Community Service Projects
This page is dedicated to the featuring of the amazing work our LSV classes have put in to better our region.
As you read the amazing things these teams have done, please feel free to be impressed.
Class of 2024
Team Chuckwagon
God’s Chuckwagon team members included Kendrah Beiler, Mark Forbes, Laura Saccente, and Steve Smith. God’s Chuckwagon is the region's only mobile soup kitchen serving the Susquehanna Valley with a mission to provide hot, nutritious meals and inspiration to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or food insecurities in the area.
The project goals were to 1) increase community and volunteer awareness through updated social media and a new website, and 2) expand the donor base by adding an online donation platform.
Many community partners got involved, including the SUN Area Technical Institute Collision Repair program, by providing significant vehicle repairs for the Chuckwagon Bus; Decal Dynasty of Millmont, updating the vehicle graphics; Hummel Station, LLC, donating funding for vehicle repairs and promotional items; and Weis Markets, providing food and supplies to supplement current community needs. At the conclusion of the project, education on website and donation platform management, as well as local resource materials, were provided to God’s Chuckwagon.
Visit godschuckwagon.org or follow God’s Chuckwagon on Facebook to learn more and see where they are serving!
Class of 2023
The Donald Heiter Community Center (DHCC)
This team included the following class members Kerry Ann Colville, Nancy Alcantar, Kyle Benson, Misty Leonard, Nicola Manning-Davenport, and Eric Pangelinan. The DHCC is a non-profit organization which strives to be the hub of community activity by providing innovative and responsive programs, welcoming facilities to house multi-generational activities, coordinating diverse community resources, addressing community needs, and supporting the wellness of all its people.
Class members wanted to assist with their strategic goals for brand development and awareness plus financial sustainability by creating a storybook and sustainability plan to be used for years to come.
Learn more about The DHCC on their website, HERE.
Team Wu-Tang - Dwell Orphan Care
Team Wu-Tang had class members Stan Cary, Shayla Snook, Frankie Hockenbrocht, Bethany Homiak, Nicole Peterson, and Michelle Reid. Dwell Orphan Care exists to support and encourage foster and adoptive families in Central, P.A. while mobilizing and equipping the community and local church so that children have a safe, loving, forever home in which to Dwell.
This group proposed to collaborate with Dwell Orphan Care, to develop its business partnerships with the goal of providing long-lasting marketing materials and strategies to enhance the sustainability of the organization. This included a corporate sponsorship package as well as brand guidelines.
Learn more about Dwell Orphan Care on their website, HERE.
Haven Ministry Inc.
This team included the following class members Greg Powell, James Hawke, Marty Sinopoli, Shawna Heckman, and Trisha Kuenzie. Haven Ministry serves a diverse group of individuals and families who are caught in the web of poverty. The goal is not only to provide emergency shelter and food but to provide information and skills to accomplish self sufficiency.
The class members identified a need for increased online presence to bring awareness to the community, promote current and future projects, and drive donations. They met this need by creating a new website for the organization.
Learn more about Haven Ministry on their website, HERE.
Susquehanna Valley CASA - Voices for Children
This team included the following class members Todd robatin, Laura Shrawder-Miles, Jonathan Bastian, Emily Artman, Heather Herbster, and Brenda Kline. The mission of Susquehanna Valley CASA is to ensure that each child thrives in a safe, nurturing, and permanent home by training citizen volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system, and to assist the courts through objective investigation, observation, and comprehensive reporting, so the best and most expedient determination is made for each child’s future.
The class members identified two organizational needs, awareness and recruitment. Using a two phased approach, the team was able to increase their social media and website presence by identifying opportunities, creating post templates, creating a social media guidebook, and updating their website resources.
Learn more about Susquehanna Valley CASA on their website, HERE.
