an incredible week at the Denver Fair! We exceeded our sales goals every night in almost every category, had record-breaking milkshake sales, and raised just over $5,200. More importantly, we had countless opportunities to connect with people in our community. We praise God for every volunteer, every conversation, and every person who stopped by! Prayer Requests Tenant relationships: Please pray for wisdom as we navigate several tenant and landlord conflicts. Pray that God would guide us toward the best path forward for everyone involved and help us respond with wisdom, grace, and understanding. Project Christmas Presents: As we begin preparing for this year's program, please pray for the families who will register and for the people who will purchase gifts. Pray that this would be much more than a gift program, but an opportunity to share the love of Christ with people who may not yet know Him. Robyn and her baby: Please pray for Robyn Iordanescu, our Director of Development, as she prepares to welcome her baby girl in November. Pray for protection and health for both mom and baby, and for our staff as we prepare for her maternity leave. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness: We are seeing an increase in homelessness in Denver, and finding sustainable solutions continues to be a challenge. Please pray for wisdom as we walk alongside these individuals and families, and for a homeless shelter or space in Northern Lancaster County before the winter weather arrives. For Momentum: Pray that our youth development program grows this year and connects with new students who need caring mentors and a place to belong. Thanks4Giving and Faithful Give: We have seen God's incredible provision time and time again, and we continue to trust Him with our financial needs. As we enter our end-of-year giving season, please pray that God would provide what is needed to continue the work happening at REAL Life. Pray that hearts would be open to His direction and that He would guide people in how they use the resources He has entrusted to them. We also ask for prayer for favor as we seek to meet the needs of the friends and families we serve throughout our community. 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 October 2nd 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 & Ladies AA Thursdays, 6:30-7:30PM Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

Denver Elementary Moms In Prayer 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15am 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!

Aglow International Bible Study 3rd Saturdays, 9:30-11:30AM Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center. For more information, reach out to Aglow.denverpa@gmail.com

© REAL Life Community Services 2026. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 240 MAIN ST STE B DENVER, PA 17517-1623

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