Solanco Neighborhood Ministries

The Solanco Food Bank began in 1990 in the basement of a local church in Quarryville, PA. As community needs grew, it became clear that in addition to the food bank there was a need for a community hub, a central place for families in the southern end to share their struggles and meet with someone who could help. In 2012, the Solanco Pastor’s Fellowship created Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM), a faith-based, 501(c)(3) organization committed to meeting the needs of our food insecure and under-resourced neighbors. SNM’s service area includes the entire Solanco School District and parts of Penn Manor and Lampeter-Strasburg school districts. The areas SNM serves are considered moderate-high food insecurity areas according to the Hunger Free Mapping Project report, 2023.

SNM assists with basic food, clothing, housing, and utility needs. The food bank is SNM’s largest program, providing a choice pantry to families, a self-serve lobby, a weekend meals program that serves 290 local students each week, a summer meals program for these students and their families, holiday meals, and more. SNM has a heat match program and also has (limited) funds available to assist with housing, utilities, and work-related expenses.

SNM has two Resource Advocates who meet with individuals experiencing higher-level needs, such as homelessness, eviction, utility shut-off notices, domestic violence, etc. One-on-one budget counseling helps neighbors make better financial decisions, reduce debt, and plan and save for the future. SNM further provides programs and workshops to help our neighbors grow and become more socially connected; examples include community workshops, cooking classes, bible and book studies, Pastor’s Office Hours, and more.

Examples of how your gift can be used:

• $25- the cost of toiletries, cleaning, and laundry supplies given with each food order
• $50- the cost of providing a holiday meal
• $105- the cost of sending home weekend meals to 15 local students
• $300- the amount of money SNM provides as a heat match to families in the winter
• $550- average monthly cost to keep the ministry’s 9 refrigerators/freezers running and its lights on
• $1800- the average cost to help a family each year with food, heat, counseling and more