REAL Life Community Services

09/01/2026

This First Friday is a little more meaningful. 💙

September is Hunger Action Month, a time to raise awareness of food insecurity and, more importantly, turn that awareness into action.

And every year, National Food Bank Day falls on the same day as our First Friday Food Drive!

We’re inviting our community to help us mark the day by doing more than simply remembering the need. Start a food drive at your workplace, church, business, or organization. Add a few extra items to your grocery cart. Invite your friends and family to collect together. Then bring those donations to REAL Life Community Services.

Every can, box, and bottle helps us keep our shelves stocked for local neighbors who need a little extra support.

📅 Friday, September 4
⏰ 3–5 PM
📍 Warehouse916, 240 Main St., Denver, PA 17517
Located behind the Declaration House

We’ve included our current list of most-needed items below. Please help us spread the word and encourage others to take action against hunger this September!

Hunger is a community issue, and fighting it is something we can do together.

08/31/2026

The Adamstown Area Library does such an amazing job at providing engaging, interesting and most excitingly- FREE- programs to the families in our community, and they do not get enough credit for all that they do. If you have the time, check out some of their amazing programs for people of all ages!

👀 Peek at the Week! 👀

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening at the library this week!
Here’s your color key:

🟩 Everyone — All Ages
🟨 Kids
🟪 Teens & Tweens
🟦 Adults

Save this post, and we hope to see you there! 📚

08/31/2026

We are so thankful for Ease the Burden and all they have been able to provide to Warehouse916 and the food distribution programs that serve our community!

The name Ease the Burden couldn’t be more fitting. Their support has helped ease the burden of finding ways to provide fresh produce to the families we serve, while also helping ease the burden on those families by giving them access to healthy options when they shop with us.

Because of partners like Ease the Burden, our neighbors have more choices and the ability to bring nutritious foods home to stock their own pantries.

Thank you, Ease the Burden, for all that you are doing for our community! We couldn’t connect our neighbors to the kind of Hope we see every day without partners like you.

❤️ To Our Amazing Partners…

We just want to take a moment to say thank you.

In August, because of your support and partnership, 1,616 pounds of fresh, healthy food made its way to people in our community who needed it.

That number is exciting, but what really matters to us are the people behind it. The families who had one less thing to worry about. The individuals who received fresh, nutritious food when they needed it most. The reminder that their community cares about them.

None of this happens without you.

Thank you for opening doors, sharing resources, showing up, and believing in what we’re doing at Ease the Burden. We are truly grateful to have you alongside us.

1,616 pounds of food. So many people helped. One incredible community. 🌱❤️

Thank you for helping us ease the burden.
🥕🍠🍎🍌🍑🥔

Hoober Produce
The Factory Ministries
REAL Life Community Services
North Star Initiative
The Potter's House

08/28/2026

🐾 We Have a Winner! 🏆

The votes are in, and the results are official...

Hope won by a landslide! 🐶💙

After our National Dog Day post asking which REAL Life pup should become our official office dog, there was one clear favorite: Hope!

Honestly, we probably should have seen it coming. After all, Connecting the Community to Hope is what we do every day. It looks like Hope is just doing her part to keep us on mission. 😂🐾

Congratulations, Hope! We look forward to seeing you fulfill your new responsibilities as REAL Life's unofficial (but overwhelmingly elected) office dog.

08/27/2026

🎀 Throwback Thursday: 7 Years of the Declaration House! 🏠💙

On August 27, 2019, we gathered for the ribbon cutting of a building that had already been through quite a transformation.

Today, we're throwing it back to that day and celebrating 7 years of the Declaration House! 🎉

The property we know today as the Declaration House has a long history in the Denver community. Originally built in 1863 as a 22-room hotel and bar, the Denver House was once a significant part of the community. Over the years, however, the property deteriorated and became a source of concern for many who lived nearby.

We also know that people remember the Denver House differently. Some remember good times and meaningful memories, while others remember a very different side of the property. Both are part of its history.

When REAL Life Community Services purchased the property, we saw an opportunity to help write a new chapter.

With the help of 200 volunteers, more than 2,000 volunteer hours, and 26 dumpsters of debris, the property was transformed into something that could once again serve the community.

And seven years later, that transformation continues.

Today, the Declaration House is home to:

🏢 REAL Life Community Services offices
🦷 Union Community Care's dental office
🛒 Willow Creek Discount Grocery
🏡 10 apartments that are affordable

For seven years, the Declaration House has been more than a building. It has been a place where people can find resources, opportunity, stability, and hope, all under one roof.

And as we celebrate this milestone, we're also bringing our 15th Anniversary Summer Campaign to a close. ☀️

For the past few months, we've taken you behind the scenes, shared memories, introduced you to the people and partnerships that have shaped REAL Life, and looked back at some of the moments that brought us to where we are today.

From REAL Youth Ministry to REAL Life Community Services.

From the Denver House to the Declaration House.

From a small beginning to 15 years of Connecting Our Community to Hope.

The story of the Declaration House is, in many ways, a reflection of the story of REAL Life itself: what happens when people see a need, believe something can be different, and come together to make that change possible.

