Welcome to another issue of our weekly bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what we covered during the last weekly meeting, and learn more about our Member of the Week.
Feeding People in Need During the Pandemic, David Lapp, Principal CEO Blessings of Hope - Zoom Mtg
Blessings of Hope is a food distribution warehouse set up to allow large food distributors to efficiently donate their excess product to impact the community. Blessings of Hope is a food bank located near you in the heart of Lancaster County. We give large food distributors a way to donate their excess products to positively impact communities and feed the hungry.
Our Vision
Blessings of Hope is here to empower ministries, organizations, and individuals to reach the less fortunate within the community through food and acts of loving-kindness.
Our History
Started in 2006 by Aaron Fisher, Blessings of Hope began in a garage where large corporations donated semi-loads of product, which was then distributed to smaller food pantries. Since the beginning, Blessings of Hope has partnered with the Bowery Mission in New York City, the Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, and the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster.
In 2010, Blessings of Hope was legally established under our parent organization, Light of Hope Ministries, but acts independently.
In 2017, 6.5 million pounds of food moved through our facility. Most of the food we receive comes in bulk amounts. We have the infrastructure to handle large volumes of perishable food. We add value by breaking it down into manageable portions for the variety of organizations who receive food from us.
To accommodate growth, Blessings of Hope has moved our location several times. We currently operate out of a leased 16,000 square foot warehouse in Leola, PA. We are praying that our next move will be into a building we own.
Where We’re Headed
As we continue to expand the number of partners and outreach opportunities, our goal is to become a “Bridge of Opportunity,” helping to move people from poverty to a lifestyle that creates contributing, self-sustaining individuals.
Previously, there was mention that a physical meeting would be held on August 5 at the Rohrer Farm. Due to Governor Wolf's and many of the members' concerns, the Executive Committee of the Club decided now is not a good time for our members to meet face-to-face. The August 5 meeting has been cancelled at the Rohrer Farm.
Having said that, Zoom meetings will continue until further notice. Each week, you will receive an invitation to join our Zoom Meetings. We are happy to announce that the attendance for these weekly meetings has grown over the last month. We encourage you to join our weekly meetings. If you are having difficulty with Zoom, please contact me.
Your Dues Invoice for July to December 2020 has been emailed to you. Should you choose to pay online, the instructions follow:
Go to lancasterrotary.org, then in the upper left corner is Menu, click on that. Then Click on Membership. Membership Quicklinks is in the lower right corner, click on Member Resources. Pay Member Dues appears in the lower right corner. Click on Add to Cart, a screen will appear where you can pay. As indicated on your Dues Invoice, please do not pre-pay your lunches until we begin our physical meetings.
You can also send your payment via US Mail to Rotary Club of Lancaster, P O Box 1387, Lancaster, PA 17608.
Please keep my uncle, Marty Snyder, in your prayers. Marty lives in Winston Salem, NC and has been battling Chronic Heart Failure for the past year. He’s spent the last 9 months in and out of the hospital and rehab hospital dealing with fluid retention and kidney issues. He’s since been put on dialysis which is no longer working, and is now battling dementia and has become aggressive and violent.
His doctors announced over the weekend that they will be discontinuing dialysis and, as his liver is now failing as well, the prognosis is bleak. As of the last two days, he’s lost the ability to eat and swallow. We are fairly certain that the end is near.
Sadly, because of the pandemic, going to see him or even attend the funeral is not looking possible for myself or the rest of my family members as his hospital wouldn’t allow us to see him anyway, and hotel rooms are scarce because of rising cases. Please keep my uncle in your prayers that his last days are peaceful and without pain, and for my family to be able to grieve his loss and celebrate his new life with Christ.
Concern from Dave and Susan Eberly:
Our thoughts are prayers are with Dave and Susan Eberly on the passing of Dave’s father, David F. Eberly. Susan Eberly wrote, “Heaven received a beloved man on Friday. I am certain he was told “well done, good and faithful servant”. Dave’s father will be sorely missed. We grieve his death and rejoice his life.
Past President Bob Crosby has Passed Away
Robert E. Crosby passed away on Thursday, July 23rd at 80 year old. Bob served as President of our Club in 1990-1991.
Please keep Bob's family in your thoughts and prayers.
All Rotarians – especially committee chairs – are encouraged to help keep our new Club Calendar full and updated with the great things that our Club is doing in the community. Please submit any items you would like added to Kathy by e-mailing her atRotaryClubofLancaster@gmail.com. Examples include the schedule of McCaskey Mentoring Sessions, Committee Meetings, Power Packs or Salvation Army Bell Ringing. If it’s happening, let’s get it on the Calendar for all to see! Your help will keep us all updated with what’s going on within the Club AND will showcase our very active Club to the Lancaster Community and to prospective members. The Club Calendar is available atwww.LancasterRotary.org
