Practicing Leadership Through Community Service.
Addressing Food Insecurity Across York County
According to the Feeding the Carolinas 2025 Map the Meal Gap study, in 2024, 11.1% of York County residents experienced food insecurity, a rate that is higher than the state's overall 2024 average of 9.9%. This equates to approximately 18,750 people in the county lacking consistent access to enough food. The cost of the annual food budget shortfall for these individuals was estimated to be around $12,258,000, with the average cost per meal at $3.70.
Our Leadership Class of 2025 addressed the issue of food insecurity by partnering with Pilgrims' Inn. The group tackled this daunting task in a variety of ways. The group:
- hosted a food collection drive
- worked with a local contractor to build, install, and stock Little Free Pantries in under-served areas of York County.
- hosted a fundraiser to support their mission and to provide much-needed support to other local food pantries, and
- created a mapping system to mark Little Free Pantries and Blessings Boxes across York County.
Visit www.yorkcountychamber.com/lyco to learn about past Leadership York County service projects.
Supporting York County's First Responders
First responders are the unsung heroes of our community! They're the brave souls who rush to the scene during emergencies, providing essential help when we need it most. Whether it's firefighters tackling blazing infernos, paramedics offering life-saving care, or police officers ensuring our safety, these dedicated professionals keep our businesses and neighborhoods safe and secure. Their quick actions and unwavering commitment make all the difference in moments of crisis, making our community a safer, stronger, and more resilient place to live. We owe them a huge thanks for always having our backs!
The Leadership York County Class of 2024 took on the task of providing financial support and supplies to various first responder agencies across the county, and also worked to show their appreciation for these outstanding individuals who serve our citizens each day. They did this by:
- Hosting a 5K Race in partnership with Carowinds - this resulted in a fundraising total of over $20,000
- Encouraging local students to create Thank You notes, pictures, and banners for first responders
- Personally delivering those notes, along with other gifts of appreciation
- Using the proceeds from their fundraiser to purchase gloves, bottled water, and guardian lights for local agencies, and to support ongoing initiatives like the RHPD Cadet's Academy.
This service project was proudly supported by:
Want to help future Leadership classes make a difference in our community?
Visit this link to view levels of support or to offer your time and talents to an upcoming project!
To learn more about Leadership York County, including details about how to apply for future classes, visit www.yorkcountychamber.com/lyco.