According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, more than 15,000 Pennsylvanians are known to be homeless on any given day. Housing instability and crises can stem from a multitude of factors, affecting men, women and children across the state. In Lancaster and Chester counties, nonprofit organization Good Samaritan Services (GSS) is working hard to combat homelessness by offering a variety of resources to individuals who are experiencing a housing crisis.

One of GSS' largest fundraisers is an annual golf outing that is made possible by a partnership with Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. (EPC). The 17th annual EPC Golf Outing will take place on Friday, June 7, at Crossgates Golf Club, 1 Crossland Pass, Millersville. Tee times will be at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Golfers may also purchase tickets for prize drawings that will feature items donated by businesses in the local community. Food will be included in the cost of admission; breakfast for the morning group will be provided by Joe on the Go Coffee Co., and the afternoon golfers will receive a boxed lunch from Trio Bar and Grill. Morning and afternoon golfers will be able to enjoy a meal from Peters' BBQ when they finish their respective rounds.

A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. "On the same day someone becomes a sponsor, a real person on the other end has a place to call home and has security for tomorrow because of them," said Nate Hoffer, chief executive officer of GSS. "We're so grateful for the support from EPC and its efforts to support organizations like us. It's impressive how much dedication and time they put into this event."

"EPC's longstanding partnership with GSS, alongside with members from our community, has demonstrated that individuals in need can rely on their communities for support, enabling them and their families to rebuild and thrive," noted Jocelyn Engle, EPC publisher.

On average, GSS has served 300 people per day and 72,000 meals every year since its founding in 1999. The organization, which began with a single location in Phoenixville, has since expanded to include additional facilities in Lancaster city, Coatesville and Kennett Square, along with a new office Ephrata, which was built last year. The continued expansions have allowed GSS to greatly increase the size of its staff, in addition to the number of people it is able to serve through its programs - and it couldn't come at a better time. "We really are serving record levels of people; we're on pace to serve 800 women and children this year, which is a 25% increase from 2023," Hoffer said. "Our focus is on continuing to respond to the needs of our communities across Lancaster and Chester counties."

The many programs offered by GSS include seasonal shelter during the cold months, emergency housing to address clients' basic needs and transitional housing as individuals receive assistance to meet their goals. According to Hoffer, these programs are primarily sustained by funding that comes from individuals and businesses in the community. "What we do provides such a critical, basic need, but the reality is that 98% of our budget comes from the good will of the people in our communities," said Hoffer. "It keeps our doors open and our programs running."

Registration for the EPC Golf Outing may be completed online before Wednesday, May 29. For more information or to register online, visit https://epcgolfouting.com/register. To learn more about GSS and its programs, visit https://goodsamservices.org.