Facilitated by Community Action Partnership (CAP), this interactive experience is designed to deepen understanding of the challenges many of our guests face every day. It’s a powerful way to build empathy, strengthen your volunteer practice, and connect with others in our community.

The simulation walks participants through a month of navigating the realities of daily life when accessing local supports and resources. Participants are given a family persona and are grouped with others to navigate the simulation as a family with your given circumstances.

Thank you to our partners, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County and Elizabethtown College, for helping the event run smoothly and thank you to the Elizabethtown Rotary for sponsoring our Poverty Simulation.

Learn more about the Poverty Simulation and register to participate today!

Enjoy a pay-what-you-can New Year’s Community Meal at The Spot Hometown Deli!

Offer applies to eat-in meals on. Guests are encouraged to pay what you are able. Limited menu is available for this offer. Cannot be applied to online or delivery orders.

Harvey’s Bar-B-Q in Mount Joy is celebrating a Merry Harvfest!

This event is in partnership with ECHOS to collect donations for the ECHOS Emergency Shelter. Those who make a donation will receive a Golden Ticket for 10% off a food purchase.

Stop by for Christmas music, sweet treats, house-made hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, and more!

Join us on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, at the Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church for one of Elizabethtown’s favorite holiday traditions — the 8th Annual Great Turkey Chase 5K, hosted by Applied Race Management to benefit ECHOS! This festive, family-friendly event draws hundreds of runners, walkers, and cheering fans ready to kick off their holiday with purpose and fun.

This year’s event features our crowd-favorite Kids Fun Run, proudly sponsored by Liv-ETown and The Tatted Toy Guys — a perfect way for the little ones to get in on the action.

This event includes: a DJ, pies for runners, coffee truck, costume contest, a kids fun run, and exclusive race prizes engraved for the occasion!

We have EXTRA big plans for this year's ExtraGive! You are invited to join us throughout the day for the following events:

Community Breakfast in Shelter

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM 

Enjoy a homemade breakfast from an ECHOS volunteer! Bernard has been making our clients a Saturday morning breakfast for as long as he's been a volunteer with ECHOS. Experience his masterclass cooking and take a tour of our facilities to start ExtraGive off right.

The Spot Deli

11:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Join us for lunch and chat with ECHOS staff about our mission at The Spot Deli located on Market Street in Elizabethtown. 

Twisted Bine Beer Co.

4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

ECHOS will be at Twisted Bine Beer Co. in Mount Joy for the second year on ExtraGive! Better yet, if you donate to ECHOS while at Twisted Bine you will be entered to win a $50 gift card or 2 crowlers.

ExtraGive Fest

7:00 PM

For the first time ever, ECHOS will be venturing into downtown Lancaster for the ExtraGive Fest. Join us to celebrate the day of giving and help us reach our goal of $60,000!

Reconnect with fellow volunteers, hear important updates, and get ready for the upcoming season. We’ll cover

• Shelter flow updates

• Changes to volunteer roles and policies

• Open discussion and Q&A to share feedback and ideas

Interested in volunteering but not sure where to start? Join us to:

• Learn about ECHOS and our mission

• Explore volunteer roles

• Tour our space

Connect with local employers who are actively hiring for a variety of positions! Whether you are entering the workforce, changing careers, or seeking your next role, this is a great chance to: connect with companies face-to-face; learn about open positions; share your resume and make a great impression; access job search support on-site through PA CareerLink.

Local Employers Include:

• UPMC Paramount Senior Living at Lancaster County

• Spooky Nook Sports

• Dauphin County Human Resources

• Independent Living Services of United Disabilities Services Foundation

• Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning

• Robert Half

• Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi)

• Luthercare

• ECHOS

• FX Photo Booth

• Masonic Villages

Free to attend and open to all job seekers!