Community Benefit Collective

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is committed to improving water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed through collaboration, inclusivity, and leading local action. In Lancaster, our work is focused on working ecosystems and healing local land and water to improve our local streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. For 49 years, the Alliance has believed that the best results come from bringing people together to find common ground. We are effective in forming collaborative efforts that successfully support governments, businesses, community organizations, and individuals in their efforts to improve water quality in Lancaster County. Supporting the Alliance during this emergency will help us continue to stay focused on achieving our collective vision of a more resilient Chesapeake Bay for 18 million residents. Your support enables us to focus on solving problems before they even begin, by preventing pollution from entering our streams. With your support, we can do so much for our land and waters that have given us refuge in these unprecedented times.

Historic Poole Forge Park was created in 2005 by Caernarvon Township to serve as a public park and community center. We are a 26-acre site with a preserved historic Ironmaster’s mansion, lime kiln, playground, picnic pavilion, ball field, riparian buffer, beautiful gardens, and a covered bridge along the Conestoga River. We host a range of free pubic events, recreational, and educational experiences. Our focus has been on preservation of the environment with nature trails, restoring the health of the Conestoga Creek, planting riparian buffers, pollinator gardens, and a wildflower/ grassland meadow. With additional funding, we will be able to expand our programs for children and adults and continue our preservation of the historic iron forge and grounds. During the Covid-19 crisis, we have seen an increase in use of the park for hiking, dog walking, fishing and quiet family visits. However, we have been unable to generate funds through the rentals of our picnic pavilion, Ironmaster's Mansion and wedding grounds. We have also been unable to hold our annual fundraising and community events.

The Lancaster Conservancy provides wild and forested lands and clean waterways for our community, forever. Founded in 1969, the Lancaster Conservancy safeguards our critical forests, wetlands, and streams from development. We have protected over 7,300 acres on 46 nature preserves with over 40 miles of trails and 37 miles of streams. Protecting mature forests ensures critical habitat for wildlife. These preserves are open to everyone to enjoy 365 days per year. In these challenging times the Conservancy views engaging with nature as essential to quality of life. We are seeing 3-4 times the visitors as last year and damage is being done to fragile lands. Your support will be put to work immediately to plant trees, build parking areas and trails to manage crowds, deal with excess trash, and expand our ranger program. We know there are many causes that need your support, but we turn to John Muir, Father of our National Parks, who said it best: "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike." 

Lancaster Creative Reuse (LCR) Center is a non-profit organization working to connect community excess to those that can use it creatively. LCR inspires creativity and encourages reuse through providing educational and community outreach programming. We receive material donations of arts and crafts materials, and return it into the community through: 1) Promotion and receipt of arts and crafts excess materials to recycle. 2) A Retail outlet to resell useable recycled materials. 3) Community educational programs and resources as well as donations of our excess materials to support other area organizations. During Covid-19, LCR has donated mask making materials to organizations who have made about 1,000 masks for front line health care workers. Additionally, LCR staff created and provided free arts and craft packets and activities to parents and teachers to augment virtual STEAM lesson plans. The LCR store and material donations is our only source of income. We have been closed since March 13. We have maintained staff part-time to provide the above services and continued to pay for our facility. Funding to (LCR) will be used to continue operational support of our Community Outreach.

Lancaster Farmland Trust is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and steward the beautiful, productive farmland of Lancaster County. Our mission is to preserve farmland for future generations and serve as a resource to our farmers, but we also know the first step to securing our community’s food system is protecting the productive farmland used to grow and raise our food. Without a robust network of farms and agricultural infrastructure, access to fresh, local produce, meats, and dairy products wouldn’t be possible. Once our farmland is lost and our farmers stop farming, we’re sure to feel the effects – on our dinner tables and in our communities. Now, more than ever, our farmers need our support.

Susquehanna National Heritage Area is a regional non-profit organization and Congressionally designated coordinating entity for America’s 55th National Heritage Area. We collaborate with local, state and national partners to connect people to the nationally important places and stories of Lancaster and York Counties. Our work focuses on the cultural and natural resources of the Susquehanna River and the ribbon of landscapes and communities along its shores. Susquehanna National Heritage Area is based at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, an historic home on the river near Wrightsville. We also manage the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, a visitor education center on the waterfront in Columbia. We are part of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas and HeritagePA. The COVID-19 situation compels us to close both of our visitor centers indefinitely. Native Lands Park and the Northwest River Trail remain open. When we reopen, we will continue to offer exciting programs, boat tours, and educational opportunities. Area trail maps and information on the rich natural and cultural resources are available on our website.