Class of 2022
Team AGING - Northumberland county Area agency on aging (NCAAA)
Team Aging had class members Steve Cimino, Maria Rizzo, Erin Kearney, Jolinn Barner, Jill Bingaman, and Morgan Mattern. Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is responsible for the planning, coordinating, and monitoring of services for county residents over the age of sixty. The NCAAA is part of a state and national network of agencies established to aid older adults with a wide range of services.
This groups plan was to assist the NCAAA three-fold: create a pamphlet geared towards caregivers of aging adults to help their loved ones be where they want to be, complete a promotional video of the many services available, and plan lunch and learn events to teach the community about the services that are available locally.
Team DIGGING A LEGACY - dig furniture bank
Team Digging A Legacy had class members Torey Goff, Tim Botts, Jill Woodhead, Katrina Mouery, Kathy Paul, and Glenn Bernius. DIG’s mission is to promote stability and restore dignity in our community by redirecting used furniture to families in need.
The project designed for DIG was to implement a digital inventory system that: tracks furnishings incoming and outgoing, offers real tim assessment of inventory by type, measures impact for reports, and is user-friendly for staff and volunteers. During the project, the team tagged and tracked 555 items. Since the system went live, 19,444 pounds of furniture has been added to inventory and 6 tons of furniture and goods were saved from the landfill!
Team HABITAT - SUN Habitat for Humanity
Team Habitat had class members Caroline Wrobel, Kristy Kratzer, Heidi Welsh, Justin Barlup, Heather Taggart, and Lois Passi. SUN Habitat partners with families and individuals in Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing.
Team Habitat assisted SUN Habitat for Humanity through growing marketing, communication, and outreach. A few examples include print advertising, PowerPoint template for educating the community, marketing and communication resource guide, social media calendar template, and social media templates.
Learn more about SUN Habitat for Humanity on their website, HERE.
Team RESTORE - SUN Habitat for Humanity
Team ReStore had class members Ashley Boop, Erin Dunleavy, Jackie Dziadosz, Angela Haines, Seth Loff, and Jerry Panisak. This LSV project group set out to determine the feasibility of opening a ReStore in the Snyder-Union-Northumberland geographic region by completing a Market Exploration and Business Plan & Proforma on behalf of and with the support of SUN Habitat. A ReStore is a home improvement store and donation center selling new and gently used furniture, appliances, home goods, building materials and more.
After over 100 volunteer hours, the Financial Proforma and Business Plan showed that a ReStore would be successful in SUN Habitat’s service area. The ReStore committee will continue to grow and supervise the potential opening of a ReStore in our area.
Class of 2020 and 2021
Covid-19 interfered with the LSV Class of 2020 team projects. Then came Class of 2021 - to the rescue - stepping in to take the projects to the finish line!
Team REFUGE - THE REFUGE
Team Refuge had class members Bernadette Boerckel, Seth Joseph, Joe Moralez, Michelle Moran, Eric Pehowic, and Stephanie Zechman. The Refuge is a youth center for students in 6th - 12th grade, offering a variety of programs as well as meals.
The LSV group set to strengthen and expand the Refuge’s partnerships with local churches, assist with tech upgrades, identify ways the Refuge can continue to grow and expand while adding sustainability, expand board commitment, assist with marketing/advertising, and assist with building fundraising and entrepreneurship into the current program structure.
Click here to watch an informational video on The Refuge.
Team RIVER - SUNBURY RIVER CLEAN UP PROJECT (SRCP)
Team River had class members Michael Smith, Bonnie Hamilton, Stacey Napoli, Zach Stotter, Jack Emery, and Cody Concini. This LSV group signed on to help the SRCP carry out a successful spring cleanup event as well as advise Sunbury’s Revitalization, Inc. and the SRCP committee of ways in which the event and committee could streamline and build structure for continued success.
On the day of the event, LSV members served in multiple capacities such as registration, island cleanup, land cleanup, loaders & unloaders, and materials distribution. This was done not only to be a help immediately, but so that committee members would have firsthand knowledge of the process, and be better prepared to make suggestions for future improvement. In just under 3 hours, 110 volunteers collected 6,000lbs of garbage and 3,500lbs of tires! That is a remarkable amount of 9,500lbs of waste removed for the river! Now get out there and enjoy the beauty and fun of what the river has to offer us.
