WHAT’S BREWING? Friendship. Purpose. Hope.
By Charis Gramm, Volunteer

Recently I’ve stepped into a leadership role with Hope Served, heading up What’s Brewing on Mondays. Once a month we gather at Hope Served Café on the campus of Pleasant View Communities to package coffee, label bags, and support the coffee business in other ways.

I love that What’s Brewing not only gives purpose, but it’s also a place for connection. In addition to preparing Hope Served coffee to sell, we play games, hang out, and make new friends, interspersed with helping. It is a place of belonging and acceptance and care for people in all stages of life. It is a beautiful way to kick off the week.

I got connected to Hope Served through my work as the Branch Experience Manager of the Manheim branch of Jonestown Bank and Trust Co. In a prior job, I had the privilege of working with people who found themselves needing round-the-clock care for a host of different reasons. Often, these amazing individuals couldn’t hold down a job or weren’t able to find a workplace that had the understanding or patience to work with them where they were in life.

When I found out that there was a ministry here in Manheim, whose focus is developing jobs for individuals that struggle to fit into traditional workplaces, I was intrigued and wanted to find out more. I also love the long-term vision of Hope Served to work on housing for individuals with disabilities.

It has truly been a pleasure to meet Steve and the Hope Served team and see the care and passion they have for creating a space that is welcoming to everyone and anyone who wants to be involved and included.

I am thrilled to be a part of this mission and am excited to see how Hope Served will grow and expand in the coming years.

If you would like to get involved with What’s Brewing or Hope Served in general, please contact Karen Courtright, Community Connections Coordinator, at karen@hopeserved.org or (717) 347-9785.