Gehman Mennonite Church - Online Church Bulletin Board: April 2026

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: REAL Life Community Services <rod@reallcs.org>
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Subject: Hope in Action: April Updates
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

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An Inspiring Evening—Because of You

What an incredible night at our recent banquet! We are so grateful to everyone who joined us—and especially to those whose generosity and support make our mission possible. It was a meaningful time to celebrate all that has been accomplished and to look ahead with hope.

A highlight of the evening was presenting our Inspire Hope Award to a remarkable couple who have faithfully served as long-time volunteers. Their dedication and compassion reflect the heart of our mission—and the kind of impact that is only possible because of a community like you.

We were also honored to hear from Vanessa Philbert, whose powerful story reminded us why this work matters. Her journey—from experiencing poverty to now serving as CEO of Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County—beautifully illustrates the life-changing power of hope and opportunity.

Because of your support, stories like hers are possible. Thank you for standing with us, investing in this mission, and helping create lasting change in our community.

We left the evening inspired and deeply thankful—and we are excited for all that lies ahead, together.

Upcoming Events!

We’re firing up the pit for REAL smoked pulled pork—just in time for a great night out! Join us Friday, May 15, during the Unruh Insurance Cruise Night in downtown Denver, starting at 4:30 PM (until sold out!).

For a $10 suggested donation, enjoy a delicious meal featuring pulled pork on a bun, chips, and a drink. Find us at the REAL Life tent along Main Street—just follow the signs when you arrive. Be sure to come early… we sell out fast!

All proceeds support REAL Life Community Services, and the meat is generously smoked by Swamp Christian Fellowship.

Come hungry and help make a difference!

Join us for the 4th Annual REAL Life Golf Tournament on Wednesday June 10th—where a great day on the course makes a real difference in our community! Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just in it for the fun, this event is a perfect way to enjoy friendly competition while supporting individuals and families in need across Northern Lancaster County.

Enjoy an 18-hole tournament, exciting contests, challenges, raffles, on-course food and beverages, and more—all while helping fund vital programs that provide food, support, mentorship, and care to those who need it most.

Registration is open, so gather your foursome and get ready to tee off! Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses looking to make an impact and connect with the community.

Don’t miss this chance to play, give, and make a difference—we hope to see you on the course!

Sharing Hope This Easter Season

Each holiday, we have the privilege of coming alongside the individuals and families we serve by providing special Holiday Food Boxes—an extra blessing in addition to the regular support they receive. These boxes are filled with traditional holiday essentials, including a ham or turkey and classic side dishes, helping families gather around the table and celebrate together.

For the second year in a row, we’re also excited to provide Easter baskets for the children we regularly serve. Each basket has been generously donated by supporters of REAL Life Community Services, making it possible to bring joy, encouragement, and a reminder of the true meaning of Easter to every child.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to making this outreach possible. Because of your generosity, we’re able to share not only meals, but hope.

We can’t wait to share photos from these special moments—be sure to follow us on social media and look for highlights in next month’s newsletter!

Volunteer Opportunities!

Love being outdoors? Enjoy getting your hands in the dirt and making a real difference?

Join us at the community garden! Together, we weed and prepare the soil, plant fresh vegetables, care for the garden, and—best of all—harvest the rewards of our hard work.

Not only do you get to enjoy the fresh produce, but you’ll also be helping support local nonprofits, churches, and organizations that provide food to those in need. Every crop we grow goes right back into the community.

If this sounds like something you’d love to be part of, we’d be so excited to have you join us. Come grow with us! Click the button below to sign up for one of our upcoming Community Garden Dates!

Community Garden Sign Up!

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 recognize that there are several ways for you all to partner with us and that one of the most important ways is through prayer! We have decided to start an initiative of giving the people who come through our office or Warehouse the opportunity to ask for prayer. If you would like to be on an email list to be notified of these prayer request so that you can join in intercession, please click the button below to sign up for our emailing list!

Join our Prayer Team!

This Month's Prayers and Praises!

Praises:

We had a successful Banquet on March 19th! People really enjoyed hearing about REAL Life and some of the Impact we have in our community, as well as hearing from Vanessa Philbert- CEO of Community Action Partnership in Lancaster- and her incredibly inspirational life story!
We were able to collect all the Easter Baskets we needed to be able to hand them out to the children in our community that we interact with regularly. We are using this opportunity to spread the true message of Easter, and 38 children will be able to hear the story of Christ's death and ressurection!

Prayer Requests:

Rod and Sunny are taking a much deserved break and visiting family in Arizona- please prayer for a safe return and that they will come back refreshed and ready to jump back in to serving our community!
After 6 years of being lived in and thriving, a few mechanical things within the Declaration house are beginning to have issues, please pray that we have fixed all the issues and for no more issues to arise!
One of our friends injured her back at work, please pray for continued healing and that she will have no lasting pain or discomfort
Another friend is looking for security and opportunity so he can concentrate on his health and well being, please pray that he is able to do so.

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

April 3rd

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.

Denver Mom's In Prayer

1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9-10:30am

Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

GriefShare

Wednesday's Starting March 11th, 6-7:30pm

Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

This is a 13 week cycle to help navigate from a grief journey to a healing destination.

For more information, please contact 610-775-3667

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!