The Gifts That Give Hope Podcast: Recent Episodes
Aimee McGrath
GTGH is proud to bring you The Gifts That Give Hope, to do a deeper dive into the stories behind the nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, food trucks, marketplace vendors, and beyond who are part of the GTGH family. Lancaster, PA, is a special place where the gift fair has had the opportunity to flourish for the past 15 years in an environment that yearns to support the endeavors of philanthropists, visionaries, and dreamers who use their gifts and abilities to make the community at large a better place for all. In these episodes, you’ll have the chance to meet some of the founders, directors, participants, and volunteers who shape our community as they provide a welcoming working environment for people who face barriers to employment, music lessons for vulnerable children, efforts to eliminate food insecurity, decrease isolation, provide affordable housing and much more. We encourage you to listen and then come to meet the people behind the stories at the annual fair held here in Lancaster!! Join us on December 11, 2022, to get a first-hand glimpse at the beauty of a community coming together to bring HOPE in a tumultuous and uncertain world.
In today’s episode we’re in the studio with Christina Duncan, the Executive Director at Milagro House, a group home for women and children that emphasizes educational advancement to achieve greater economic opportunities. Since its founding in 1998, Milagro House has helped nearly 2,000 women achieve their education, live independently in affordable homes and apartments, and become proud, contributing members of their community.
On today’s episode, we have Valentina Ross and Rachel Helwig from Church World Services in the studio to discuss the services CWS provides for newly arrived refugees, and why Lancaster has earned the title “America’s Refugee capital.”
Today I’m talking with Lee and Marcy DeReemer from Lifecycles, an after-school cycling program that provides physical activity and life skills training for teens during their crucial years of development and opportunity. On today’s show we’ll discuss how mentorship and achievement in Lifecyles brings out the best in teens and their families.
Today we’re talking with Amy Thurston, founder of "Hope Inspire Love", a non-profit that fights sex trafficking and sexual exploitation through Outreach & Awareness, Prevention, and Trauma-Informed Mentorship.
Today we’re talking with Risa Paskoff, the executive director and one of the founders of Aaron’s Acres. Also joining us is Melissa Rasovich, whose son Matty has been a camper at Aaron’s Acres for eight years.
For the parents of children and young adults with medical and developmental disabilities, sending them to summer camp is not easy.
Depending on the nature of a disability, many camps cannot provide the care necessary for a child to be safely away from their parents or caregivers.
This scarcity of options is what motivated Risa Paskoff and a group of parents to create Aarons Acres, a summer camp staffed with medical and behavioral professionals which provide differently abled children with the socialization and fun every kid deserves to experience.
**Today I’m talking with Kim McDevitt, the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Lancaster County. We’ll be discussing the services and support they provide to individuals and families in need across Lancaster, advancing MHA’s mission: promoting optimal mental health through advocacy, education, and support.
Learn how MHA of Lancaster is working hard to provide services, especially during these difficult times.**
**Today in the studio we’re talking with Lanny Millette, Director of Donor Operations at The Potter’s House, an addiction recovery program that takes a faith-based approach to help people struggling with addiction.
Jonathan, a graduate of Potters House, also joins us in the studio to talk about his experiences in the program.**
On today’s show I’m talking with Luisa Tapia, the founder and owner of My Peruvian Treasures, where she sells contemporary, high-quality clothing and accessories produced sustainably by artisans and designers from her native Peru, Guatemala, India, and other developing countries.
Through her shop and her dedication to the slow fashion movement, she is changing the perspective of her customers here in the United States and improving the lives of her artisan partners around the world.
On today’s show, I’m talking with Will Keifer, Executive Director of the Bench Mark program.
Will started Bench Mark to provide opportunities and a support network to underserved and at-risk students in Lancaster through a program that combines fitness training with mentoring.
**Today, Bench Mark provides not only fitness training and the flagship mentorship program, but career development, academic coaching, and a year-long, and 500+ hour leadership development program.
We're excited to bring this podcast to you by Gifts That Give Hope!**
On today’s show, I’m talking with Sri Dasgupta from Upohar World Kitchen and her partner Christina Maldonado from Criollo. Sri has been a passionate advocate for the power of a social enterprise in Lancaster for over a decade. And she has transformed her beliefs into action through her food businesses, “sharing gifts” of global cuisine - made by local women - with the community. Not only is their food unbelievably delicious... the story is phenomenal too!
Revolution jewelry provides a supportive community and supplemental income to women affected by homelessness or facing barriers.
We came from humble beginnings; our founders simply showed up at a women’s emergency shelter at our local YWCA in 2014. They would braid hair, paint nails, and listen. Many of the women at the shelter mentioned they had not had a positive physical touch in a long time. It became apparent very quickly that as well as housing, food, and other basic needs, these women needed community.
We saw the huge impact that showing up for our neighbors had. Not just for the women at the shelter, but for us as well, recognizing we are all women who experience joy, pain, and everything in between. Regardless of status, we all have inherent worth.
From volunteering at the shelter, and seeing the need for community and transitional employment, we grew into a non-profit social enterprise offering two programs every Wednesday.
Shop Revolution at the GTGH Marketplace each year and online year-long at Present Lancaster/GTGH
GTGH Podcast: THE GIVE HOPE MESSAGE
We support the work of non-profit organizations right here in Lancaster and those that work all over the world as well as fair trade gifts and social enterprise. We wanted to bring you this limited podcast series to introduce you to some of the local partners/volunteers in our wonderful community that has been so supportive of Present Lancaster and Gifts That Give Hope.
GTGH Is excited to welcome Central PA Animal Alliance
Started by Zella Anderson who is a passionate advocate for protecting all breeds of dogs and finding them a loving home after they have undergone training with the inmates at the prison. The program that Zella is talking about today with Steve and his dog Dozer on the show is called “HOPE: Hounds of Prison Education” where dogs spend a period of time with the inmates as they prepare to go to their forever homes.
In a touching and poignant interview, Steve shares how participating in the program completely turned his life around and gave him hope again. The HOPE program through the Central PA animal alliance and Zella’s compassionate and loving approach to her groundbreaking work brings a true beacon of hope and a 2nd chance for both the men caring and training the dogs and the dogs themselves.
Find out more by visiting the Central PA Animal Alliance.
Meet Pastor Matt Lenahan, who in his early childhood and youth vehemently declared he would not be a farmer for his chosen profession-as he spent many hours under a hot sun planting and harvesting the vegetables on his family’s farm in upstate New York.
After entering the ministry as a Lutheran Pastor, however, Matt’s unrelenting passion for ending hunger and food insecurity landed him on the Wittel Farm In Elizabethtown PA where he and his team of hundreds if not thousands of volunteers plant, tend to, and harvest thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables to be distributed to those who would not have access to fresh produce.
Learn more about ending food insecurity in this episode and plan on stopping in on December 11, 2022, to visit Matt and hear all about the 2022 growing season at The Gifts That Give Hope Gift Fair.
Stroopies and GTGH are both 15 years old and have grown up together. In this episode, we’ll get to hear the passion and commitment of founder and director Jennie Groff who employs over 20 women hailing from all corners of the globe as they’ve sought asylum and peace in their new Lancaster community.
Stroopies provides the platform and safe space to start a new life that includes building community while creating thousands and thousands of the highly sought-after "stroopwafel".
Visit our website for more information on Stroopies and the Gift Fair! https://presentlancaster.com/partners