Team TRANSITIONS - TRANSITIONS OF PA
Team Transitions had class members Brianna Apfelbaum Kula, Jeannie Bennett, Candi Taylor, and Barb Zlotorzynski. The groups proposal was to help with Transitions annual auction event by assisting with sponsors, increase awareness, develop marketing strategy to increase visibility, and identify needs for the auction.
The annual fundraiser was held for the first time virtually in May of 2021, and with the great work and support of Team Transitions, they were able to raise $67,000 to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
For more information on Transitions of PA, visit their website HERE.
Team CHILDREN - SNYDER COUNTY CHILDREN’S FUND
Team Children had class members Kimberly Andretta, Michael Barrett, Chrissy Coller, Chad Fisher, Amanda Gresh, Jerrod Ferrence, and Patrick Shandera. The Children’s Fund is run through the Snyder County Coalition for Kids and provides support to Snyder County Children & Youth Services.
The LSV team was focused on helping the fund with limitations of the pandemic and identifying ways to improve their digital presence to increase exposure, which they were able to accomplish through a more robust website.
Class of 2019
Team Clarity - Clarity Prep
Team Clarity Prep had class members Ryan McNally, Jessica Plehn, Crissy Schreffler, Chris Snyder, Jennifer Persun, Macie Whitsel, and Joan Miller. As a group they recognized Clarity Prep’s passion for helping others and their potential for local community impact.
By the end of their time together the group was able to help Clarity prep with expanding their board membership, improving their communication structure, a marketing plan, and knowledge of community resources. Group member Jessica Plehn is currently a board member for Clarity Prep and continues to help with marketing.
Team Playground - Andy Russell Foundation - All Inclusive Playground
Team Playground worked with the Andy Russell foundation to create a video that could be used to highlight the aims of the playground in conjunction with fundraising activities. The group determined that the best way to help was by creating a promotional video. They met and discussed an outline, identified local parents and subject matter experts, and coordinated the filming and editing process. After obtaining releases from each individual show in the film, they presented the finished video to the Foundation Board.
The park is now fully open to the public, with overwhelmingly positive reviews from local parents and children.
Team JELLO - Selinsgrove REC
Team JELLO helped the Selinsgrove REC develop a strategy that would help them grow and be successful for years to come. During the process, the team utilized the SWOT analysis to determine the best plan of action.
Because the REC is a nonprofit resources and staffing is limited, we designed a marketing plan. The marketing plan would help track kids and adults entering and exiting the REC for various activities, market the REC to the public through the website and social medial, develop fundraising campaigns and design committees to provide additional support.
You can learn more about the Selinsgrove REC on their website, HERE.
You can also visit their FACEBOOK PAGE or INSTAGRAM.
Team Village People - Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA
Team Village People recognized the huge benefits that the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA brings to our communities, from children’s programs, fundraisers, health & wellness, fitness, & more. What the team recognized was the need for increased revenue & how that relates to membership. Working with the YMCA, the team identified a membership program that was underutilized & unknown by most: corporate memberships.
As the YMCA is dedicated to serving the community, corporate memberships are about much more than working out at a gym – they’re about giving employees a step-up in childcare, community relationship, and wellness opportunities. Of the companies who had purchased corporate memberships, there was a keen opportunity for the class to help the companies spread the word among employees. The class helped the YMCA build an educational plan and offered tools to help make better communication of member benefits available. Team Village People focused their project on developing information packets, following the YMCA marketing requirements, that could be reviewed with local businesses on the availability of the YMCA’s corporate membership option. By increasing their corporate partners, the YMCA could see an increase in individual membership and in turn see an increase in revenue that would allow them to continue to improve & market their facilities, programs, fundraising, and more.
