Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) and its network of volunteers work hard to offer the Southern End a variety of services and community outreach programs. The nonprofit organization, which is headquartered at 14 S. Church St. in downtown Quarryville, provides support to the community year-round. However, community members' specific needs change with the seasons, and SNM is focusing its efforts to support local residents during the winter months.

One of SNM's primary focuses is addressing food insecurity throughout the Southern End. The organization operates a food bank in Quarryville that is frequently stocked with produce and essential meal ingredients. During the holiday season, SNM distributes Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to families in the area. The nonprofit expects to deliver holiday meals to more than 150 families this year, and Christmas meals will be distributed on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Community members may support the Christmas meal program by donating items such as ham steaks, canned green beans, potatoes, canned pineapple and cake mix. Donations may be dropped off at the food bank from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays, until Friday, Dec. 13.

In the summer season, SNM stocks its self-serve lobby with fresh produce donated by local farmers. As the weather becomes colder, the organization partners with multiple churches in the community to keep the lobby stocked with hats, gloves, mittens and scarves to keep patrons warm. The self-serve lobby also contains basic food items year-round, including eggs, milk and bread donated by local bakeries and grocery stores.

Every year, Solanco High School's FFA chapter partners with SNM for a Christmas fruit basket sale. When ordering a basket through members of the club, customers are given an option to purchase extra baskets. Students donate the extra baskets to SNM, which distributes the fruit during an annual Christmas giveaway.

Every November, SNM publishes an Advent giving calendar to highlight specific items needed by the food bank. The calendar features a different item on each day of December, including canned soup, crackers, diapers, toothpaste, soap and other necessities. The calendar also includes encouraging messages and holiday wishes.

In addition to preparing for the holidays, SNM's leadership is reflecting on a few recent changes to programs as the year draws to a close. At the end of 2023, SNM introduced its Second Saturday initiative, a program that allows patrons to preorder bags of food and pick them up from 9 to 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The number of people served through the program has nearly doubled since last year, and SNM plans to hold a public survey to discern how it can better accommodate the community in the new year. "The Second Saturday program has been very successful; it's definitely a keeper," said Todd Capitao, SNM's director of programming. "We've tweaked a few things over the year after feedback, and we want to know how we can make the process even better." SNM also acquired a van earlier this year to offer mobile services throughout the community.

For more information, visit https://solanconeighborhoodministries.org.