These memories are more than just a look back. They're reminders of what can happen when a community comes together with a vision, a willingness to serve, and a whole lot of faith. 💙

Seven years of the Declaration House.
Fifteen years of REAL Life.
And still, we're just writing the next chapter.

Thank you for being part of the story. Here's to the next chapter! 🥂

08/27/2026

One more stop on our Dine Out for a Cause lineup! 🍦💙

We've made it through nearly two weeks of delicious meals, local restaurants, and a whole lot of community support. Now there's one more chance to join us!

Our final Dine Out for a Cause partner is ! 🎉

Whether you're stopping in for a sweet treat, grabbing a coffee, meeting up with friends, or simply looking for a reason to indulge, your purchase can help make a difference.

📅 Thursday, August 27th
🍰 TIn Roof Cafe n' Sweets
📍 108-I N, Reading Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522

A portion of your purchase will be donated to REAL Life Community Services, helping us continue connecting local individuals and families to hope and opportunity.

This is our last Dine Out for a Cause stop, so let's make it count! Bring your friends, bring the family, and come enjoy one more delicious way to give back to our community. 💙

Tag someone who needs an excuse for a little treat! 👇

08/26/2026

Wondering Wednesday: Who Should Be REAL Life's Official Office Dog?
It's National Dog Day, which means it's time for our annual introduction to some of the furry members of the REAL Life family! 🐾
But this year, we're wondering something very important...
If REAL Life could have an official office dog, which one of these pups should get the job?
Take a look through the lineup and cast your vote in the comments! 👇
We're not saying the winner gets an actual job at REAL Life... but we're also not saying they don't. 🐾

08/26/2026

Tomorrow’s coffee run can make a difference!

We’re continuing Dine Out for a Cause with tomorrow, and this one gives you plenty of ways to join us!

☕ Grab your morning coffee
🥐 Stop in for breakfast
🥪 Meet a friend for lunch
🍽️ Stay for dinner..or just treat yourself to your favorite drink!

When you visit Cocalico Coffee Crafters tomorrow, a portion of your purchase will be donated to REAL Life Community Services, helping us continue connecting local individuals and families to hope and opportunity.

📅 Tomorrow | Thursday, August 27
☕ Cocalico Coffee Crafters
📍 11 Long Ave, Ephrata, PA 17522

Whether you're starting your day with caffeine, meeting a friend, or making your afternoon coffee run, you can turn your usual stop into an opportunity to give back.

And don't forget, we still have one more Dine Out for a Cause restaurant coming up after tomorrow! 👀

Tag your coffee crew and make plans to join us! 👇

08/25/2026

$20,000 Match: Help Us Finish Strong!
We have some exciting news, and we’re asking our REAL Life community to help us make the most of it! 🎉
A generous donor has offered a $20,000 matching gift to help REAL Life Community Services finish our financial year strong. And we’re getting close!
$14,853 of the $20,000 match has already been met. That means we have just over $5,000 left to go!
Our financial year runs from September through August, and as many nonprofits experience, the summer months tend to be the slimmest when it comes to donations. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has hosted fundraisers for REAL Life this summer, and for the local businesses partnering with us through Dine Out For a Cause. Your support has made a real difference.
Now, we’d love to cross the finish line together before August 31!
Here are a few ways you can help:
🍽️ Dine out! Visit one of our remaining Dine Out For a Cause partners this week and help support REAL Life while enjoying a meal, coffee, or dessert.
💙 Give directly! A gift to REAL Life will help us take full advantage of this $20,000 matching opportunity.
🙏 Pray! Pray that God will provide the resources we need to meet this match and finish our financial year strong, so we can continue connecting our community to Hope throughout the year ahead.
We’re $5,147 away from meeting the full $20,000 match. Can you help us get there before August 31?
Every meal, every gift, every prayer brings us one step closer. Thank you for helping REAL Life end this financial year on solid ground and ready for what God has ahead. ❤️

08/25/2026

📚 Teaching Tuesday
As students prepare to head back to school, one important question remains for many families:
How do we make sure there's enough food to get through the weekend?
For some children, school breakfast and lunch provide consistent meals during the week. But when Friday afternoon arrives, families may still face the challenge of stretching their grocery budget until Monday.
That's where Power Packs comes in. 💙
Each week during the school year, participating families receive:
🥣 Pantry staples like cereal and peanut butter
🥘 Ingredients for a nutritious, budget-friendly family meal
📖 A recipe card to help prepare that meal at home
Power Packs is about more than providing food. It's about equipping families with practical tools, encouraging healthy meals at home, and helping children return to school on Monday ready to learn.
This program is made possible through the generosity of local churches, businesses, volunteers, and community members who come together to support families throughout the Cocalico School District.
🗓️ Registration for the 2026-2027 Power Packs program is open!
If your family could benefit from this program, or if you'd like to support it through donations, a food drive, or volunteering, we'd love to connect with you.
📞 717-336-7797 ext. 210
Together, we're helping ensure that every child has the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.