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adoption, foster care, counseling and family life education programs. Motivated by faith, COBYS works closely and cooperates with state and local social agencies to provide the best possible outcome for each individual case.

“Any child may end up in foster care; it doesn’t really discriminate,” said Stokes. “They can come from any place. Perhaps their family has been in poverty. Maybe their parents or grandparents have alcohol or other substance abuse issues. Sometimes kids are left to raise themselves. These kids may be in foster care for a few months until their moms and dads can take them back. The goal is to return children to their biological families, if possible.”

According to the 2022 State of Welfare report by the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, close to 500 children were in foster care in Lancaster County in 2021, and more than 20,000 kids in Pennsylvania received foster care during that same time frame.

“We receive a good portion of our funding from the state and county, but because of the high level of care that we provide, it doesn’t cover all the things we do,” said Stokes. “We empower adults and children to reach their full potential. When they come to us, they’re at a really tough spot in their lives. Our work is to make sure their lives are enriched as much as possible. It’s a challenge that we continue to look to meet.”

COBYS is staffed by over 100 employees, about 10 of whom are licensed therapists.

“Foster parents are definitely our greatest need right now,” said Stokes. “We need people to say yes to taking an older child into their home. They have to be licensed to be foster parents, and we provide traumafocused training. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s the future of a child. It’s a big challenge and a

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big reward.”

COBYS was founded in 1979 in association with the Atlantic Northeast District Church of the Brethren. It has been headquartered at its current location inside the Oregon Mill since 1989.

“COBYS just started out doing very basic foster care,” said Stokes. “Over the years, the need for services has grown, and our agency has grown to meet those needs. What we pride ourselves on most is how we deliver our care.” difficulties. Participants in the program include those in the Penn Manor, Quarryville and Willow Street communities, but anyone who is interested in participating may register. the program also include switching the length of its informational videos from 45 minutes to 30 minutes. Barr hopes that this change will allow the group to have more time for sharing and discussion during each meeting. The meetings will still be hosted by Dave Perry and Sherry Mull, who have served as group leaders for the program in the past.

For additional information on COBYS, go to www.cobys.org.

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This year, GriefShare will be using the fourth edition of the program. The latest edition has been overhauled to include topics that relate to suicide, loneliness, fear, sadness and anxiety, and it will detail methods that can be used to manage such issues. The new version of the program will also cover challenges that have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Barr was inspired to introduce the program to Pequea Church after she attended a grief support group through Hospice & Community Care.

“These topics are important. People have been more isolated over these last few years from the pandemic,” said Trina Barr, who first introduced the program to Pequea Church in 2003. “Mental health is not often talked about in the same way we talk about other health issues, and there’s a need for it.”

This will be the first time that GriefShare has released a new edition since 2014, and the changes to

Joseph’s Table slates free meal

Joseph’s Table at Ascension Lutheran Church, 600 E. Penn Grant Road, Willow Street, will offer a takeout meal to members of the community on Thursday, Aug. 17.

Meals may be picked up from 5:30 to 6 p.m. There is no charge.

Attendees should enter the parking lot from Penn Grant Road and exit onto Shiprock Road.

Barr joined the group following the loss of her younger brother, and she found it to be a helpful resource as she navigated the process of mourning. She desired to share this experience with others and has organized GriefShare programs for nearly 20 years, taking a short break in 2017.

Due to a gift from an anonymous donor, the GriefShare program is free to sign up for. Registration will be accepted at any point during the program. To register, call the church office at 717-872-5679 or email Barr at jebarr@frontier.com.