SoWe

11/06/2025

🍝Fill your food cupboards for FREE! 🥖

Our annual Food Box Giveaway is back again, the Saturday morning after the Extra Give, November 22nd from 9:30am - 11:30am (or until we run out of boxes.) Pro Tip: We usually give out all the boxes before the 2 hours are up. So we advise arriving early!

SoWe will be handing out 350 large, food boxes filled with an assortment of food items, out of the parking lot of Culliton Park (210 S Water St). We create a drive thru line, where we load your car for you - so all you have to do is get in line! Walkers are also welcome (although we recommend bringing a cart, if you can, because the boxes are quite heavy)!

We will not know in advance what specific groceries items are included and please note the boxes are not directly Thanksgiving related - but they usually include a mixture of staples (bread, rice, pasta) and specialty items (snacks, meats, produce, unique treats!).

These food boxes are for EVERYONE - no questions asked, no ID or forms necessary. Just neighbors supporting neighbors in being well fed!

🤝If you'd like to help hand out the food boxes, like these two smiling faces did last year (P.S. kids are strongly encouraged to volunteer!): Please email our volunteer lead, Nicole Miller: [email protected]. Coffee and donuts will be provided!

11/05/2025

Well it is safe to say that you all certainly know how to put the TREAT In Trick or Treat!! 🍬🎃👻 What an absolute DELIGHT to have had over 800 (!!) neighbors come through the doors at the Rec this past Friday for Halloween! We loved seeing your incredible costumes -- skeletons, dinosaurs, unicorns, and our favorite: whole families dressed up in group costumes!!! With two floors of activities for kids of all ages, decorations around every nook & cranny, and candy buckets OVERFLOWING, we are just blown away by the enthusiasm this neighborhood has for Halloween and getting to celebrate together 🧟‍♀️💚🧟

Thank you so much to the for taking the lead on planning & hosting this year's event, to all the volunteers who created so much MAGIC for our kiddos, and all the neighbors & community members who donated candy to make it all happen. Major shoutout to Shelby of for these stunning photos -- just a sneak peak while we compile a whole album to be posted later on Facebook. Thank you and HAPPY HALLOWEEN SoWe! 🎃

10/31/2025

🎃💀👻 Tonight’s THE Night - no more waiting - JOIN US for our big Trick-or-Treat blow out at Lancaster Rec! 👻💀🎃

🍫 We’ve got the CANDY and nearly 20 themed activities (for all ages) covered! So all you have to bring is your creative costume and a spooky crew in tow (yes we’re serious - please bring as many friends, family and neighbors as you can assemble! This holiday is all about community and meeting new neighbors- so let’s go BIG!)

We can’t wait to have a FRIGHTFULLY fun night with all of you!

🗓️Tonight - Friday, October 31st
⏰6pm - 8pm
📍Lancaster Rec - 525 Fairview Ave

SPOOK you soon SoWe!

10/31/2025

🌟 ONE MONTH until the Extraordinary Give! 🌟

Every Friday until the big day, November 21, we’ll be highlighting some of our current EXTRAORDINARY neighborhood projects that your donations make possible!

💡 Did you know? We provide mentorship, marketing support, supplies, and funding to help residents bring their creative ideas to life — from block events, beautification projects, to new neighborhood amenities and improvements.

🐾 Take one neighbor’s “Scoop the P**p Pilot” for example!

Bunny (the adorable pup pictured above!) inspired her family to tackle an unfortunately common neighborhood issue — dog waste piling up along their favorite walking route. Frustrated by the daily mess, they decided to turn that frustration into action! With a little funding (from the City’s Love Your Block Grant) and support (from SoWe via local connections, marketing and neighbor engagement), they started installing free p**p bag stations, trash cans, regularly rotating education signs, and even chalking “Pick it Up” reminders beside any abandoned poo piles.

Fun fact: 🐶 Dog waste isn’t harmless! It pollutes our water, spreads disease, and sticks around far longer than you think. Even in natural areas like tree wells - it’s everyone’s problem.

Bunny’s family’s creative, caring and wholistic approach has made a visible difference — keeping sidewalks (and tree wells) cleaner, raising awareness, and inspiring other neighbors to pitch in, too. 🌳💩❤️

👉 Mark your calendar for November 21 and help us support more innovative resident ideas like this one, by donating during the !

