On Saturday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community will offer a curbside pickup meal as a fundraiser for the residence. The pickup will take place at the LCBC Manheim Campus, 2392 Mount Joy Road. The snow date for the event will be Saturday, March 6.

The meal includes chicken from Peters' Barbecue, gourmet cheese potatoes, sweet and sour saucy green beans, applesauce, a dinner roll with butter and dessert. Proceeds will benefit the facility, which provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation care for seniors regardless of their ability to pay.

"With a passion to serve seniors with lower incomes, Mount Hope is home to 50 residents who need nursing care," said Kris Wilson, director of advancement. "Most seniors at Mount Hope do not have financial resources to cover the cost of their care. A gap of approximately $150 exists between what a senior is able to pay and the cost of their daily care."

The drive-through meal provides a way not only to support seniors, but also to serve a warm meal in a dreary season, Wilson noted.

"Mount Hope has not done a large banquet-type drive-through meal before this, but I thought up the idea because winter tends to be very cold and gray - the 'winter blues' - and people might not feel totally comfortable yet with going out to a restaurant for dining," she explained. "This is a safe option and a nice way to help support a local nonprofit and of course enjoy some wonderful home-cooked Lancaster County comfort food on a cold winter day."

This year has been particularly difficult on residents of Mount Hope, Wilson remarked, adding that the retirement community continues to look for creative ways to cover the unanticipated increased cost of safely providing care.

Not only will proceeds from the meal help seniors continue to stay at Mount Hope, but the money will also cover additional expenses.

"It helps with the purchasing of personal protective equipment, covering unforeseen expenses in additional building and cleaning supplies, easing the financial shortfall from reduced revenue, providing for unexpected costs as staff is needed to fulfill roles once held by volunteers and acquiring technology to combat residents' social isolation and provide a positive family connection," Wilson explained.

Preorders will be taken for meals until Wednesday, Feb. 17. Extra meals will be available on the day of the event while supplies last. The cost of the meal is $16, and no handling of money will take place at the pickup. Instead, payment may be left in a drop-box in the form of exact change or a check made payable to Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community. To reserve a meal, readers may call Wilson at 717-682-8026 or email advancement@mthopenazarene.org.