Too often, people with disabilities are lonely and unseen in our communities," said Steve Schwartz, executive director of Hope Served. "Within a 20-mile radius of Manheim, there are over 66,000 people with a disability. We want to create spaces for people with disabilities to work and socialize in mainstream settings, to be able to serve and give and share their lives with others like everyone desires."

Hope Served formed in 2021 with that goal in mind, and now the organization is moving even closer to achieving it.

In 2022, founder Kelly Harnish learned that the former Manheim Mennonite Church at 201 W. High St. was largely unused, Schwartz said.

"There was a new, small group meeting in the basement called Community Church of Manheim, led by pastor Joel Harnly," he explained. "Kelly connected with the church and our visions aligned. A conversation started that led to Hope Served having office space in the building while pursuing the purchase of the building."

Harnish and others at Hope Served realized the space could provide a welcoming place for a small business to provide job training and paid employment.

"The vision was that this business would also be a social hangout spot for the entire community and where people with disabilities know they are welcome," Schwartz said.

The nonprofit officially purchased the building in October of 2024, with plans to renovate the main floor into a workforce development center.

"The focus will be an American-menu-themed restaurant with Pennsylvania Dutch influences that includes a culinary teaching kitchen," Schwartz remarked. "The training program will include vocational, culinary, life-skills and workplace readiness components."

In addition to creating paying jobs in the building, Hope Served wants to prepare people for work in other settings.

"Most skills will be transferable, not limited to the food service industry," he said. "For folks who have struggled with finding employment due to their disability, having a good reference and a current resume make a huge difference."

The building Hope Served is renovating dates to 1896 as the Manheim Meetinghouse of the Mennonite Church.

"Our renovation plans will highlight the historical nature of the building," Schwartz said. "We have engaged Scenic Ridge Construction to manage the project. We're looking for area contractors and suppliers to support the project through donated or discounted labor and materials or favorable bids in light of our charitable intent."

The goal is to begin renovation in early 2026 and complete by mid-year, with the restaurant and teaching kitchen opening in the summer or fall of 2026. 

"Currently, we are about halfway toward our goal of raising funds for the cost of renovation," Schwartz noted. "The total cost of buying and renovating the building is about $1.5 million, and we've raised $770,000. So we need three things: financial donations, contractors/suppliers willing to donate or discount to lower the costs and volunteers to help with making more connections with donors and contractors."

In the few years since it launched, Hope Served has already expanded its programs and opportunities for people with disabilities. The organization roasts, packages and sells its own specialty coffee brand: Hope Served Coffee.

"We began selling online and at community events about two years ago," Schwartz commented. "In January 2025, we were invited to open Hope Served Cafe by Pleasant View Communities. The cafe is on their campus next to Hearth and Harrow restaurant, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. We now employ seven people at Hope Served Cafe, including several trainees with disabilities."

The site is also a job training location for the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 and other interns.

"So we now have a physical location where you can get our coffee weekdays along with breakfast sandwiches and pastries and have launched our job training program," Schwartz said.

Hope Served also provides a creative outlet for individuals while raising funds through custom greeting cards, sold at local events such as 1st Thursdays and at the Hope Served Cafe. Families and supporters of people with disabilities are invited to participate in the Individual & Families Advisory Council (iFAC), which meets periodically to identify how the community can better support and meet needs.

For more information on Hope Served, visit https://hopeserved.org or follow Hope Served on Facebook.