DECEMBER 2025

Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you having a wonderful holiday season!

Last week, a man in front of me in line at the coffee shop had the following on the back of his t-shirt:

It’s not the place you come to, but the place you go from.

The t-shirt attributed the quote to Fr. Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang intervention and rehabilitation program. Fr. Boyle has credited Martin Luther King, Jr. for inspiring those words. The quote was so impactful that I went on to read some of Fr. Boyle's speeches that included it, including this excerpt from his 2018 commencement address at Pepperdine University:

“…It’s not the place you’ve come to, it’s the place you go from, and you go from here to create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it. In fact, that’s God’s dream come true. Not us and them, just us. …

And so, you choose to go from here, and you dismantle the barriers that exclude, and you go out to the margins, because that’s the only way they’ll get erased. If you stand out at them, and you stand with the poor, and the powerless, and the voiceless, and you stand with those whose dignity has been denied, and you stand with those whose burdens are more than they can bear. …

For no kinship, no peace. No kinship, no justice. No kinship, no equality. You go to the margins not to make a difference, because then that’s about you. You go to the margin so that the folks at the margins make you different.”

What a beautiful message with which to end 2025.

Strengthened by the generosity of our donors, the enthusiasm of our supporters, and the dedication of our LHM Foundation team, we “go from” a 2025 that started with a vision to care for those at the margins to a 2026 where that vision becomes a reality with the opening of our Horizons program.

My very best wishes for a happy, healthy and kinship-filled New Year!

With gratitude,

Amy

Amy C. Foerster, CEO LHM Foundation

December has been a busy month at the home of our Horizons transitional housing program, as we continue to grow our team and prepare for the arrival of our first program participants in January!

We are excited to welcome these new members of the LHM Foundation team:

Building on a career working with families in need – and with a passion for helping families access the resources necessary to achieve financial self-sufficiency and obtain permanent housing – Melany Alexis (center left) joins us as our Transitional Housing Program Director. When not helping build brighter futures at LHM Foundation, Melany enjoys hiking and spending time with family, including her two young adult sons.

Danyelle Williams (center right) has devoted her decades-long career as a social worker to supporting individuals and families across every stage of life, from children to the elderly, and will bring that experience – and her warm smile – to bear as a Case Manager for the Horizons program. Away from work, Danyelle enjoys reading and boosting her already boundless energy with a good workout.

Joe Jiras (far left) joined Danyelle as a Case Manager for the Horizons program this week, foregoing a long-awaited ski trip to be on the ground here in Harrisburg as we prepare to open. Joe brings decades of valuable experience working with marginalized populations, including adjudicated youth, those struggling with addiction, and the unhoused. When not working with those in need, Joe enjoys fly-fishing…and, of course, skiing!

Resource Staff will play an incredibly important role in the Horizons program. They are the warm hello welcoming participants, volunteers and staff at our reception desk; our overnight eyes and ears; and the ones that program participants can look to for everything from cleaning supplies to help printing out a resume. Jen Hilmoe (far right) has joined us as our Resource Staff Supervisor, coordinating all of these important personnel and functions. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with friends, cooking and drawing.

Welcome, all!

In addition to building our staff, we have been busy readying our resident units for our first Horizons program participants. Check out our new furniture, delivered earlier this month!

Each unit includes a bed, chest of drawers, table, chair, mini-fridge and microwave, with additional furnishings as appropriate for families.

A huge thank you to the Beam Team volunteers who braved the cold to unload the delivery truck and a special shout out to Chris Long, Director of Facilities and Grounds, for getting everything assembled!

Interested in learning more about LHM Foundation and our Horizons program? Follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information!

Mention LHM Foundation or our unique code (50322) when donating clothes at any CommunityAid store. LHM Foundation gets paid for every pound donated!

DID YOU KNOW?

COLD WEATHER RISKS

Sleeping outside in winter temperatures is a reality for many people experiencing homelessness. As cold weather sets in, the dangers faced by our unhoused neighbors grow even more severe.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, an estimated 700 people experiencing homelessness die from hypothermia nationwide each year. Alarmingly, hypothermia can be a risk at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, putting unhoused individuals at risk even in relatively mild conditions. Many are forced to rely on dangerous methods to keep warm, such as makeshift fires, which can have disastrous consequences.

