PA 211 East Annual Report

It’s been an impactful year for PA 211 East! We recorded our highest number of interactions for our region to date. Over 36,000 calls, nearly 4,000 texts/chats/emails and more than 141,000 web searches for community resources.

For the more than 192,000 impressions from Berks, Carbon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill county residents, we thank you for reaching out during your time of need.

Support Our Centennial Celebration

Join in the excitement of our 100th year by becoming a sponsor as a part of our year-long centennial celebration! As a sponsor, your company will be an essential part of this historic milestone and provide pivotal support as we launch into the future!

You will find events (Gala, Trike Race, Week of Caring, etc.) and program (211, VITA) sponsorship levels and details HERE.

Contact Kristy Gismot (kgismot@uwlanc.org) with questions or for further details. 

Looking for a way to give back in 2025?

Volunteer at The Thrifty Kitty Thrift Boutique in Lancaster, PA, and support local animals in need through the Humane Pennsylvania organization. With flexible shifts and roles like cashiering and processing donations, you can make a meaningful impact. Your time and donations help raise funds for animal care and shelter operations. Thrifty Kitty is located at 2195 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA 17602.

Tax Season is Here!

VITA is getting started! One full week of tax preparation is in the books, but there are still plenty of appointments available at our 15 locations in Lancaster County. 

To schedule an appointment, go to our website at the button below to find a site near you. We are open Mondays through Saturdays – mornings, afternoons and evenings. Schedule your appointment now! 

Please note that our Ephrata and Columbia locations have switched sites for this tex season:

• Ephrata will now be at: Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 9 Hahnstown Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522
• Columbia will now be at: Columbia Market House, 15 S 3rd St At, Columbia, PA 17512

Thank you, High Foundation!

We are excited to announce that our VITA program has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the High Foundation! This support will help us provide essential income tax filing assistance to thousands of low to middle income community members in 2025! 

Legacy Listening Sessions

United Way of Lancaster County has been preparing for our 100th anniversary by hearing from YOU, our community. Our team is conducting listening sessions focused on United Way's pillars: education, economic mobility, health, and volunteering. Our goal is for these Legacy Listening Session findings to help shape the future of our organization for the next 100 years.

We want to hear from you! Take the survey below to make your voice heard about Lancaster County. The results will be used to fuel our future.

Early Learning Support

On January 13th, the Lancaster Chamber convened United Way of Lancaster County, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, YWCA Lancaster and advocacy group Start Strong PA at a press conference shedding light on the childcare crisis affecting our local, state and national workforce. The collective urges state leaders to invest $284 million in a recruitment and retention initiative to address a critical staffing shortage and increase wages for essential early childhood educators. 

Warm Homes, Warm Hearts

The Warm Homes, Warm Hearts program provides assistance to families in need of safe and reliable heating solutions. On Thursday, January 23rd, a 50+ year-old furnace was replaced with a state-of-the-art heating system for a local family. This family, who had been living without an efficient heating source, was selected through the program. Brubaker, Inc. graciously provided free installation services, while Ferguson HVAC Supply donated the new unit to replace the family’s previously condemned heating system.



If you are facing heating challenges in your home, a 211 Resource Navigator is available 24/7 to help connect you with local resources. For support, call 211 or 855-567-5341, or text your zip code to 898211.

Organizational Cohort

Project Blueprint’s organizational cohort is underway, with sessions through February. Project Blueprint helps nonprofits build more inclusive and welcoming boards by equipping them with tools to enable them to serve more effectively together and to strengthen their work in the community. We will have more opportunities for organizations to participate later this year. If you or organizations that you are connected to would like to find out more about Project Blueprint, please visit:

CALLING ALL NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:

We want to hear from you! One United Lancaster is now accepting content submissions for potential coverage. Whether it's a recent achievement, an upcoming event, or your perspective on local issues, we’d love to feature your voice. Please fill out the form below with your proposal or article:

211 Day: Capacity Building Summit - February 11th, 8am-4pm @ DoubleTree Resort by Hilton

Trike Race - May 7th, 3-6pm @ Greenfield Campus (1740-1770 Hempstead Rd.)

United in Impact (funding announcement event) - June 12th @ The Ware Center

Week of Caring - September 8-13th in various locations across the county.

Centennial Celebration Gala - October 25th @ The Lancaster County Convention Center