Main building as seen from Letort Road.
There is something about the spirit of non-profits that makes them truly unique in the world of the profit-taking big business we are accustomed to. People who are associated with non-profits have a passion for what they do. They see a bigger picture and work to achieve goals that benefit a group of people or individuals who need it most. Though money in the bank is wonderful, that’s not the drive behind their efforts. It’s what needs to be done and what resources are needed to achieve it. Often, that means seeking out help from others who might have more knowledge or can offer their time and attributes to achieve those goals. Luckily, there are people who will step up to the challenge and offer their time, money or maybe just a new perspective on how to look at things. No matter what, it really comes down to helping your fellow man in their life’s journey.
When I sit at the table with the Board of Directors of Homefields, I see that passion, that willingness to give of them-selves and most of all the caring of what they do and who it benefits. I walk away with a feeling of I wish I could do more, give more and be more. To be part of a non-profit is to realize that there is something bigger than you and those who are in need benefit from the efforts you put forth. From any chair in the Homefields office, you either see the gardens or you see the houses for the residents or you overlook the other board members. All of it is beautiful; the rich Lancaster County farmland that supports the efforts of Goodwill and their vocational program, the caring and nurturing provided by the Community Service Group’s staff in the residents houses and the diverse members of the Board, who meet once a month in the true essence of volunteerism to support and grow the dream of Homefields. Any given day, I receive several emails from board members thinking, working and developing new ideas and ways to enhance the Homefields cause. Again, we are all volunteers. We don’t get paid for this, we don’t seek glorification for our efforts and we certainly don’t want the attention for ourselves. That’s the part of the greatness of non-profits. We do it for a cause and it gives us back so much more than we could ever give to it.
Recently, some of our board members have stepped down from the board. Jan Hartle, who has been on the board for years, is working hard for another non-profit that she cares about and is closer to her home. Barb Speigelberg has decided that it is time for her to step back and “let someone else with more to offer” take her place (her words not mine; in my opinion, Barb is one of the most gifted and insightful people I have met in my 50 plus years). I wish them both well and much happiness, so that does leave some board positions open. We will be looking to fill these positions. If it is something that you think you might like or would be interested in, contact a board member or send us an email at info@homefields.org. In a short message, tell us what you think you can do to help us grow and prosper. What are your strengths? How you might be able to help Homefields and most of all why you want to be part of a non-profit such as ours? We will consider everyone but will choose carefully.
In closing, I am thankful for the support of the board and of the support from Goodwill and CSG at Homefields. Homefields truly is an example of a good idea growing into greatness. Please support us by buying a raffle ticket for the Harley-Davidson, play in our always fun (and a little wacky) golf tournament, offer services in-kind, volunteer if you can, and send a donation if you have the means. Any small gesture goes a long way. When you volunteer or provide services, you save us from paying for these services and that can save us money we can out into house repairs for the residents. Any donations are spent entirely for the Homefields cause. We employ one part-time office person. She is there to answer questions and get back to people with information plus forwarding snail mail and email to the various board members and committee chairs. All other donations are used to offset Homefields’ expenses. Your donation, no matter how small, is big to us.
Sincerely,
Jay Groff
President, Homefields
. The weathervane graphic and purple/yellow color scheme remain unchanged, but the type component has been revised into one word. This will prevent confusion when transposing our name into other media (is it Home fields, home fields, homefields, or Homefields?).
This year’s annual ARC Walk was held on April 17, 2010 at the Clipper Stadium in Lancaster. Jason Supplee (far left) and Brian Bixler (right), both residents of the stone house at Homefields, joined over a hundred other walkers and supporters as they braved the cold and blustery weather to support this worthy cause. They were joined by Brian’s parents and CSG Staff member Chad. The event was sponsored by GP Nuclear/Three Mile Island and emceed by Ken Slotnick of WGAL. The pace, energy and spirits of everyone were kept high with the sounds supplied by DJ Mike D., face painting by Elvira and balloon twister Tony G.
The Homefields 14th Annual Fall Golf Classic will provide opportunities for stardom on the links on September 17, 2010. Mark the date on your calendar and mark the location as Crossgates Golf Course in Millersville, PA.
On Friday March 19th the mission of Homefields was shared with members of the Lancaster Sertoma Club during a weekly lunch meeting at Meadia Heights Country Club.