Partnership brings refreshment opportunities to New Holland

Meredith Dahl, CrossNet executive director, wants the people of the ELANCO School District to know about resources that are available to them. One of those is the Refresh Lancaster mobile shower and medical care service unit offered by a partnership involving Lancaster EMS, Lanc Co MyHome, and, in New Holland, CrossNet Ministries. "It has two shower rooms, and towels and toiletries are included," pointed out Dahl, who added that medical consultation, hygiene supplies, and the opportunity to receive laundry cards for a local laundromat are among the Refresh offerings.

The Refresh trailer visits New Holland each Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Alexandra Morales and Alix Mullins park the unit at 110 W. Franklin St., just outside the orange doors of the CrossNet Youth Center location.

Refresh is more than just a place to freshen up. Morales has phlebotomy training, so she can draw blood for lab testing. To have blood drawn, a patient need only bring his or her doctor's orders to the trailer. No appointment is necessary. The trailer also gives out hygiene kits, including special kits for women that contain feminine hygiene products.

Other locations that the Refresh trailer is available in the county are behind the Salem United Church of Christ in Columbia on Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; at ECHOS in Elizabethtown on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; at the Pioneer Fire Company in Ephrata on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; behind the Lancaster County Food Hub on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.; and at Union Community Care at 304 N. Water St., Lancaster on Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Refresh Lancaster held a summer kickoff event on June 2 at Union Community Care, where representatives gave away 32-ounce wide-mouth water bottles filled with items such as sunscreen, socks, lip balm, snacks, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a McDonald's gift card. The organization plans to continue to give the water bottles away to participants throughout the summer. Each filled bottle costs about $20. Those wishing to donate to help fill the bottles may visit the Refresh Lancaster page on Facebook.

"There may be people (in the ELANCO area) experiencing homelessness who need access or who have a home but don't have those amenities," said Dahl of the reason behind the partnership. "I am grateful (Refresh is) willing to come out here and provide this resource to the community. It's a wonderful partnership, and it meets a need in the ELANCO School District."

More information about services CrossNet provides to New Holland may be found by visiting http://www.elancocross.org.