Solanco Neighborhood Ministries to hold May Challenge

Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) is seeking the community's continuing support as it faces challenging circumstances.

SNM is a faith-based, nonprofit social service organization with a mission to serve and advocate for under-resourced individuals in the southern end of Lancaster County. SNM serves people in the Solanco School District, the Holtwood area in the Penn Manor School District and West Lampeter Township in Lampeter-Strasburg.

SNM's director of programs, Todd Capitao, noted that the number of people who need help has "jumped dramatically" since Solanco Neighborhood Ministries moved to its current location, 14 S. Church St., Quarryville, two years ago.

"Over the last two years we keep seeing an increase in calls (seeking assistance) coming in," said Capitao. "It keeps going up year over year."

As of April, there had been more than 300 requests made this year compared to the same time last year.

"It's not an influx of people who want an Easter meal or something like that," said Capitao. "It's mostly people facing housing concerns."

SNM housing advocates are working with approximately 35 families in different stages of homelessness. "We are trying to connect them with resources," Capitao said. "Sometimes they are able to use food resources we have, and then they have the money to save toward rent or utility bills."

SNM works with landlords and searches for vacancies in apartment complexes. "From the negative side, we're seeing more people coming in with those types of needs," said Capitao. "The positive side is that we're able to (help some of them find housing) through the different resources we have."

Solanco Neighborhood Ministries operates the Solanco Food Bank, which has also been busier recently.

In the last two years, the food bank has gone from serving 220 unique families to 310 families (854 individuals), an increase of 29%, SNM executive director Teresa Dolan said. She added that the need for emergency orders has increased from 22 families to 87 families (206 individuals).

Rising prices at the supermarket and the possibility of a funding cut could affect programs, although Solanco Neighborhood Ministries primarily relies on donations from the community.

SNM will be getting a big boost. Putting Others First, a local philanthropy partnership, has contributed $20,000 to the ministry and is challenging the community to match the gift in the month of May. Anyone wishing to donate during May should call 717-786-4308 or go to https://snministries.org for information about donating.

Capitao said that matching challenges are an effective way of raising funds, and he is urging those interested in contributing to consider doing the same thing.

"This match opportunity is really important to continue extra giving because it is uncertain and we are busier," said Dolan. "The numbers of families (needing assistance) has increased, and the cost of food items has increased, and we don't turn anybody away."

SNM distributes food Mondays through Fridays in the morning and afternoon with varying times, and the food bank is also open the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m.

The lobby is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, and the items usually include fresh produce from Giant and fresh bread from Wegmans.

"More food donations would be great, especially for our school program because that keeps growing," Dolan said. SNM's Student Weekend Eating Program (SWEEP) provides students in kindergarten through eighth grade with six meals they take home for the weekend. SWEEP serves 310 students, and that number grows every year, Dolan said.

SNM will hold a friendly "foodraising" competition between local churches from Friday, May 16, through Friday, June 20, that Capitao hopes will bolster the organization's resources for summer.

Individuals who want to participate with the ministry should call or come in for an appointment. SNM will ask questions related to household, income, expenses, and needed resources, such as food, transportation, health care, GED resources, and clothing. "We then try to connect them with a resource advocate who can help them reach their goals," said Dolan.

For more information about Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, call 717-786-4308 or go to https://snministries.org.