About the Earl Besch Fund...
Earl Besch (1926-2015) was a long time resident of Camp Hill Borough, who was known for his generosity to others. Earl would regularly reach out to the schools to see if there were families in need. He would offer to buy a bike, a winter coat, pay for camp enrollment or maybe purchase them a Christmas present. In 2015, his family established a memorial fund in his name to continue his legacy of caring. The Earl Besch Fund at The Lion Foundation provides others an opportunity to help those less fortunate in our community through donations to this fund.
Each year, there are students and families in our Camp Hill community who are struggling to make ends meet. Kids don’t have enough food, don’t have winter coats, and cannot afford fees to participate in activities that are available to others. One of our visions for the Earl Besch Project during the 2019/20 school year is to be able to support these families with a monthly box of nutritious healthy foods, as well as household necessities to keep their grocery bills low.
In 2019, The Earl Besch Project:
You can support The Earl Besch Project in a number of ways. To make a monetary donation, CLICK HERE and identify The Earl Besch Needy Student Fund in the Comments box. Checks can be made out to The Lion Foundation, identify The Earl Besch Fund in the memo line, and mailed to The Lion Foundation at 2627 Chestnut Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011. In addition, gift cards to Aldi, Giant, or Karns can be dropped off at any school or at 1908 High Street, attention Lynette Pertschi - Earl Besch Project. If you would like to donate your time, please contact Lynette Pertschi at pertschi@verizon.net . or 717-649-1933.
Each year, there are students and families in our Camp Hill community who are struggling to make ends meet. Kids don’t have enough food, don’t have winter coats, and cannot afford fees to participate in activities that are available to others. One of our visions for the Earl Besch Project during the 2019/20 school year is to be able to support these families with a monthly box of nutritious healthy foods, as well as household necessities to keep their grocery bills low.
In 2019, The Earl Besch Project:
- Raised funds through donations from the High School Student Council, a MSHSA/CHEPTO Hersheypark ticket fundraiser, donations from Cornerstone Coffee Shop’s Harvest Hop Corn Hole competition, and a student K-12 Coin War in honor of Earl’s birthday.
- Extended our BackPack program through the summer months by teaming up with local churches to prepare and deliver boxes filled with nutritious healthy foods, as well as, household necessities to help all the families in the BackPack Program that is supported by Camp Hill United Methodist Church. Perishable items were discounted by Karns. West Shore Baptist sponsored and delivered the June food boxes. July boxes were funded by Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Calvary Episcopal Church and The Earl Besch Fund. Mt Calvary filled and delivered the July boxes. Camp Hill Presbyterian Church took care of the August delivery.
- Created Caring Closets with snacks and hygiene items at each school.
- In the upcoming months, there will be food drives at all the schools and a gift giving tree for the holiday season. Trinity Lutheran Church will be cooking Thanksgiving meals for all the family members in The BackPack Program.
- In addition, The Lion Foundation provides each school a grant from the Earl Besch Fund to help meet needs of needy students by covering the costs of field trips, club fees, SAT and testing fees, graduation expenses for things such as caps and gowns, and other unmet needs.
You can support The Earl Besch Project in a number of ways. To make a monetary donation, CLICK HERE and identify The Earl Besch Needy Student Fund in the Comments box. Checks can be made out to The Lion Foundation, identify The Earl Besch Fund in the memo line, and mailed to The Lion Foundation at 2627 Chestnut Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011. In addition, gift cards to Aldi, Giant, or Karns can be dropped off at any school or at 1908 High Street, attention Lynette Pertschi - Earl Besch Project. If you would like to donate your time, please contact Lynette Pertschi at pertschi@verizon.net . or 717-649-1933.
Do you have gently used clothing you would like to donate to a good cause?
The Lion Foundation and the Camp Hill School District have entered into a partnership with CommunityAid and will be placing a collection bin in the Camp Hill High School/Middle School parking lot. Proceeds from the bin will benefit The Earl Besch Needy Student Fund. As part of the partnership:
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