Resources for homeless individuals often dwindle in winter, with some emergency shelters and warming stations opening only when temperatures drop to extreme levels. Snow and ice can close critical services like food pantries and libraries, making it harder for those in need to find refuge. Some public spaces close or reduce hours during holidays, further limiting access.

Finally, winter can significantly impact the mental health of those experiencing homelessness. The cold months bring isolation, as people are driven indoors and social contact decreases. Depression and anxiety can intensify, fueled by the harsh environment and uncertain safety. The stress of finding shelter and concerns over safety can exacerbate existing mental illnesses.

LHM Foundation is grateful for all of our community partners working to support the unhoused during the winter months.

POWERED BY PARTNERS

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY PARTNERS!

On Wednesday, December 17, LHM Foundation CEO Amy Foerster joined Karen Yarrish of Penn National Insurance to talk about our Horizons transitional housing program on abc27’s Good Day PA with Brett Thackera!

Thank you, Penn National Insurance, for your continued support and for inviting us to be part of this conversation. Click here to watch the full segment on abc27.

LHM Foundation is also so grateful to Karns Foods and the generous shoppers who donated to our December 6^th food drive at the Harrisburg and Lemoyne stores.

Our Horizons program will provide participants and their families with three meals a day, seven days a week. Thanks to Karns Foods and Karns shoppers, our pantry is full, and so are our hearts!

We need YOU! Our Beam Team volunteers will be at the heart of our Horizons transitional housing program. They will be the warm “hello” at reception, the smile at mealtime, and the friendly wave helping to keep our grounds beautiful.

You can sign up now at www.lhm-foundation.org/volunteer. Contact Mel Cronin, Volunteer Coordinator, at mel.cronin@lhm-foundation.org or 717.402.6317 with questions.

Our Beam Team volunteers also continue to do great work out in the community throughout central Pennsylvania! Volunteers recently pitched in at the Salvation Army Senior Center in Huntington, PA, preparing “Senior Boxes” full of food and supplies, and helping senior citizens load these boxes into their cars when they came to pick them up. Thank you, Beam Team volunteers!

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 still holds a special place in our hearts! Nancy Foster, LHM Foundation’s Director of Human Resources, and her husband Jeff spotted this beauty on a 2024 trip to Cape Vincent, NY.

Named after Revolutionary War soldier Capt. John Tibbetts, the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is strategically located at the end of the Great Lakes system on Lake Ontario and the beginning of the St. Lawrence River.

The original 30-foot wooden tower was built in 1827, but was replaced in 1854 by a 59-foot circular tower built of brick and concrete. The new tower included a “Fresnel lens” – invented and manufactured in France – that is still in operation today! Incredibly, the lens’ light can be seen 16 miles out into Lake Ontario!

Over the years, the lamp has been fueled by whale oil, lard oil, crude oil, kerosene and, most recently, electricity. The lamp was automated in 1981, such that a lightkeeper is no longer needed on-site. Owned by the Town of Cape Vincent, the lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation maintained by the United States Coast Guard.

Send us your lighthouse photos at info@lhm-foundation.org. Include the location and any information you wish to share!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
NICHOLE REYNOLDS

Meet Nichole Reynolds!

Born in the prairies of Manitoba, Canada, Nichole has lived in Mechanicsburg for twenty years with her husband and two kids. She loves traveling, cheering on the Denver Broncos and Winnipeg Jets, running, and enjoying a good book and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. She’s also Director of Business Intelligence & Strategic Analysis for LHM Physical Therapy Institute!

Even with her busy and full life, Nichole still finds time to volunteer with the Beam Teams. Her motivation comes from watching her parents. “My dad, a skilled carpenter, was always offering to fix something at a neighbor’s house, while my mom, a stay-at-home parent, cooked or baked for families who were going through hard times. Growing up around their generosity – especially when we did not have a lot of “extra”, taught me to value volunteerism and the importance of showing up for others, even when all you have to give is your time,” she says.

What does Nichole enjoy most about volunteering with LHM Foundation? “It’s the perfect example of the butterfly effect. One small, seemingly simple moment can ripple outward and create an even bigger impact. Through LHM Foundation, we have the opportunity to send a lot of “butterflies” into the world.”

Thank you, Nichole! You truly are a bright light at LHM Foundation.