Competition raises funds for area nonprofits

This is not the first year that Kitchen Kettle Village has held a scarecrow contest, but it is the first year that visitors to the Village voted on the winners and area nonprofit organizations raised more than $10,000 based on those votes.

The competition, which was held from Sept. 13 through Sept. 23, helped 16 area nonprofits to raise funds. Visitors to the Village voted for their favorite scarecrow and nonprofit by donating funds. The organization that raised the most was the winner and received a $1,000 match. The Olive Basin created the scarecrow for the Lancaster Food Hub, which raised more than $4,000 and received the match for a total of $5,000. Other local nonprofits that raised funds included Lancaster Farmland Trust, which raised more than $1,400; Anchor Lancaster, which brought in more than $1,300; and Lancaster Cleft Palate, which raised over $1,100. Organizations that took part also include Treetops Kitty Cafe, Intercourse Fire Company, Music For Everyone, Wounded Warriors, Lancaster Conservancy, Christ's Home, Girls on the Run, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development, The Factory Ministries, Pet Pantry of Lancaster, and Pennsylvania SPCA Lancaster Center.

Lisa Horn, director of fun for the Village, said that earlier this year a member of the Smile Squad, a group of employees that creates fun events for employees and guests, suggested this year's scarecrow competition involve nonprofit organizations. The idea was based on the recent rebranding of the Village Pretzel House to Mom's Pretzels - a missions-based business that gives all profits back to the local community. Each month, the shop partners with a local organization, and funds go to that nonprofit. Since the shop is only open in the warmer months, any profits leftover at the end of the season are given to nonprofits selected by members of the family that owns the Village.

The Village shop representatives chose the nonprofits they represented and first met in July to get started on the scarecrows. "We had a second work night on Sept. 11," said Horn, who noted that representatives of the nonprofits joined in helping to build their scarecrows at that meeting. Horn instructed the nonprofits to create a unique way to track funds. Most created an online landing page, and each scarecrow had a sign with information about the nonprofit and a QR code to make it easier to vote and donate. The scarecrows were set up in a designated area near the parking lot dubbed "Scarecrow Alley." "There was lots of picture taking, and it was a lot of fun," noted Horn. "People loved it."

Horn noted that not only was the competition beneficial to nonprofits, but also that employees of and visitors to the Village learned about the work of the nonprofits that participated. Horn added that she appreciates working for a company that gives back to the community and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2024.