At Bricks for Good, we believe in the transformative power of LEGO play. Through the iconic LEGO brick, we are uplifting children in south-central Pennsylvania and providing them with the tools to dream big. Our mission is simple yet profound: by offering opportunities for joy, creativity, and learning, we aim to inspire a brighter future for children from low-income and underprivileged families in our community.

Our core initiatives revolve around giving back to those who need it most. Each holiday season, we donate new LEGO sets to underprivileged children, with a goal of reaching over 100 families annually. These donations are more than just toys, they’re catalysts for imagination and hope, encouraging children to explore STEM concepts in a fun and accessible way.

In addition to our holiday efforts, we host hands-on workshops and community events that foster creativity, collaboration, and self-expression. Children come together to build their dream creations, with prizes occasionally awarded for categories such as “Best Build” and “Most Creative.” These gatherings not only celebrate the joy of LEGO play but also help build confidence and a sense of belonging—especially for children who may not often get the spotlight.

Education is another pillar of our mission. We provide scholarships and grants to students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). All funding is awarded based on merit and financial need, assisting deserving students in pursuing their academic goals. By investing in young minds, we aim to create long-term change and opportunity.

The true measure of our impact lies in the results we’ve seen in the community. Our annual Santa’s Visit event saw a 100% increase in attendance last year compared to its inaugural year in 2023. Since launching the event, 78 children have benefited—a number that continues to grow. We’ve also received 182 LEGO donations from local supporters, reflecting the strong and growing enthusiasm behind our mission. Each donation is a small act of kindness with a big impact.

Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of local businesses and organizations. Decades in Lancaster has been a key partner, offering generous support and event hosting assistance. This summer, from August 8–10, Decades will host a special LEGO-themed event featuring food and drink specials, giveaways, creative LEGO builds, and activities. For each LEGO-themed item sold, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Bricks for Good. Previously, we’ve collaborated with Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Salvation Army, Harrisburg YMCA, WITF, and Make-A-Wish Foundation. These partnerships have helped amplify our reach and deepened our impact.

Still, our work is far from done. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, we rely on community support. We are currently seeking help with social media, event staffing, workshop coordination, and marketing outreach. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love to have you join us.

To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit www.bricksforgood.org. You can also reach us at hello@bricksforgood.org or 717-200-4725.

By Lee Barber, Chairman of the Board of Directors

At Pennsylvania Furniture Mission (PFM), our mission is to create warm and welcoming homes for all Pennsylvania residents by providing essential furniture to families and individuals in need. We believe that everyone deserves a comfortable and nurturing environment, and by furnishing homes, we aim to contribute to the well-being and stability of our community.  

Imagine having a roof over your head, but the rooms where you and your family live—where your children do homework, your elderly grandparent rest, and you eat meals—are empty of furniture. There are no chairs, no beds, no tables. You sit and sleep on the floor. This is the harsh reality of furniture poverty, a crippling condition where individuals and families cannot afford basic furniture, essential for a dignified standard of living. 

Pennsylvania Furniture Mission (PFM) exists to combat this silent yet profound issue.  

By providing essential furniture to families and individuals in need who are referred to our program through case workers and social workers from our partner organizations, we help transform empty spaces into functional and welcoming homes. Our services alleviate stress, improve quality of rest, and foster a healthier home environment, supporting overall mental and physical well-being.  

Some of our partners are Lancaster BHDS, Lancaster General Health, Lebanon VA, York County Veterans Outreach, VOA, VMCA, CWS of Greater Harrisburg, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, Lancaster County Coalition on Homelessness, Tenfold, Water Street Mission just to name a few.  

By Pashk Solkoli, Founder

The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (PGC)’s mission is to create opportunities for traditional and contemporary artisans, craft enthusiasts, and collectors through education, advocacy, and community. We believe that art is a vehicle for growth and education. We seek to grow awareness of fine craft and its many disciplines.

Founded in 1944, the PGC was one of the first organizations to follow First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s recommendation to find ways to transfer wartime skills to peacetime work. Since then, in addition to Fine Craft Fairs, the PGC and its state-wide chapters have hosted or sponsored social activities, juried exhibits, demonstrations, forums, studio visits, workshops, field trips, and operated a retail store focused on selling members’ art. In 1961 the PGC was formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization to promote and encourage the craftsmen of Pennsylvania through educational projects. Today, the PGC’s headquarters is located in Lancaster City, has members in over 30 states and is governed by a board of member artisans and community volunteers. Our artists include contemporary and traditional, and comprise many craft disciplines as well as fine art and photography.

Our facility is located in Lancaster City on the popular “300 Block” of North Queen Street, amongst several women-run businesses. We are in the county seat of Lancaster County and about an hour’s drive from our state capitol.

Since 1944, PGC has been bringing together our community through fine craft. We do so through our programs and events. The programs include:

Educational Workshops, most of which are held at our facility in Lancaster City, and engage over 1,800 students annually. Increasingly, we engage a larger audience at workshops at offsite locations throughout Lancaster and Chester Counties, as well as a global audience with our online workshops.

Our Guild Store provides a retail outlet and professional opportunities for over 130 artists throughout PA and beyond.

Our Fine Craft as a Business program provides opportunities for mentorship and learning, professional development, and networking. Our Fine Craft as a Business workshops help you set up, maintain, or expand your art/craft business and enrich your business skills in general. Workshops are scheduled 2-3 times per year.  Programs are presented either via Zoom and/or in person. 

Our Master Artisan program provides professional development, feedback, recognition, and special opportunities. Master Artisan status recognizes artists in the Guild who exemplify our three benchmarks: Excellence in Craftsmanship, Resolved Design and Unique Voice or Faithful Representation of a Heritage Craft. To achieve this honor, members’ work is juried by a panel of Master Artisans.

