A few years ago, Crystal Smeltzer and Brian French, Lighthouse Vocational Services' (LVS) senior management, were brainstorming ideas to get LVS participants out into the community in a way that would give back to local residents. LVS is located at 144 Orlan Road, New Holland, and the organization provides vocational services for individuals with disabilities.

"They were thinking, 'Everybody loves to eat, and Lancaster County is famous for food,'" said Michelle Coblentz, donor relations advocate with LVS. The co-workers hit on the idea of making and delivering lasagna to area residents who were struggling in some way. The effort came to be known as SHINE, which Coblentz said stands for "Sharing Hope In Neighborly Encounters."

Until June 2023, two meals were being delivered each Wednesday, but as of June, two meals go out on Tuesdays as well. Each meal consists of a tray of lasagna to feed up to 20, along with a freshly made salad for each person at the home where the meal is being delivered. "Meals go to people who are needing encouragement - maybe going through some kind of rough patch ... whether it's an illness, hospitalization, death of a spouse, or (they) just don't have a lot of food," explained Coblentz.

Denise Johnston, community participation services coordinator with LVS, explained that three participants and an LVS coach work out of two area churches that have partnered with the organization, switching back and forth between using the Trinity Lutheran Church kitchen and the kitchen at Bethany Grace Christian Fellowship. "The same group that purchases the groceries goes to the church and prepares the meal, and then they deliver the meal," she stated.

At first, word of mouth was the best way to find meal recipients, but as the program has grown, Johnston requested names from sites where LVS participants volunteer in the community. More recently flyers with a QR code for comments have been delivered with the meal. The flyers ask meal recipients to suggest others who might enjoy being treated to lasagna.

The organization is now working with The Factory Ministries in Paradise to provide meals to some clients, as well as looking to bring meals to people in retirement communities who could benefit from the interaction. Teams have also delivered meals to Revelations of Freedom Ministries in Blue Ball and to the Good Samaritan homeless shelter in Ephrata from December of 2022 through March. "We tried a couple other recipes, not just lasagna (for the homeless shelter)," noted Johnston.

Johnston estimated that more than 200 lasagna meals have been delivered by SHINE since the program began. She pointed out that the LVS participants benefit from the opportunity to serve. "The participants make a connection," she said. "They get so excited knowing they are blessing someone else, so when they get to see the person they made the lasagna for and visit with them it's really rewarding."

Readers who would like to learn more may visit http://www.lighthousevoc.org.