‘Neighbors helping neighbors’: York County nonprofits tell lawmakers what they need

Community organizations in York County shared how they are helping people in hard times and recommendations for policy changes during a public policy hearing.

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  Haley O'Brien joined WITF in 2026. A native of Scranton, she enjoys exploring Pennsylvania's diverse communities. Haley previously worked at NPR/PBS stations in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, and has won awards for video storytelling and beat reporting.

The Pennsylvania House Republican Minority Policy Committee heard from community organizations in northern York County about how they are helping residents navigate difficult economic times – and what policy changes they say could help them do more.

The public hearing, titled “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” was held at New Hope Ministries in Dillsburg.

New Hope Executive Director Eric Saunders testified about the nonprofit, which has 10 locations in York, Adams and Cumberland counties.

“We’re serving double the number of people and providing more than double the number of services than we were just five years ago,” he said.

New Hope provides economic assistance while also focusing on long-term stability through job resources, education services and other programs. Its food pantry operates like a free grocery store.

“The goal is not for us to become a replacement income source,” Saunders said. “It’s to be able to get you over the hump and get you to a place where you’re able to be more self-sufficient.”

Shirley Fortunado is one of many who benefit from New Hope’s services.

She told lawmakers her story about moving to Dillsburg, becoming a member of Calvary Methodist Church, and receiving assistance with car trouble and a recent surgery.

“Members of Calvary took me to the hospital, sat with me, took me to PT, prepared food for me and provided much needed company during my recovery time,” she said.

Calvary’s pastor Thad Sales said he receives requests weekly.

“Individuals call the church asking for financial assistance with rent,” he said. “I’ve had people stop by the church needing something as a few bucks for gas to get to work.”

The church’s thrift shop spends part of its proceeds giving back to other nonprofit organizations.

“While there are so many wonderful neighbors helping neighbors, it can only go so far,” Sales said. “We need our elected officials to catch up to this reality and help address the needs we are seeing.”

Rodney Carberry, Commander of the American Legion in Dillsburg, asked members of the committee to make policy changes that would help the nonprofit continue.

He wants the state to regulate skill games, which he says the post earns $5,000 a month from, and increase a limit on small games of chance.

“We’re just asking to eliminate the cap or raise it,” he said. “Allow us to make more money so that we can give more money.”

Carberry said the legion gives back to countless other nonprofits and school districts.

An organization working to advocate for an update to the small games of chance law, Play PA for Charity, recently honored the Dillsburg American Legion post with a community impact award.

“We should be treated differently than the gas station up the street that jammed 10 machines in their building so that they can make pure profit off those machines,” Carberry said.

“I don’t think the general public knows what you do with the funds that you raise,” said Rep. Barb Gleim (R-199). “We need to deal with the bad actors and we need to continue to support all of the organizations… because you do give back.”

Rep. Marc Anderson agreed on drawing a difference between nonprofits and businesses that operate skill games and expressed frustration with the lack of progress.

“We have ignored this, kicked it down the road, and now we’re scrambling. This could have been fixed a long time ago. And there were ideas for fixes long ago,” he said.

• Sources:
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