Show Your Gratitude this Season by Contributing Locally
By Jennifer Mellace
Gratitude. It’s a word that holds so much meaning, especially around the holiday season—a time of year when people look to show their appreciation in one way or another. Some may show it by opening their homes to family and friends. Others show gratitude by volunteering their time at a local soup kitchen. And yet others show it by making a contribution to a local organization that holds special meaning to them. This season, Celebrate Gettysburg highlights five local nonprofits and shares how you can give back to these meaningful groups and others in your community.
Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
11 Goldenville Road, Gettysburg
http://www.adamscountyspca.org
717-334-8876
If you love animals, the Adams County SPCA is a great consideration for your giving list. Providing shelter and care for lost, abandoned, and abused animals, the shelter also educates the community about spay/neuter programs, animal wellness, and safety. “There is a reason these animals are here,” says Abigail Avery, shelter manager and humane officer. “They’ve been given up by their family or their owner died or they’ve been abused. But, they all need our help.”
During the first part of 2016, the shelter rehomed 171 dogs, 279 cats, 34 exotic animals, and four farm animals. “Since our renovation in 2015, partially made possible through donations, our shelter has attracted more people looking to adopt, which has helped make room for other animals who need shelter,” says Avery. This year the Adams County SPCA celebrates its 40th anniversary with a gala and silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 5. Tickets are $50 and provide entry to a 1950s/60s theme night of dinner and dancing with an Elvis tribute artist.
“We also receive contributions when folks host Christmas parties and ask their guests to bring financial donations or supplies from our website list,” says Avery. Finally, you can help by purchasing $20 Giant Food gift cards through the shelter’s “Cash for Causes” program—for each card purchased Giant gives a portion back to the shelter.
Land Conservancy of Adams County
670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg
www.lcacnet.org | 717-334-2828
Founded in 1995, the Land Conservancy looks to preserve the rural lands and heritage of our county by partnering with local landowners to craft conservation easements. Since its founding, the Land Conservancy has collaborated with more than 100 Adams County landowners to preserve 9,822 acres of rural land. To help fund its work, the organization holds two annual fundraising events—an Art Auction each April and a Road Rally in October. “Anyone who loves Adams County’s beautiful, rural lands benefits from the Land Conservancy’s work and mission,” says Chris Little, a Land Conservancy board member. “If you love our gorgeous farmland, open fields, clean streams, and verdant forests—if you love fishing, hunting, or hiking—if you appreciate clean drinking water and plentiful, fresh food—you might consider contributing with your time and/or through a donation.”
Adams County Library System
140 Baltimore St., Gettysburg
adamslibrary.org | 717-334-5716
Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” The Adams County Library System’s 69,000 library cardholders might just agree. There are six branches throughout the county, each carrying a selection of popular books and materials, and offering educational programs and lifelong learning opportunities for all ages. There’s plenty in store for children of Adams County, from story time programs for the younger ages to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) programs for the older kids. “While it may seem early, now is a great time to sign up to volunteer for the library’s 2017 FunFest in June,” says Development Officer Dawn Smith. “It’s a great community event and our volunteers help make it a success.” Making a monetary donation to the system’s virtual library is also welcome. “We don’t receive discounts on our eBooks,” says Smith. “A donation of $81 will purchase one best-selling eBook, helping ensure availability to cardholders and offering another educational opportunity to the community.”
Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S. (Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter)
117 York St., Gettysburg
www.gettysburgcares.org | 717-334-4195
From October through April—some of the coldest months in the region—Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S. provides shelter when no other shelter can be found. In 2016 alone, shelter was given to 92 homeless people in our community—27 were children under the age of 12. The organization provides three meals a day, a warm place to sleep, and referrals for medical care for up to 30 people in 14 local churches. “We just celebrated our 5th birthday party with a fundraiser dinner,” says Board of Directors Chair Mary Stevenson. “The community is very supportive—we get a lot of donations of nonperishable foods, paper products, office supplies, etc. What we also really appreciate is financial contributions to help pay for our utility bills. You can imagine what they are like when we provide showers and laundry facilities for up to 30 people.”
South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP)
153 N. Stratton St., Gettysburg
www.sccap.org | 717-334-7634
Too often we hear about folks losing their jobs, or the elderly not being able to afford their medication or even basic necessities. That’s where SCCAP steps in, helping empower families and engage the community to provide critical services to assist low-wage earners and senior citizens in our communities.
Established in 1965, the first grant of $1,500 helped launch many programs that still exist in the community today, including Head Start, food pantries, Meals on Wheels, and other critical services. “In 1965 we were started by a group of concerned citizens, and today SCCAP is still staffed and governed by caring community members, dedicated to the families we serve, high ethics and integrity, and fiscal accountability,” says Megan Shreve, SCCAP’s executive director. “We have a rich history woven with caring staff, partnerships, donors, and volunteers—all of whom enable us to do this important work.”
The agency has brought revenue and service dollars totaling more than $10 million into the local economy. To continue this work, SCCAP relies on volunteers as well as monetary donations to its “Where Needed Most” fund, which allows funds to be allocated to the programs in most need.
Save the Date!
