Michelle Kime and Kristen Hershey are the directors of SEEDS, a nonprofit that addresses housing, education and health needs in the Conestoga Valley area. While their work is supported by volunteers, they are SEEDS' only paid employees.

Kime and Hershey wear many hats and serve various roles, not the least of which are their duties as fundraisers. It's a role that requires persistence, energy and ingenuity.

"It's kind of a balancing act," said Kime. "Our clients are our top priority. That's where we learn about their needs. Out of that comes the fundraising. We're constantly asking ourselves, 'What funding do we need to make breaking down barriers happen?'"

"SEEDS is all about partnerships," said Hershey. "All of our partner businesses have Conestoga Valley connections. We're coexisting together. We're strategic about the businesses we're asking for support."

Growing Seeds and the Community Care Fund is currently SEEDS' only fundraising effort. The goals are to secure 20 new monthly donors and to raise $25,000 through one-time donations.

The campaign will kick off Wednesday, May 1, and run through the entire month.

"Conestoga Valley is a wonderful place to live, a wonderful place to work, a wonderful place to raise a family," said Hershey. "We want to meet the needs of all people and learn and grow from each other. As we establish that stronger, healthier community, it keeps people here and builds stronger connections."

The money raised will be applied to specific things like housing needs, utility aid, transportation to and from jobs, the development of an English as a Second Language program and rental assistance. Last year's Growing Seeds and the Community Care Fund raised nearly $48,000.

"We have seen a large amount of support from the Conestoga Valley community," said Hershey. "This will allow us to launch new programs and help more people. It will allow us to expand and help the community further."

This year, Hershey and Kime have already secured SEEDS support from five local businesses: all five locations of Coffee Co., including 2350 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster; Gracie's on Main, 264 W. Main St., Leola; Rachel's Cafe & Creperie, 201 W. Walnut, St., Lancaster; Funck's, 365 W. Main St., Leola; and Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, 1951 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.

"It's anyone who cares about the Conestoga Valley community looking around and seeing the different needs," said Kime. "That's who we're reaching out to, seeing if they're interested in giving. I love Conestoga Valley. We love our community. We love our neighbors."

SEEDS was already five years in the making when it was formally established as a nonprofit in October of 2022. While the organization is still in its infancy, the impact made on the Conestoga Valley community is already being felt.

"At the heart of it, SEEDS exists to create a healthy, thriving Conestoga Valley community," said Hershey. "We're looking to enrich people's lives by connecting them with services. We are still young, but we have been so well received in the Conestoga Valley community. We're still trying to get the word out about what we do. We see ourselves existing for many years to come by growing step by step."

For additional information about SEEDS, go to http://www.seedscv.com.