In the spring of 2020, the Loft Community Partnership (LCP) became an official nonprofit organization. By July of the same year, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 222 N. George St., Millersville, became the organization's home. The goal of LCP is to alleviate poverty within Penn Manor School District by creating a centralized location for residents to attain various services, including food, clothing, toiletries, referrals for transportation, and other services in the areas of finances and education. To accomplish this goal, LCP aims to partner with agencies within Lancaster County and help them to meet the needs of families within the district.

"It's helpful if we're aware of what other agencies are doing so we can collaborate and work together," stated community liaison Deb Meckley.

"I like helping Spanish-speaking families," said Jill Montgomery, director of strategic partnerships. "I feel like those families don't have an advocate, especially during the summer when they don't have a bilingual social worker through the school."

LCP provides the community with several services. Every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m., LCP hosts a food distribution for residents within Penn Manor. During that time, volunteers also hand out Power Packs to families whose children qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch at school. On the second Wednesday of every month, LCP partners with Hettie's Hope Chest to distribute free diapers to young mothers within the community. On the third Wednesday of every month, LCP provides Penn Manor residents with toiletries and cleaning supplies, courtesy of the Penn Manor Education Association

In addition to providing food, LCP is home to a clothing bank, which currently operates by appointment only. As LCP plans for its back-to-school day on Saturday, Aug. 28, the organization is asking for donations of school supplies, including backpacks, pencils, notebooks, binders, and more. Residents of Penn Manor are welcome to attend. Back-to-school day will run form 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Later this year, LCP plans to host an event highlighting its one-year anniversary as an official nonprofit organization.

"To the community, we say thank you," said Meckley. "We're functioning because of your support. The need is there."

For more information, visit http://www.loftcommunitypartnership.org, email loftcp@gmail.com, call 717-723-8180, or search for "Loft Community Partnership" on Facebook.