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Dear Friends,
“Wow, that really snowballed.”
We’ve all said it. But for those with limited resources, a minor setback can quickly snowball into a much bigger issue.
Recently, “Craig” – a participant in our Horizons transitional housing program – waited at PennDOT for almost four hours on a warm Saturday afternoon to pay a fee required to reinstate his license, which was suspended following a series of snowballing misfortunes.
It all started a year ago when Craig lost his housing. While living in his car, Craig was cited for having an expired vehicle registration. Typically, that’s an easy fix. But the local magistrate’s office mailed instructions for entering a plea of guilty or not guilty to Craig’s last permanent address – a house to which he no longer had access. Because Craig didn’t respond to the mail (that he didn’t receive), a warrant was issued for his arrest. PennDOT sent a separate notice (again, to Craig’s prior address) instructing him to enter a plea within 14 days to avoid suspension of his license. Craig didn’t receive the notice and, unbeknownst to him, his license was suspended.
I once allowed my car inspection to expire – for months! I didn’t mean to, it was an oversight. I promptly paid the fine, with no difficulties or other adverse consequences. But for someone experiencing homelessness, that minor traffic citation can quickly snowball into significant fines, a suspended license, and, potentially, arrest.
At LHM Foundation, we have the honor of walking alongside those working to ensure that snowballs don’t stand a chance against the warm sun of a brighter future.
With gratitude,
| | Amy C. Foerster, CEO LHM Foundation | | | | |
Join us for an evening celebrating the work of LHM Foundation and the support of our donors, volunteers and community partners! | |
The Country Club of Harrisburg will provide a scenic backdrop for Be a Beacon: A Night to Benefit LHM Foundation, our first annual fundraising dinner, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 7:00pm.
| The event will feature a silent auction, where guests can bid on Penn State football and wrestling tickets, Green Bay Packers game tickets, beach weekend getaways, guided fishing and hunting trips, and more! | |
We are honored to welcome Valerie Pritchett of abc27 as emcee of the festivities, celebrating our collective work to build brighter futures for our neighbors facing homelessness.
Get your tickets now at www.lhm-foundation.org. Email ellen.abbott@lhm-foundation.org to purchase tickets by mail.
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It has been a busy start to summer in LHM Foundation’s Horizons transitional housing program. Our census has reached 30 people – including 17 adults and 13 children – and we will be opening another three units in July!
We closed out May recognizing National Hamburger Day! Our dining staff planned a fun meal featuring not only an homage to the classic patty on a bun, but also hotdogs, watermelon and other summer favorites. With this event, we worked to build community…through burgers!
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We also opened an amazing on-site telehealth office, thanks to the generous support of UPMC and its Life Changing Medicine team.
Recognizing that access to healthcare is particularly challenging for those experiencing homelessness, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, UPMC Veteran Care Services, and UPMC Telemedicine collaborated to provide a computer, monitor, webcam, and all associated telemedicine equipment so that participants in the Horizons transitional housing program can prioritize their physical and mental health through virtual appointments with providers of their choice. Thank you to the entire UPMC team!
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DID YOU KNOW?
2025 ANNUAL ASSESSMENT ON HOMELESSNESS (HUD)
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR), an annual report to Congress that analyzes data from a nationwide survey of homelessness conducted each January.
While this newly released data shows an overall decline in homelessness across the United States from 2024 to 2025, homelessness in Pennsylvania increased by 5.1%. Right here in Dauphin County, the number of unaccompanied youth (ages 18-24 years old ) rose 11.5% in that same time frame.
Please watch this space for additional updated facts on homelessness as we continue to review the newly released federal data.
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Mention LHM Foundation or our unique code (50322) when donating items at any CommunityAid store. LHM Foundation gets credit for every pound donated! | | | | |
At LHM Foundation, we firmly believe that when organizations work together, 1+1 can equal 3! | | |
THE BELONG COLLECTIVE
Thank you to The Belong Collective for hosting a hygiene items drive in support of those participating in LHM Foundation’s Horizons transitional housing program. We are grateful for the generous contributions of paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and more!
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Thank you as well to Karns Foods, Ruth (Karns) and Bruce Rudderow, and the generous golfers who supported LHM Foundation at the annual Karns Foods Charity Golf Outing on June 10. We had so much fun running the “Chippo” game and are grateful to everyone who helped make the outing a success!
| | THE COMMUNITYAID FOUNDATION | | |
Finally, LHM Foundation is proud to offer the CommunityAid Clothing Closet as a resource for participants in our Horizons transitional housing program. With the support of the CommunityAid Foundation, we can meet participants’ basic clothing needs straight from the closet, which we stock through purchases made with CommunityAid Care Cards (store vouchers). Access to appropriate clothing fosters dignity, confidence and overall well-being. Thank you, CommunityAid Foundation, for helping to build brighter futures!
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LHM Foundation was honored to be selected as a service site for Troutman Pepper Lock LLP’s 2026 firmwide Week of Service. Living up to their t-shirt slogan, “Let’s do some good, together,” a dynamic team from the firm’s Harrisburg office visited our campus in early June. After learning about LHM Foundation’s Horizons transitional housing program and touring our facility, this lively group raked, weeded, swept and trimmed, helping to ready our 15-acre campus for summer.
Thank you, Troutman Pepper Locke, LLP!
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
BOB "GUMP" MAY
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Meet Gump!
Growing up, Bob “Gump” May attended the Milton Hershey School, where he learned lessons that shaped him and have continued to guide him through life. After college, Gump served in the Marine Corps for 3½ years, including a tour in Vietnam. He then supported Pennsylvania’s children as a teacher and coach at Hershey High School. Perhaps most wonderful of all, Gump and his wife, Sandi, who have three daughters and six grandchildren, will celebrate 50 years of marriage this August!
Gump shared that he was first driven to volunteerism after surviving a heart attack, believing that his life was spared for a purpose. As a result, Gump is committed to using his time to serve others. As Gump puts it, “Life is about relationships. Everything comes down to people.”
Gump is a regular volunteer at the Horizons program’s Resource Desk. Thank you, Gump, for your dedication, warm smile and wonderful stories!
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Spot a lighthouse on your travels? Share it with us! | | |
Although our work is depicted by the beam emanating from a lighthouse’s lamp, the entire lighthouse holds a special place in our hearts! Our own Amy Foerster took this photo of the Barnegat Lighthouse in early June.
Located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, NJ, the Barnegat Lighthouse was first lit on January 1, 1859. After being extinguished in 1927, it was lit up again exactly 150 years later, on January 1, 2009. The current lens – located 172 feet above sea level – maintains the original flash pattern from 1859 and is visible for up to 25 miles!
In its early years, the site of the Barnegat Lighthouse was considered one of the most crucial “change of course” points for coastal vessels. Ships bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on the Barnegat Lighthouse to navigate the swift currents, shifting sandbars and offshore shoals that challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailors.
Send us your lighthouse photos at info@lhm-foundation.org. Include the location and any information you wish to share!
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YOUR GIFT CAN TRANSFORM LIVES
Support individuals and families working toward financial stability and housing security in LHM Foundation’s Horizons transitional housing program.
A generous donor is matching dollar-for-dollar the first $3 million raised!
| | To learn more about ways to support LHM Foundation's work, please contact: | | | | |
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