Lunch & Learn
Lunch & Learn with Meals on Wheels & United Way of Lancaster County
On a Friday in early March, 25 or so of us gathered in Ressler Commons at the Meals on Wheels of Lancaster headquarters. We were there, I thought, to begin learning more about how to address the needs of our unhoused neighbors.
I sat in the back of the room near the delicious lunch of stuffed peppers and fresh vegetable medley, served by the Meals on Wheels Chef; the meal was the same one delivered that day to the MOW clients. To my left sat a gentleman who works as a case worker at our local welfare office. He explained that many of his clients come to him to share their impending dire circumstances and their hopes that he can help them navigate the system so that they can continue working, caring for their children, surviving in a home — rather than facing an even more dire set of circumstances. To my right, a man who shared that he was just there for more information. At least in the back row, we all appeared to be concerned citizens, each trying to figure out how we can help those who need it and what safety nets are already in place that we could support.
Joel Janisewki, United Way of Lancaster County’s director of volunteers, and Feleen Nancarvis, executive director of MOW, greeted us and were more than willing to answer any questions we may have had. They then introduced our guest speaker, Volunteer Lena Hohenadel from Off The Streets, who shared that this organization helps folks who need a security deposit for an apartment, as well as furniture for their new home. Volunteers deliver used furniture to their clients and Lena shared that, “We give no junk! Instead we give respect, dignity, and hope.” She explained that the organization has no office and—because of its volunteer staff—spends 95 cents out of every dollar on the clients and none on salaries or advertising.
Lena also shared photographs of some of their happy clients and volunteers, as well as the heart-wrenching story of a young girl forced to leave her home and her favorite books, and her desire to be able to read them once again and escape into the worlds of words. She introduced the founder of the organization, Deacon Mike Oles. The Deacon explained that they worked on a referral process. “All of you [the event attendees] vet the clients so we don't have to,” Oles said. “We get to just help — with no red tape, no bureaucracy.”
That all sounded truly amazing, wonderful, and inspiring — but I also realized that referral was the true ticket to the beginning of any help being given. I turned to my welfare case worker friend and asked, “Do you have access to those referrals?” He told me no. Granted, I am amazed by the incredible generosity of the Off the Streets organization and will absolutely donate all of gently used furniture to them, but I was left not understanding the system. Apparently, neither did my welfare counselor tablemate, who you would think would have considerably more insight than I do. We both left with questions unanswered.
I was lucky enough to be able to call on an old friend for answers — Kevin Ressler, executive director of United Way of Lancaster County and a man well-versed in how local nonprofits and government work. I started by asking Ressler about my new friend from the Welfare Office and why he, of all people, would not have access to that referral mentioned for his clients.
Ressler shared that, though folks may know that they are being evicted tomorrow, the system is set up so that they can not call 2-1-1 and enter into the system to receive help until they literally find themselves without a home, and are not allowed to plan ahead. Then, Ressler explained, once someone finds themselves without a home, they can call 2-1-1, but it is not a direct source to a specific person. There are at least 38 local organizations that can help, but with each call and each person/organization reached, that person will have to retell their story and feel exposed, vulnerable, and re-traumatized.
Kevin’s parting words echo in my brain: “We grind them down because there is no coordinated cohesion of help. We stabilize the problems, but never solve them. There are just too many walls, and as President Reagan infamously said… Tear down the wall(s).”
After one Lunch and Learn with Meals on Wheels of Lancaster and United Way of Lancaster County, I learned that I need to learn so much more. I plan to attend all of their scheduled lunch meetings to begin to (hopefully) better understand the incredibly complex system set up to aid unhoused folks in Lancaster County. The optimist in me wants to believe that this system was not created to make life more difficult for people in need — but, in reality, it truly seems to. Getting a referral for help should not be like winning a Golden. Streamlined accessibility, clarity, cohesion, understanding, respect, and dignity — these are all descriptors that come to mind when thinking about how folks should be able to receive resources. At the very least, my new friend at the Welfare Office should have a clear path to helping all of his clients — not just when they are in crisis, but as they plan to avert crisis, as well.
Important Numbers I Learned:
Off The Streets: (717) 723-8084
Assistance: 2-1-1
Meals on Wheels of Lancaster: (717) 392-4842
Join me at these upcoming Lunch and Learn meetings:
April 14, 2023
May 19, 2023
June 16, 2023
July 21, 2023
August 18, 2023
By Marian Pontz
