Lion to Lion, Heart to Heart

The Besch Fund is dedicated to the work of making sure that each child and each family in the Camp Hill School District has the tools they need to succeed. 
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The Besch Fund is managed by The Lion Foundation and use of the fund is overseen by the foundation's Community Outreach Team and the rest of the Lion Foundation board.
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Lion to Lion, Heart to Heart, we want the best for one another.​

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The Besch Fund help students and families in following ways: 

​Student Life Funds

The Lion Foundation provides each school an annual grant from the Besch Fund to help meet needs of deserving students by covering the costs of field trips, club fees, SAT and testing fees, graduation expenses for caps and gowns, and other essential items. These funds can be used at the discretion of the principal and is replenished to a beginning balance of $1000 at the start of each school year.

​New Hope Mobile Food Pantry

​Operating in partnership with New Hope Ministries, Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Camp Hill School District, the food pantry visits the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church twice a month.

New Hope Ministries will also provide case management, housing, basic needs, and employment services for eligible families in need.

Learn More HERE

The mobile food pantry and all New Hope services are open to any Camp Hill family regardless of religious affiliation.

Do you or someone you know need some extra support? Please reach out:
[email protected]

Community Support During the Food Benefits Disruption

​The Lion Foundation’s Community Outreach Team, with support from The Besch Fund, is coordinating efforts to support families who may be affected by the upcoming lapse in federal food aid. Whether you’re looking for ways to help or your family is in need of some extra support, there are several opportunities and resources available. 

If you need support: 

• Come to an upcoming mobile food pantry in Camp Hill on November 6th and December 4th at Trinity Lutheran Church (2000 Chestnut Street) from 5 - 6:30pm. Toiletries and household essentials will be available inside the church at the November 6th pantry.
• Visit a nearby New Hope Ministries location for food, basic needs, or caseworker support.
• Request Student Life assistance for needs beyond food — such as clothing, transportation help, activity fees, or household necessities — by submitting this form. 
• Sign up for a Thanksgiving Meal Kit to ensure your family has what it needs for the holiday.
• Come shop for FREE (new and gently used) winter clothing and decorations at Trinity Lutheran Church (2000 Chestnut St, Camp Hill) on December 4th between 4:30 - 6:30pm. 
• Register for the Holiday Giving Tree to receive gifts and household items this season. 

If you want to help:

• Support our food drive for New Hope Ministries. Drop donations at The Lion Foundation tent during the Trick or Trot 5K on Saturday, November 1, at 22nd St & Dickinson Ave from 7:30–11:00 AM, or porch drop-off to 398 Willow Ave or 3118 Harvard Ave until further notice. Most needed items: canned fruit and vegetables, canned chicken or tuna, canned pasta meals, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, and rice.
• Donate to The Besch Fund, which makes these initiatives possible — including Student Life assistance, support for toiletries and household essentials, and grocery gift cards. 
• Join the Trick or Trot 5K on November 1st! Lace up and run for a cause — all proceeds benefit The Besch Fund. It’s not too late to register!
• Pass on your new or gently used winter clothing and decorations. Porch drop off donations accepted between November 1st and December 1st to 308 N 24th St or 398 Willow Ave.
• Volunteer your time. Keep an eye out for upcoming family-friendly opportunities with local food assistance programs like Cocoa Packs or sign up to help foster community during a mobile pantry date in Camp Hill.
• Get involved. Email [email protected] to be added to our volunteer contact list.

English Language Learners (ELL) Program at Trinity Lutheran Church

The ELL program is a free program for adults to improve their English language reading, speaking, and writing skills.   
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Sessions are offered in the Spring and Fall. The sessions are approximately 12-weeks in length.

This is NOT a faith-based program. All are welcome.

Free childcare is provided while adults learn!

New Hope Mobile Food Pantry

GOOD FOOD...and so much more!
​The Mobile Food Pantry 
Twice per month the New Hope Mobile Food Pantry pulls up in the Trinity Camp Hill Lutheran Church parking lot to provide food to all Camp Hill families.

This partnership is an organized effort to not only help those in need, but to offer comprehensive support to families and get them back on their feet and experience true stability.

Become a Mobile Pantry Volunteer

More about New Hope Ministries...

Nearby New Hope Ministries is a community nonprofit agency with 39 years of service in south central Pennsylvania and currently operates food pantries and casework offices that serve the Camp Hill community. 
Families can also receive help with: • Rent and mortgage • Heat and utility bills • Transportation • Childcare • Soft skills training • Budgeting • Workforce development and job training including Nurse Aide, Forklift classes, CDL Class A Truck Driving, Child Development Associate, and Rise Up Retail Program

Support the Besch Fund!

You can support The Besch Fund in a number of ways!

• Participate in the annual Trick or Trot 5k
• Click the "Donate" button below to make a credit card donation.
• Write a check to The Lion Foundation, identify The Besch Fund in the memo line, and mail to:

                  The Lion Foundation
                  340 North 21st Street
                  Camp Hill, PA 17011

• ​To VOLUNTEER with the food pantry, complete an online application with New Hope Ministries HERE or call New Hope at 717-766-7333 ext 3012
• To VOLUNTEER with the Lion Foundation COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM, email us at [email protected]

Donate to the Besch Fund

Learn more about the Trick or Trot for the Besch Fund!

The History of The Lion Foundation's Besch Fund...

Earl Besch (1926-2015), a long time resident of Camp Hill Borough, 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 purchase them a Christmas present.

In 2015, his family established a memorial fund in his name to continue his legacy of caring. What started as a memorial fund with The Lion Foundation to honor Earl Besch has grown to a movement that supports several important programs. 

In 2025, The Lion Foundation board voted unanimously to honor the outstanding legacy of Nancy Besch by renaming the fund, simple, "The Besch Fund". Learn more about the incredible life of Nancy Besch through her Wall of Honor biography HERE.

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Donate to the Besch Fund

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:

• Any donated items placed in this collection bin will be credited to receive a $.04 per pound of clothing donation from CommunityAid to The Lion Foundation Besch Fund.
• Community Aid will also donate $300 in store clothing gift cards quarterly per school. We can then give $25 cards to spend in our local thrift stores discretely to our neediest students. This is an easy way to help families struggling to clothe their children.
• Finally, following 12 months of partnership, The Lion Foundation may apply for need-based grants from CommunityAid of up to $5,000 toward our mission. 

It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN when you donate! Stop by the Middle School High School Parking Lot today!

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