An annual calendar signifies the start of a new year with endless opportunities. Holidays and special occasions give us something to look forward to as the year unfolds. The 2026 Homeland Lottery Calendar provides this as well as a step back in time to meet the courageous 18 women who founded the Home for the Friendless, which is now Homeland Center, nearly 160 years ago. Their vision and passion will remind you we can move mountains when we work together.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Lottery Calendar which has become a tradition for friends, volunteers and supporters of Homeland’s work. The calendar costs $25 and supports the organization’s benevolent care programs. Homeland hopes to sell 1,000 calendars. Everyone who purchases a calendar is eligible to be entered into daily drawings for cash prizes of up to $100.
The 2026 calendar tells the story of the 18 founding women who came from nine local churches in 1866 to form a safe refuge for widows and orphans impacted by the Civil War. Photos of Homeland’s current all-women Board of Managers in period style clothing weave together the organization’s current work with its rich history.
“The founders prove we can all make a difference when we work together,” Board of Managers Member Joyce Thomas says. “Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”
The aftermath of the Civil War left Harrisburg in ruins. Homeless, hungry and often diseased women and children lined the street corners and church pews looking for help. When safety net services and programs did not exist, the founding women and their churches opened their hearts to a new type of work to benefit those in great need.
“Our nation was reeling from the aftermath of war,” Board of Managers Member Deb McDivitt adds. “The founding members understood change starts in one’s community.”
Let this year’s calendar inspire you while learning more about what makes Homeland and the Harrisburg region remarkable. Proceeds from the lottery calendar sales provide financial support and additional services to Homeland residents, patients and clients in need. Homeland provides approximately $3 million in benevolent care annually to ensure all residents, patients and clients receive high-quality, supportive care when they need it most. Through the lottery calendar, more than $70,000 has been raised since 2015 to support Homeland’s benevolent care programs.
Homeland believes that every interaction with a resident, client, or patient is an opportunity to create a memorable moment, making an ordinary day a special day. This is especially true for residents who no longer have the financial means to pay. A hallmark of Homeland Center is that no one is ever asked to leave because they can no longer afford care.
To purchase a calendar, visit https://homelandcenter.org/2026-lottery-calendar/ or contact Homeland’s Development Office at (717) 221-7885.