10/30/2025

Do you own a business in SoWe (or want to someday?) Do you live in SoWe, and own your own business? Do you work remotely and desire to switch up your location and/or have co-workers on occasion?

If any of the above are true for you - be sure to not miss this fantastic opportunity to network, collaborate and connect! Please join us on Thursday, November 13th from 5pm to 7pm at one of our recent businesses to move into SoWe ! 👏👏👏 (What rockstars for hosting and warm welcome to the neighborhood!)

In addition to valuable camaraderie and connection, there will be free, yummy appetizers and a chance to learn more about SoWe and tell us ways we can better support you and your business!

Please RSVP, by calling Amos Stoltzfus, SoWe Director at 717.358.9358 or emailing at [email protected].

We can’t wait to MIX & mingle with you!

10/28/2025

Just in time for Halloween, this SoWe story is extra sweet!! 🍬

When we decided to raffle off this beautifully hand-painted trash can (shout out to the talented Kim for her one-of-a-kind masterpiece) at our Fall Earth Day Celebration, we thought it would be cute to give each attendee a ticket for every year they’ve lived in the neighborhood…then we remembered our good friend and long-time SoWe Board Member Dick. Dick and his family have graced West Vine Street for over a century, and it is no surprise that one of his SEVENTY-SEVEN raffle tickets was pulled as the winner!

Dick’s home was originally owned by his grandparents, then bought by his parents, who then went on to sell it to him and his wife in the 1980s. Dick and his wife, who has now lived here for an equally impressive 59 years, then went on to raise their children on the Hill, which he lovingly refers to as home.

“Yeah, I guess I like it, I’ve been here for 77 years!” was his typical cheeky response when asked how he likes living in the neighborhood. “I have a lot of nostalgia for this place. I love our block, love our neighbors. It feels good to be connected to and attached to something. This place just feels like home.” And Dick has worked hard to make his home -- his neighborhood – a great place for everyone to grow up, as he was one of the committed neighbors who helped establish SoWe back in 2016!

Thank you, Dick, for your many years of dedication, support, and generosity to this lovely place you call home; we’re so glad you now have a trash can that matches the beauty you’ve helped create!

10/16/2025

Our truly GLOWING Fall Earth Day Event Photos are HERE for the taking!

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, these stunning photos are especially chatty! You can quite literally feel the warmth, excitement, exuberance and blossoming relationships created during this event! Part of that is the extreme talent of our pro photographer 👏👏👏 and the other part of that is YOU, our unmatched, beautiful volunteers, neighbors and community partners!

Thank you for knowing no bounds when it comes to celebrating each other AND more deeply getting to know our stunning, impressive, and wildly important Mother Earth!

You can find the full photo album of the day on our page!

10/16/2025

10/16/2025

Today is our Last, Neighborhood Meal (no cost) of the season! So to all who’ve been coming - please come dine with us one last time! And for those who haven’t made it yet - we’d love to meet you!

The details:
TODAY - Thursday, October 16th
from 5-7pm
at 285 Conestoga St

Tonight’s Menu: Cozy soup, bread, desserts (including ice cream) and drinks!

All neighbors are welcome - those living in, and out, of SoWe! No need to bring anything other than your appetite and if possible, a neighbor/friend! See you soon!

10/10/2025

🍃When the cool fall winds start to blow, you know what that means 🥁🥁🥁our annual Trick-Or-Treat Event with is nearly here (just THREE WEEKS AWAY)!!!

👻So bring your most elaborate costume, your candy bucket/pillowcase, and most importantly, your biggest gaggle of family and friends and get ready to have a Spooky Good Time with us!

🎃On Halloween night, Friday, October 31st from 6pm - 8pm at 525 Fairview Avenue, Lancaster Rec will be filled top to bottom (that's right, two floors, floor to ceiling!) with Halloween decorations, over a dozen themed activities, and overflowing amounts of candy!!! As always with our events - this event is completely FREE!

☠️For those who make this boo-tiful event an annual tradition - we have brand new activities you've never seen before, including: Spooky Story Time with , Monster Soccer Kick, Pin the Bone on the Skeleton, and a Haunted House that's twice as big as last year!

🦇We can't wait to have an un-fang-gettable time with all of you!

🧛Volunteers Needed!
Help us create a fun, safe, and truly special Halloween experience for our community by volunteering for one of our activities! Sign-up through the link below (also found in our bio) or email Mathieu, [email protected].

Volunteer Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845AEAB22A0F8C43-58048504-trick #/