Team Village People was motivated by their belief that happy and healthy employees are more productive and the work environment is more positive.
You can learn more about the GSV YMCA’s corporate memberships HERE.
Class of 2018
Team Children's Museum - Lewisburg Children's Museum
Team Children’s Museum worked with the Lewisburg Children’s Museum on marketing when meeting with potential community business partners and sponsors. The team ultimately built power point for the Museun to use that included:
Museum facts (including its mission and programming)
Floor plans (showcasing the layout and exhibits they have to offer)
Future plans (pictures of the spaces the Museum wanted use to build new exhibits)
Proposal ideas (including dimensions of the “store fronts” the Museum wanted to utilize)
Sponsorship information (such as breakdows of the donations needed for each exhibit, mural, or mini-exhibit)
Responsibility information (sprecifically regarding what sponsors need to do to maintain an exhibit)
Team Mental Health - Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way
Team Mental Health created an inaugural event, which was open to 40 youth-serving leaders, and highlighted how to identify mental health crises in youth and how to support them. Participants learned to identify the signs of mental health crises and substance abuse in youth as well as tips on how to offer support and place referrals. The training was a joint venture between Leadership Susquehanna Valley, the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, and the Northumberland County Opioid Coalition and covered by the Daily Item.
You can click HERE to see the event flyer.
This event was the first of its kind in the region. The United Way plans to offer additional Mental Health trainings.
The group also created a guide for the United Way for follow-up events.
Team Opioid Prevention - Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way
Team Opioid Prevention created a pamphlet for distribution among pharmacies, aging offices, and businesses in the Susquehanna Valley. The pamphlet includes information on the proper storage and disposal of medication, as well as examples of opioids and visible signs of drug use. Team members also presented the information to local senior action centers. Pamphlets were provided to the United Way for further distribution. Even today, you will find these pamphlets around the valley - in waiting rooms and doctors’ offices!
Team REC - Selinsgrove REC
The Selinsgrove REC needed a tool to engage and interact with its camp counselors and campers. LSV Team Rec helped them find the right tool - that continues to be used every day!
With the REC’s new program, the kids sign in - families reported using it to see if their children have checked in. The REC uses it to send receipts for payments for our rental and exercise class payments as well. This is a handy tool, as Exercise class participants use the receipts to be reimbursed by their insurance.
Perhaps the best capability is that families use the direct link from the REC website to register for summer camp, and the REC uses the program to generate data for them to plan camp, see who attends, and apply for grants.
Class of 2017
Team Camp - Camp Karoondinha
Team Camp’s goal was to find a way to promote Camp Karoondinha (Camp K) as a four-season resource within the seven county region. The team created a four-quarter marketing plan layered with a variety of marketing tactics. Along with the marketing plan, they created a camp rental brochure focusing on non-scout use of the camp, revamped the scouting brochure, developed a PowerPoint presentation to use at events, and researched reservation software to help with camp rentals. At the conclusion of the LSV program, they handed the marketing plan and materials to the Scout lead for use in the upcoming year.
Team Evan - Evangelical Community Hospital
Team Evan was tasked by Evangelical Community Hospital to do two things:
Take a look at current cancer screening guidelines (American Cancer Society (ACS) and US preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)) and provide a one page summary of those guidelines in a more concise and easy to follow format for patients looking for information; the solution was the GAP Chart (Guidelines. Awareness. Prevention.).
To rework/reformat their patient intake form to add some new information and again make it more concise and easy to follow for patients.
The team accomplished both of these tasks beautifully, as you can see in these examples.
Before
After
Team Time Bank - Susquehanna Valley Time Bank
The Susquehanna Valley Time Bank is a community organization in which individual participants could trade services with one another without exchanging currency. The time bank provided a platform for participants to connect, “advertise” their skills, and make requests for services. One of the key values of the time bank is its record keeping of hours worked by individuals. For example, if you planted shrubs for a member you’d log your hours into the time bank and use these logged hours in the future to “pay” for computer training that you received from another member.
