Homeland Center seeks donations for new van

Homeland Center is seeking donations for a new van specially equipped for wheelchair passengers that will make it possible for more residents to enjoy community outings.

The drive to raise $25,000 to $50,000 is underway and expected to conclude by early spring, when the winter hiatus ends and residents resume the trips they enjoy to restaurants, stores, theaters, concert halls, and other community settings.

All donations are tax-deductible and will be recognized in Homeland Center’s newsletter and social media. To donate or learn more, contact Director of Development Betty Hungerford, 717-221-7727, or visit www.homelandcenter.org.

Homeland has a 14-passenger bus, but it only has the capacity to securely lock in place two wheelchairs, a federal requirement for passengers who need a mechanical chair lift to let them access the vehicle.

The new van will be designated specifically for activities two-to-three times a week, said Ashley Bryan, Homeland Center’s director of Skilled and Personal Care Activities.

“We want to ensure that our residents maintain their ties to the community, so they can have the highest quality of life,” Bryan said. Memorable outings in 2016 went to Sight & Sound Theatres and Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, both in Lancaster, and Hershey Gardens, where residents enjoyed the colorful sights and intoxicating scents of the world-famous botanical garden.

“It’s a priority in our philosophy of assuring residents a home-like experience,” Bryan said. “We want to ensure our residents continue to enjoy the things they’ve always loved.”