While ECHOS provides a range of services to individuals looking for housing support and more, the Elizabethtown nonprofit knew there were needs in the community that were still unmet.

With that in mind, they created ECHOS Community Food Support, a free hot meal program open to the public. The first community meal was served on May 5, and the program will conclude on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

"Our case managers see firsthand just how many community members are struggling to make ends meet and keep food on the table," said Liz Henry, Enrichment Center coordinator. "Beyond meeting a basic need, food brings people together and gives us the opportunity to create connections with community members that might not otherwise enter our doors."

Meals are held outdoors at ECHOS, 105 E. Washington St., Elizabethtown, on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. In bad weather, the meal will move indoors.

Meals are prepared by ECHOS volunteers, in collaboration with ECHOS staff.

"We have provided a variety of foods, including cheeseburgers, hot dogs, ham balls, spaghetti, meatball subs, etc.," Henry said. "Each meal, we offer a main dish, a side dish and a vegetable."

Funding for the program comes from a grant ECHOS received from CVS Health, Aetna. If funding allows, the organization hopes to continue the program in the future.

"We have community members that chose to dine with us each week, and overall, the community has responded very positively," Henry shared. "We have served an average of 37 meals per week over our first 13 weeks. That is nearly 500 meals served."

Everyone is invited to come out for a meal, and no registration is required.

"Community members can expect a welcoming environment where they can share a filling meal with a neighbor and connect with an ECHOS case manager to learn about additional community resources," Henry explained. "As available, we have provided additional food items, cleaning products, hygiene products and other household items for community members in need."

ECHOS was created in response to a local homelessness issue that brought the community together. After a father and son were found living in a park in Elizabethtown, residents, local churches and the school district joined forces to open the borough's first overnight shelter. The shelter opened at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in December 2015, providing a warm, dry and safe place for 13 guests during its first season.

As organizers worked with shelter guests, they quickly realized many people needed more than just a place to spend the night. Community leaders applied for grant funding to expand those services, and the effort paid off. ECHOS officially launched in July 2016 with Elizabethtown College serving as its fiscal agent, and the organization received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status later that year.

Over the past decade, ECHOS has grown from a seasonal shelter into a regional organization serving Elizabethtown, Bainbridge, Rheems, Mount Joy, Maytown and Marietta. Today, staff members provide assistance to more than 400 households each year through 10 programs focused on housing stability, eviction prevention, emergency shelter and information and referral services.

"ECHOS provides easy-to-access, individualized case management support with housing navigation, employment navigation, benefit acquisition, referrals and more," Henry said. "Schedule an appointment with a case manager through our website or by calling our office."

To learn more about ECHOS, visit http://www.echoslancaster.org or call 717-361-0740.