December 2024

Ministerium Social Outreach and Planning Meeting
December 5, 2024
Doug Lamb Conference Room, CPOW

Welcome: Doug Lamb

Introductions:

Community Updates:

·       Magistrate Randy Miller

o   There are people who don’t know our community offers food, clothing and shelter. Look into having signs and flyers in your org, simple, straightforward, giving the info of what’s out there and available. Unsure? Contact the ministerium for assistance.

o   A mom who owes her landlord $9,000 has 21 days to pay, she also needs a winter coat for her toddler w/ special physical disability & needs.

o   Good Samaritan Services- an option to help tenants pay rent, they work within Lancaster County.

o   Has shelter concerns he’s heard from-community members, and also some concerns from his perspective. Doug will set up a meeting between him & ECHOS director.

§  Homeless addicts- Needs to be a program to get them into rehab, right away get them on insurance (perform care) so they can get into Blueprints program.

§  Serving people outside of the community

·       Etown Borough Police Chief Derek Koch

o   History- Military, State Police, lived in Etown since 1999.

o   Open to Questions…feel free to reach out.

o  Have 3 officers in the hiring process, but would be better equipped if they had the budget for more.

§  How many officers?

·       19 officers including Chief

·       16 working (2 retired, one deployed)

·       Working on hiring 3 now

§  Do you collaborate with other agencies w/ NWR, SUQR, & Mt. Joy Borough

§  Biggest thing to pray for?

·       Being able to have a bigger police force.

§  Youth Trends?

·       Unsure, the SRO would know better, but minor drug use and bullying.

§ Thankful for support from the community

·     Cram a Cruiser was a success for the food bank.

·       Mayor Mummert- through Doug Lamb

o   President of state mayor association

o   Appreciates working with Chief Koch

o   Appreciates the ministerium and churches work within the community.

Informational Updates:

·       EACTC- Gail Viscome

o   PAYS survey

§  Biggest issue is connection to school

o   Homework Helpers

§ Always looking for help with Middle School & the High School, after school.

o   QPR Training

§  Gives skills to know how to recognize a friend’s inclination to suicide.

§  Done in 9th grade

o   Do The Right Thing

§  Big award program coming in 2 weeks for that, at the Hershey Bears game.

o   Club Ophelia

§  Just wrapped up the club for the year. Been really cool to see the older girls mentoring the younger.

·       EASD- Doug Lamb, email from Jenn Fields

o   LINK CREW

§  Leadership program, payed by the Rotary.

o   Thankful for Threads & Treads

o   Identified 54 Homeless students within the district

o   36% of the school district gets free or reduced lunches

·       Elizabethtown Community Cupboard

o     450 Individuals and 151 households served

o     4,438 individuals served this year, last year was 3800.

·       UCEA- Doug Lamb

o   Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown- Steve Knox

§  Monthly Military meal boxes

§  Turkey Giveaway next weekend.

o   CPOW- Tammi

§  Serving more community members in all of the programs

§  Always looking for volunteers to help with building maintenance and cleaning. Will be sending out a list of opportunities soon.

§  Would like to come speak at your church or Sunday school to share about what UCEA does.

§  Looking for translators for the Clothing Barn customers with Arabic and Spanish.

§  Pray for the community members that enter the property would feel God’s presence when they come and healing. Also pray for protection for all staff.

·       ECHOS

o   Starts the Winter Shelter 12/1.

o   Will be sending out volunteering ideas for their organization this winter…not including the shelter volunteers, but maybe your church would like to make a meal or two for the shelter guests.

·       Greif Share-

o   Located at Conoy Community House

o   Mondays 630-8pm

·       Updates

o   Pray for Bruce McCracken- has found out he didn’t have a stroke, but Myasthenia Gravis. Pray healing for him.

o   Pastor’s Spiritual Enrichment and Breakfast will be at The Marriage Hub at The Elizabeth from here on out. If you have more questions about that, please reach out to the ministerium at outreach@etownministerium.com

o   Let Us Worship Event- Saturday 10/5 @ 2pm at the Harrisburg Capitol.

o   Paul Swanger’s wife has been through hip surgery this week .and is in a lot of pain.

·       Closing Prayer- Various