Make your donation really count this holiday season by donating during the Adams County Community Foundation’s (ACCF) 2016 Giving Spree on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Make a monetary donation on this date and ACCF will match a percentage of your donation to the charity of your choice. Visit www.adamscountycf.org.
Agriculture & Environment
4-H Clubs of Adams County, Inc.
extension.psu.edu/4-h/counties/adams
Adams Electric Cooperative
www.adamsec.coop
Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania
www.pagardenclubs.org
Land Conservancy of Adams County
www.lcacnet.org
Project Gaia
projectgaia.com
Watershed Alliance of Adams County
www.adamswatersheds.org
Animals
Adams County Prevent a Litter
Society, Inc.
717-624-3408
Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
www.adamscountyspca.org
Pennsylvania Avicultural Society
www.paavsoc.com
Preservation of Animal Welfare & Safety
www.pawsofpa.org
Shining Stars Therapeutic Ministries
www.shiningstarstr.com
South Mountain Audobon Society
southmountainaudubon.org
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Adams County Arts Council
adamsarts.org
Casa de la Cultura
www.casagettysburg.org
Community Media of South Central PA
communitymedia.net
Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra
gettysburgchamberorchestra.com
The Gettysburg Children’s Choir
www.gettysburgcc.org
Gettysburg Community Concert Association
www.gettysburgcca.org
Gettysburg Community Theatre
www.gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org
Gettysburg Stage
www.gettysburgstage.org
Manos Unidas Hispanic-American Center
www.manosadams.org
Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries
www.pcblpa.org
Project Gettysburg-Leon
www.gettysburg-leon.org
Business & Economics
Adams County Economic Development Corporation
www.acedc.org
Adams County Housing Authority
www.adamscha.org
Builder’s Association of Adams County
www.adamscountybuilders.com
Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce
www.gettysburg-chamber.org
Main Street Gettysburg
www.mainstreetgettysburg.org
Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs
www.adamscha.org
Rotary Club of Gettysburg
gettysburgrotary.org
Education & Research
Adams County Economic
Education Foundation
717-334-8151
Adams County Library System
www.adamslibrary.org
Gettysburg College
www.gettysburg.edu
Gettysburg Montessori Charter School
www.gettysburgmontessoricharter.org
Gettysburg Addressers Toastmasters
gettysburg.toastmastersclubs.org
Vida Charter School
www.vidacharterschool.com
Health
American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic
www.lung.org
Family First Health
www.familyfirsthealth.org
Gettysburg Medical Center
www.plannedparenthood.org
Hoffman Homes for Youth
www.hoffmanhomes.com
Mission of Mercy
www.amissionofmercy.org
PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance, Inc.
www.patsainc.org
SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice
spiritrustlutheranhomecare.org
Historical
Adams County Historical Society
www.achs-pa.org
The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides
gettysburgtourguides.org
Dwight D. Eisenhower Society
www.dwightdeisenhowersociety.org
Gettysburg Black History Museum Inc.
855-804-8884
Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association
www.gbpa.org
Gettysburg Foundation
www.gettysburgfoundation.org
Historic Gettysburg-Adams County
www.hgaconline.org
Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation
www.seminaryridge.org
Sons of Confederate Veterans
www.scv.org
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
www.suvcw.org
Thaddeus Stevens Society
www.thaddeusstevenssociety.com
Human Services
Adams County Children & Youth Services
717-337-0110
Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center
www.kidsagaincac.org
Adams County Community Foundation
www.adamscountycf.org
Adams County Habitat for Humanity
habitatadamspa.org
Adams County Office for Aging
acofa.org
Adams County Volunteer Emergency Services Association
www.acvesa.org
Adams Rescue Mission
www.adamsrescuemission.org
The Campus Kitchen at Gettysburg College
www.gettysburg.edu
Collaborating for Youth
www.cfygettysburg.com
Gettysburg Area Civitan Club
civitan.org
Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S. (Combined Area Sources for Emergency Shelter) Inc.
www.gettysburgcares.org
Gettysburg Community Soup Kitchen
717-334-2773
Gettysburg Fire Department
www.gettysburgfd.com
Healthy Adams County
www.healthyadamscounty.org
South Central Community Action Programs
www.sccap.org
Special Olympics of Adams County
www.specialolympicspa.org
Survivors Inc.
enddvsa.org
United Way of Adams County
www.uwadams.org
Religious
Christ Lutheran Church
www.christgettysburg.org
First Baptist Church
www.fbcgettysburg.org
Gettysburg Baptist Church
www.gbcchurch.com
Gettysburg Bible Baptist Church
www.gettysburgbiblebaptist.org
Gettysburg Church of Christ
www.gettysburgchurchofchrist.org
Gettysburg Foursquare Church
foursquarechurch.info
Gettysburg Seminary
www.ltsg.edu
Historic Church Walking Tours
historicchurchwalkingtours.org
Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice
icpj-gettysburg.org
Turning Point-Interfaith Mission
www.adamscha.org
Social & Recreational Clubs
American Legion
gettysburgamericanlegion.org
Catholic War Veterans Club
717-334-5005
Fraternal Order of Eagles
717-334-5816
Gettysburg Moose
717-334-5916
Knights of Columbus
717-334-2510
This nonprofit guide is in no way a full listing of all Adams County nonprofits.