Whether you’re an artisan, educator, business leader, or craft enthusiast, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen offers meaningful ways to engage, support, and grow with a thriving creative community. Visit our Lancaster City headquarters, explore our Guild Store at 335 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, attend a workshop, or partner with us to help sustain and elevate fine craft across Pennsylvania and beyond. Learn more at pacrafts.org and discover how you can be part of shaping the future of craft.

For nearly two decades, Rising Stars Football Academy Foundation (RSFA) has proven that football can be much more than a game—it can be a transformative life path. Founded and led by former NFL player and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Ron Johnson, RSFA is on a mission to educate, support, and empower student-athletes—regardless of background—to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life.

While RSFA’s summer camps, mini-camps, and showcases are built on football fundamentals, they’re grounded in academic excellence, leadership, emotional and mental wellness, and financial literacy. Based at Millersville University, the program welcomes boys and girls aged 8–18 from Lancaster County and beyond, with a special emphasis on reaching underserved youth who may not otherwise have access to this kind of enrichment.

One powerful example of RSFA’s impact tells the story. A young athlete—navigating personal loss, unstable housing, and academic challenges—was awarded a full scholarship to attend the academy. He arrived with few essentials, and the RSFA team stepped in, providing not just gear, but mentorship, care, and opportunity. That student went on to become a three-sport All-State athlete, earn a Division I football scholarship, and today, is succeeding as a collegiate student-athlete. His story is a testament to RSFA’s holistic model, where mentorship, accountability, and support change lives.

Each year, RSFA offers 10–15 camp scholarships to student-athletes in need and regularly collaborates with community-minded partners to enhance their reach and curriculum. Local businesses play a vital role in supporting and expanding RSFA’s programming. UPMC Sports Medicine ensures athlete health and education; Truist Bank delivers financial literacy workshops; and partners like the Jordan McNair and Peyton Walker Foundations provide critical instruction on safety, CPR, and life beyond sports.

New in 2025 is RSFA’s groundbreaking Girls Flag Football Camp—the first known weeklong residential experience of its kind—offering young women a platform for athletic and personal growth, grounded in the same core values.

The impact doesn’t end with athletics. Campers tour local colleges like Millersville University and Thaddeus Stevens College, engage with former NFL players, and attend career panels featuring professionals in business, finance, and law who were once student-athletes themselves.

RSFA is a proud member of the Lancaster Chamber and is actively seeking local business support through sponsorship, volunteer engagement, and donations. Whether you’re a business leader, community advocate, or parent looking to invest in the next generation, there’s a role you can play.

To learn more or get involved, visit risingstarsfootballacademy.com or contact Executive Director Ron Johnson at ron@risingstarsfootballacademy.com or 717-434-4558. Together, we can empower student-athletes to become rising stars in every sense of the word.

The Edible Classroom: Growing Minds, Nourishing Communities

At The Edible Classroom, our mission is to cultivate academic achievement, healthy lifestyles, and environmental stewardship through garden-based, experiential learning. By transforming schoolyards into vibrant and productive gardens, we create hands-on learning opportunities that empower students to connect with nature, food and each other all during the school day.

We proudly serve a diverse range of educational communities at 18 school gardens across three school districts—School District of Lancaster, Columbia Borough School District, and Penn Manor School District—as well as IU13, the Community Action Partnership’s Thrive to Five program and K-Prep Learning Center. Each garden is tailored to meet the needs of its unique learners, whether it’s through PA State standards and STEELS aligned programming, supporting social emotional learning or harvesting produce to inspire healthy eating habits.

Our Impact: Learning That Grows

Our gardens are more than green spaces—they’re living classrooms. In the past year alone:

• Over 4,491 students engaged in cross-curricular garden lessons.
• Students engaged with the nature during 993 school day garden lessons, 8 Summer Garden Camps and a NEW Winter Composting Program
• Students harvested over 2,090 pounds of fresh produce, which was tasted by students during school day lessons and sent home to be shared with their families. A portion was donated to local organizations and food banks to support the wider community.

A great example of success comes from the Columbia School District, where our partnership enabled elementary schools to incorporate Austrian Winter Peas from their school garden into cafeteria lunches. Students enjoyed improved nutrition and the chance to experience a new food!

Community Roots: Collaborating for Change

Our work flourishes thanks to strong partnerships with civic and other nonprofit organizations like the Columbia Lions Club, Let’s Go 123, Homefields Care Farm, Lancaster Compost Co-Ops and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. These collaborations allow us to expand our reach, enhance programming and deepen community involvement.

We are also grateful to our local business partners which include but are not limited to—Lemon Street Market, Ken’s Gardens, GIANT food stores, BN Excavating, Full Circle Recycling and Penn State Health—whose generous support through donations, in-kind gifts, and sustainability initiatives makes a real difference. Their contributions have helped us provide garden tools for young learners, offer paid garden-based internships for students, and foster the continued growth of our organization.

Join Us: Plant the Seeds of Change

Whether you’re a local business, a passionate individual or a potential volunteer, there’s a place for you in our garden. Help us grow the next generation of environmental stewards and healthy, curious learners.

🌱  Volunteer your time in a school garden or summer camp
 🌻 Sponsor a school or garden bed
 🥕 Donate tools, materials, or funding
 🌼 Partner with us for community events or programs

To get involved, visit The Edible Classroom or contact us directly at angie@theedibleclassroom.org. You can also follow us on social media to see our gardens—and students—in action.

Together, we can grow something truly meaningful. Ready to dig in?