In March of 2016, Carol Heth was on a bus heading to New York City when inspiration struck. Having participated in an outdoor farm-to-table dinner, Carol thought she could take the idea one step further. "I said, 'How about if we do a dinner in the field on our property and at the same time, we help some people who are going through health hardships?'" she recalled. By April of 2016, Carol had rounded up a team to help bring her vision to life. By June, the group had three potential beneficiaries of the dinner and by the fall, the first meal was held. "I wasn't sure how it was going to go or what we'd be able to do to help the recipients, and I thought it was a once-and-done thing, but it wasn't," she stated. Having raised more than $5,600 for each of the first year's beneficiaries, Carol knew she was onto something.
Seven years later, the nonprofit Lancaster County Field of Hope has not only held annual dinners each fall to help people who are facing unexpected medical issues but has expanded to raise funds throughout the year.
"To date, we have helped 26 recipients and their families, and we are just shy of giving $235,000 away to individuals," Carol remarked.
Carol and her husband, Pete, are no strangers to helping others. Throughout the years, the lifelong Lancaster County residents, who live in Columbia, have organized fundraisers for friends who needed help. They also open the kitchen at their 1860s farmhouse to hands-on cooking experiences and rent out properties on their six-acre lot through Airbnb. Thanks to their local connections, the Heths have been able to rely on donations for almost all of the food and services needed for their annual dinner.
"We are an all-volunteer organization, and the recipients get to keep all of the funds we raise after expenses," Carol said. "We try to keep those expenses as low as possible."
This month, Lancaster County Field of Hope will be the beneficiary of proceeds from trivia night at Wacker Brewing Company in Willow Street on Wednesday evenings. On Saturday, April 2, Hope@22 will feature a silent auction at Garth gallery in Columbia. At the auction, the organization will reveal its 2022 recipients, Heth noted, adding that there may be up to six beneficiaries. On Friday, May 6, the organization will hold its third annual golf tournament at Foxchase Golf Club in Stevens, and on Saturday, Sept. 10, it will host its seventh annual benefit dinner at the Heths' home.
Carol emphasized that the success of Lancaster County Field of Hope relies on support from both her team and the community. "I could not do this without my family and the people on the board," she said, referring in part to her three grown children and five grandchildren, who help with the organization. "As our name says, we are Lancaster County based. We're helping local individuals."
She encourages everyone to support Lancaster County Field of Hope, no matter how small the effort. "I always say $1 is $1 more than we had yesterday," she commented. "Every dollar matters."
For more information on Lancaster County Field of Hope, visit http://www.lancofieldofhope.com.
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