Six local organizations are collaborating to host the Southern End GIVE Event as part of the countywide Extraordinary Give on Friday, Nov. 22. The festivities will take place at the Wesley Network Center at the Daily Grind, 221 W. Fourth St., Quarryville, and run from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Black Rock Retreat, New Hope Community Life Ministries, Quarryville Library, Solanco Education Foundation (SEF), Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNMinistries), and Southern End Community Association (SECA) will accept donations through the Extra Give. Computer terminals will be set up in carrels in the Wesley Network Center for individuals to make donations. Everyone who donates will be entered in a prize drawing. A winner will be chosen every hour beginning at 6:30 a.m., with the grand prize of an Amazon Kindle being selected at 6:30 p.m. Other prizes will include gift cards to Dolce Vita, New Hope Community Closet, and Kohl's; gift baskets from Black Rock and SECA; a Fetching Flora holiday wreath; and books by Christopher McDougall and Mike Rowe.
Additionally, all donors between 6 and 9 a.m. will receive Daily Grind coupons. Face painting will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cornhole, Plink-O, a coloring contest, a selfie station, miniature golf, and live animals will be available from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A string quartet from Solanco High School will perform and a caramel apple bar will open at 1 p.m. The SLC Community Choir will sing at 4:30 p.m., and the Bedouin Fires will play at 5:30 p.m.
"We each took an activity and made it ours," said SEF board member Fan Bender.
SNMinistries community support specialist Hannah Linde noted that while the Quarryville Library is known for its Go-Fore Golf event, the miniature golf challenge on Nov. 22 will include obstacles made from cans of food.
"This has been a great committee," remarked Deb Riddell, New Hope's executive director. "We jumped in with ideas. It's a better event than if we had done it separately."
"We all offer something different to the community," said SECA director Rick Kerns.
Quarryville Library executive director Sylvia Drennen agreed, adding, "We meet different needs, and we come together to meet those needs."
Although the six organizations are collaborating for the Southern End GIVE Event, Extra Give donations will be made and used individually. New Hope will use contributions for its Hope Chest, which makes it possible for people to receive counseling when it otherwise would be unaffordable. Donations to SECA will support its operations and fund new programs and events. Kerns said he hopes to launch a playground program for the summer.
Black Rock will use donations for outdoor-related activities, such as summer camp. "Kids need to get outdoors," development director Kendall Keeler said. "Come help us get kids into God's beautiful creation."
Bender noted that the SEF introduced two new scholarships in the past two years, supporting first-generation college attendees as well as students who might not excel academically but show potential. The group has also created a larger teacher grant that would benefit the recipient's entire building, not just their classroom. Bender directs readers to https://solancoeducationfoundation.org to learn more.
The Quarryville Library has seen increased maintenance costs and sustained a funding cut this year, but it continues to be committed providing services and materials to the community, Drennen said. It offers free access to books, computers, and wireless internet.
SNMinistries, which operates an emergency food bank, also has plans for its donations.
"We're seeing a lot more needs and changing needs," Linde added. "We would love to add a full-time caseworker to help clients break the cycle of poverty."
For more information about the Southern End GIVE Event, readers may call Linde at 717-786-4308.
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