In April of 2018, individuals from a variety of community sectors in Manheim began meeting together on a monthly basis to form the grassroots organization of Manheim Community Cares. The collaboration is intended to make Manheim a thriving and caring community where every person feels welcomed and empowered to support one another.
Manheim resident and Senior Master Sgt. Nancy Hanula, who serves as the Civil Operations program manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Counterdrug Joint Task Force, has been a part of forming and growing similar groups in other parts of the state and decided that it was time to make it happen in Manheim. "USDA Rural Development did a roundtable discussion (on opioid misuse), and it really lit the spark in me. I said, 'Manheim is ready for this,'" Hanula recalled.
Hanula explained that the group uses community data to determine what current issues are and how everyone can work together to resolve them. The goal is to have a strategic plan completed by the end of 2019, with specific interventions and activities to address the primary problem of drug and alcohol violations steadily rising since 2016.
Manheim Community Cares has held two suicide prevention trainings, and additional awareness and educational offerings are in the works for the future.
Thus far, the community representation includes Compass Mark, Manheim Borough Police Department, Manheim Central Foundation for Educational Enrichment (MCFEE), Manheim Central School District (MCSD), Manheim Chamber of Commerce, Manheim Christian Day School, Manheim Ministerium, Hospice & Community Care, Rapho Township, Pleasant View Communities, Teen Central Manheim, and others. Hanula said that the idea is that a point person from each of the sectors represented then shares the information with his or her group so that ultimately the entire community can be involved in creating change.
Salem United Methodist Church pastor John Laughlin represented the Manheim Ministerium at the Oct. 17 meeting of Manheim Community Cares. "I'm a person of hope, so I think that getting like minds together is a good thing and I'm hoping that this partnership will be able to generate positive things in Manheim," said Laughlin. Approximately 29 churches are part of the Manheim Ministerium.
Christine Glover, community prevention mobilizer at Compass Mark, is involved with the work of Manheim Community Cares and approximately 20 similar organizations in Lancaster County. Glover noted that MCSD has chosen to not only actively participate in the group but also to provide meeting space.
All community members are welcome and encouraged to participate in Manheim Community Cares. The group currently meets on a monthly basis, and interested individuals may email info@manheimcommunitycares.org for details on future meetings. To stay plugged in to current happenings, readers may search for "Manheim Community Cares" on Facebook.
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