Community Interest
ExtraGive 2026: 20 Lancaster County nonprofits you can support
Our annual giving guide includes Lancaster nonprofits working to address a variety of needs—from homelessness and food insecurity to specialized healthcare and family services and more.
Lancaster is a place that takes care of its neighbors. Across our community, there are people, businesses, and organizations who work every day to address a variety of needs—from homelessness and food insecurity to specialized healthcare and family services and more. We invite you to get to know these 20 nonprofits who are vital part of our welcoming city and consider giving to their mission during ExtraGive 2026 on November 20.
Aaron’s Acres
aaronsacres.org | ExtraGive page
Aaron’s Acres provides individuals with disabilities ages 5 to 40 year-round, therapeutically based, age-appropriate, recreational programs directed by specially trained and certified staff in a supportive environment that enhances socialization and communication skills. Thanks to generous donations, emotional, educational, and recreational support is offered for entire families participating in the program. No child is turned away based on a specific diagnosis or if the family has financial restrictions.
Anchor Lancaster
anchorlancaster.org | ExtraGive page
Anchor Lancaster offers vital services to individuals facing homelessness and hardship. Every weekday—including holidays—Anchor provides a hot breakfast, a warm shower, clean clothing, and a safe place to sit and connect with others. These are simple things, but when life is heavy, they are life-changing. When you join Anchor Lancaster’s Breakfast Club or partner with them through the ExtraGive, you become the reason someone starts their day with hope.
Arch Street Center
archstreetcenter.org | ExtraGive page
Arch Street Center works every day to ensure their members find community and connection in a safe, caring, and judgement-free space. Through coordinate day programs, the team’s mission is centered on creating a welcoming space where adults with serious mental illness can find belonging—with a focus on socialization, recreation, and empowerment for those who come through their doors. When you give to Arch Street Center, you’re giving adults living with serious mental illness the chance to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
casalancleb.org | ExtraGive page
CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties belongs to a network of community-based programs that recruit, train, and support volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children in the foster care system. For nearly two decades, the local team at CASA have trained 600+ volunteers to ensure the kids they work with have a safe, nurturing, and permanent home. When you partner with CASA, you help them grow and sustain their program by allowing them to advocate for more children in need.
Clinic for Special Children
clinicforspecialchildren.org | ExtraGive page
The Clinic for Special Children provides compassionate, accessible, and affordable care to families facing rare genetic disorders, primarily from the Amish and Mennonite communities. From participating in cutting-edge gene therapy to treating a common cold, the clinic cares for thousands of families, serving children with more than 500 rare genetic disorders right here in Lancaster County. By partnering with them, you help improve life for children and adults with genetic or complex medical conditions.
COBYS Family Services
COBYS Family Services comes alongside children and families to provide care for children and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. Motivated by Christian faith, services in foster care, adoption, counseling, and family life education are delivered with joy and a servant spirit. COBYS’ level of care can only be delivered with the help of the community. You can make a difference by becoming a foster parent or making a financial donation in support of the COBYS Difference.
Compass Mark
compassmark.org | ExtraGive page
Compass Mark’s mission is to prevent addiction and empower people to live healthier lives. By using science-based addiction prevention programs, the organization aims to improve the health and well-being of children, youth, and adults across Lancaster, Lebanon, and Chester counties. The foundation of their programming is building skills in young people: how to cope, how to lead, and how to make good decisions.
Lancaster City Alliance
lancastercityalliance.org | ExtraGive
Lancaster City Alliance convenes diverse stakeholders for the common good of Lancaster City—including harnessing the power of the private sector and leveraging a broad network of engaged leaders with expansive influence. Your partnership invests in the future of the city by keeping streets clean, safe, and welcoming, empowering local entrepreneurs and businesses, enhancing public spaces, and fostering economic growth.
Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic
Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic empowers patients with craniofacial conditions to become the
best version of themselves with a multidisciplinary approach, including a staff of dedicated plastic surgeons, ENTs, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, feeding specialists, pediatric specialists, dentists, orthodontists, and social workers. Only 50% of LCPC costs are reimbursed by insurance. When you partner with the Clinic, you ensure children and their families continue to get critical support and treatment.
Lancaster Farmland Trust
lancasterfarmlandtrust.org | ExtraGive page
Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) is dedicated to preserving and stewarding the beautiful, productive farmland of Lancaster County for present and future generations to enjoy. Each year, Lancaster loses more than 3,000 acres of farmland to shopping malls, business complexes, warehouses, and housing developments. Help Lancaster Farmland Trust preserve what makes Lancaster County—your support ensures farmers of all backgrounds preserve their farms and way of life for future generations.
Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity
lancasterlebanonhabitat.org | ExtraGive
Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity helps local families build a future through affordable homeownership. Since 1986, they’ve built nearly 300 homes and helped hundreds of families become first-time homeowners. Habitat makes homeownership possible by building and renovating homes that are sold to first-time homebuyers with an affordable, zero-percent mortgage. Your gift helps to continue creating opportunities for local families.
Lancaster Hub
lancasterhub.org | ExtraGive page
The Lancaster Hub ensures neighbors across the Lancaster County community have access to the essentials to lead a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life.
What’s in the Hub:
- Supportive Services Day Center, connecting neighbors to everything from job opportunities to housing applications to haircuts.
- The largest food pantry in Lancaster County, processing more than 1.4 million pounds of food to 60,000+ neighbors facing food insecurity.
- A Clothing Bank providing no cost access to quality and seasonal clothing for more than 14,000 members of the community.
Meals on Wheels of Lancaster County
lancastermow.org | ExtraGive page
Every weekday, Meals on Wheels of Lancaster delivers fresh, nutritious meals and a friendly wellness checks to more than 400 seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Lancaster County. The visits keep neighbors connected, safe, and independent in the homes they love. Demand for their services continues to grow, and with that increase comes an increase in food and other operational costs. Your gift helps ensure neighbors continue to have a nutritious meal and a caring volunteer at their doorstep.
Mental Health America of Lancaster-Lebanon Counties
mhalancaster.org | ExtraGive page
Mental Health America of Lancaster-Lebanon Counties provides 11 programs dedicated to helping members of the community through their journey of mental wellness. Through advocacy, education, and support, they are breaking down barriers so those struggling with mental illness feel empowered to get the help they need and deserve. Your generosity makes a difference. Whether you give through a financial contribution or through your time as a volunteer, every act of kindness brings hope and support to individuals and families.
North Star Initiative
northstarinitiative.org | ExtraGive page
North Star Initiative is on a mission to end human trafficking and empower survivors to reclaim the lives they were meant to enjoy. North Star knows that without a support system, safe housing, and dignifying work, the women they work with are still living at risk—that’s why North Star provides safe housing, life skills development, onsite classes, and therapy groups right here in Lancaster County. By choosing to support NSI, you give their residents access to tools and resources that empower them to thrive and flourish.
Power Packs Project
powerpacksproject.org | ExtraGive page
Power Packs Project fights hunger in local communities by providing families with the ingredients and recipes needed to ensure children are well-fed over the weekends. Each week, hundreds of passionate volunteers and staff pack boxes to deliver to 18 schools throughout the area so students have food outside of school breakfasts and lunches. You can get involved by volunteering or donating to their virtual food drive to make a difference for students and families in your community.
SACA
Help SACA raise $54,000 for their 54th year. This year, your ExtraGive donation supports all of SACA, not just one program. That means your generosity can go wherever it’s needed most, helping sustain essential services and respond to the evolving needs of our Lancaster neighbors, including:
- Workforce Development
- Public Broadcasting
- Affordable Housing
- Senior Center
- Community Meals
- Education and Prevention Services
Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development
schreiberpediatric.org | ExtraGive page
As a nationally recognized pediatric facility, the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development provides family-centered education and therapy programs for infants and children, plus adolescents with disabilities, developmental delays, and acquired injuries. Their goal-oriented approach maximizes each child’s ability to function independently within the community. Every kid is unique and so are their goals—your gift helps the next kid make their moment possible.
United Way of Lancaster County
United Way of Lancaster County unites the generosity of the community to help neighbors in need and create lasting solutions with trusted partners and community leaders. Together, they’ve responded to evolving challenges and worked to build a stronger, more equitable Lancaster County—including PA 211, ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and VITA Lancaster. Your partnership makes this work possible. With your gift, they can continue connecting neighbors to resources, addressing financial challenges, and creating opportunities for lasting change.
Water Street Mission
Every day, Water Street Mission welcomes men, women, and children who are navigating some of the hardest seasons of their lives—homelessness, addiction, trauma, broken relationships.
Here’s how they support the Lancaster community:
- Emergency Shelter and Residential Program
- Water Street Health Services
- Wonder Academy
- Teen Haven
- Compass
- 12 & 1 Center
In addition to meeting these physical needs, they walk with people toward healing, resotration and lasting change.
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