What Team Time Bank did was help the Time Bank explore business participation in the time bank program. It was unclear if businesses were interested in participating and how exactly it would work. To move the project forward the LSV team hosted an event (Time Bank Mixer) with the time bank leaders and key business leaders to share what time banking is and to gain insight from the business leaders’ thoughts and suggestions. It was a very interactive meeting amongst the crowd and a lot of great ideas and critical feedback were formed. In order to prepare for the event, Team Time Bank helped the Susquehanna Valley Time Bank develop a brochure, marketing plan, and membership application.
Team United - Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way
The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way was looking for an event sign-up solution to manage their volunteer database and to provide an easily accessible method for volunteers to sign-up for events. Team United helped create a software solution for the GSV United Way volunteer database.
The United Way was looking for a software solution to manage their volunteer database. The solution had to be able to house the demographics of all volunteers, but also capable of managing ongoing communication, track hours of service, be interactive for the volunteers, and could not exceeding a certian cost.
Team United conducted online research to find available volunteer management software solutions. Three vendors were chosen based upon their online content. Team members called each vendor to gather specific attributes of the software and how they would meet the needs of the United Way. Ultimately, the team helped locate the best tool for the GSV United Way at a cost well below the budgeted amount.
Class of 2016
Team CASA - Susquehanna Valley CASA - Voices for Children
Team Child was able to produce a brief video for Susquehanna Valley CASA to be used for educational purposes and to encourage people to volunteer. They were tasked with full-creation of the video, including: story board, script, filming, editing, and producing.
The team secured assistance from Seven Mountains Media and Mark Lawrence. As you watch the video, it is clear to see why everyone is proud of the finished product.
Team Mediation - Central Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center
Team Mediation created a business plan for the Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center. They worked with Susan Jordan, the Executive Director (pictured). One of her personal struggles was that she did so much on her own and was spread thin and couldn’t get the ball rolling quick enough on making changes to better the Center. The team gave her ideas on how to add staff via college internships and local high schools in order to increase her resources on a budget.
The team also made several short-term and long-term recommendations for how to give the Center more presence and name recognition in the Valley with a steps on how to complete each task – in order to help spread the message about what the Center is and what they do.
You can learn more about Susquehanna Valley Mediation Center, HERE!
Team Scout - Boy Scouts of America
Team Scout focused on spreading the word about the Explorer Program for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Over the course of the year, they helped develop a volunteer committee to: develop Explorer posts, design and implement activities, assist with fundraising, and ensure success of programs. Much of this was accomplished when Team Scout helped the BSA organize an event that:
Identified personal and local business prospects
SUN Tech student designed and printed invitations
BSA mailed invitations
Solicited donations for food and venue
Received donated materials to reduce cost
Identified Panel Members and invited BSA Administrators
BSA provided marketing materials
The event was held at CSIU with light refreshments, door prizes, networking, an Explorer presentation, and a panel discussion (between BSA Leaders, community Explorer posts, and Explorer testimonials). The event was a success, having seen approximately 30 community members attend.
“2016 Exploring Explosion by LSV Team Scout, displayed leadership in action. It created a win-win-win-win situation for the members of Team Scout, the BSA’s Explorer Program, LSV and our community.”
Linda Brown
Team Special - Special Olympics PA, Union County
LSV Team Special was tasked to help the Special Olympics PA, Union County with a long term tool for volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and public outreach. After multiple meetings and calls with the SOPAUC, the team felt the best way to help would be the a detailed, in depth, tactical plan. This plan outlined best practices for advertising, fundraising, and recruitment. It included an extensive list of contacts that could assist with any or all of these areas, as well as a list of new, fresh ideas and the outline on how to achieve their objectives. The team had the tactical plan published in print and digital format, provided a digital database of media contacts and fundraising contacts, and created/published a no-cost website for the group. You can view this website, HERE. Further, the team helped the SOPAUC with press releases and provided templates for future press releases for their different announcements.
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