upLIFT

Aim higher. Go further, together.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by endless demands and struggling to keep up with life's chaos?
Life can be difficult to navigate sometimes. It can be even more difficult if you don't have money in your pocket, people in your corner, or the energy or confidence you need to break through to the next level.

At LCCM, we want to provide more than food for you and your family: We want to help you flourish.

The purpose of LCCM's new upLIFT program is to build up the health and wellbeing, confidence, financial wellbeing, and overall life stability of our members. Together with a coach, we will help you gain the confidence to create a personalized, strengths-based plan of action while also addressing the obstacles that stand in the way of the flourishing life you envision. The goal of coaching is to help you get "unstuck" so you can move forward in areas such as employment, financial wellbeing, health, time and energy management, and life stressors. Coaches help people imagine a better future through personal development, and work to increase your confidence and motivation to make that future a reality. It's about encouragement, support, action and results. We also believe that it truly takes a community to help people make their dreams a reality. We are not looking to reinvent the wheel - we will work collaboratively with community partners to help you get to where you want to go.

We will help you:

Clarify strengths and growth areas
Identify obstacles and limiting beliefs
Develop SMART goals in order to set direction
Develop practical strategies for reducing stress, organizing your life, and finding more joy in every day tasks.
Develop a personalized plan of action for your goals
Follow through even when times get tough
Increase your confidence through a collaborative relationship in an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.

upLIFT also provides:

Bi-weekly access to healthy groceries in the upLIFT food and personal hygiene market
Wrap-around assistance to both in-house and community services
Creative solutions to unmet needs

upLIFT is a program of LCCM that utilizes the More than Food framework of promoting connection, choice and culture change to address the root causes of food insecurity. The More than Food framework is a tested and proven model found in numerous pantries across the United States from Texas to Illinois.

upLIFT is free for qualifying participants. Membership in the upLIFT program is open to anyone 21 years or older who is willing and motivated to move their lives toward greater self-sufficiency. Please apply below. An application does not automatically enroll you into the program. All potential candidates must meet with the upLIFT team first to determinate eligibility.

PLEASE BE ADVISED:
If you are experiencing a food or shelter crisis, or are struggling to pay utilities, please contact Lebanon County Christian Ministries at 717-272-4400.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact Crisis Intervention: 717-274-3363

Interest form (English)

Interest form (Spanish)

contact us

Andrea Gillhoolley
Director of Impact
(717) 272 4400 x 207
[email protected]

Lesvi Vazquez
upLIFT Coach
(717) 272 4400 x. 220
[email protected]

Testimony 18-month impact report

A few years ago, April DeVoy lost everything – her job, home, car and her freedom. In January 2023 her life was getting better, and she was ready to begin tackling goals.

Read April's story

Here are the results by month 18 of the program that began in January 2023.

lccm_uplift_18_month_report_july_2024.pdf
File Size:	513 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

How does upLIFT work?

You will work with a coach over several months. This will ensure you build a trusting relationship and have time to work through any barriers. You will travel through the following steps with your coach once you enroll in the program.

Step 1: Gain clarity

This is the exploration phase. upLIFT starts with an assessment(s) of where you are at in life now, where you want to go, your strengths, and challenges you may be facing to get there. You will meet with a coach to establish a starting point. This will involve doing some inner work to develop a greater understanding of yourself, your life, habits, and beliefs.

Step 2: Develop a roadmap

This is the mapping stage. It's the point where we begin to set direction by developing goals and breaking the goals down into small, achievable steps. Perhaps more importantly, we will work on developing a well-designed system of habits that will deepen your commitment so you fall in love with the process of change, not just the product of change. We will develop a strategy to overcome challenges and develop a list of community resources and supports that will help you on your path.

Step 3: Take action

This is where we venture out on the path! Your coach will walk along side of you as you start taking steps toward change.

Remember: Goals are good for planning your progress, but a good system always wins! Committing to the process is what makes the difference!

What is coaching?

Just as a sports coach understands the strengths and challenges of their athletes, a life coach is able to also get a sense of exactly where you are in your personal journey. Coaches will help you develop a plan forward that builds on your strengths. They will also help to prepare you emotionally, mentally and tactically for each and every challenge on your list.
It's important to understand what coaching is and what it isn't.

A coach ...

Is a bridge builder. Coaches help people move from where they are to where they would like to be - in essence, building bridges to what could be. Coaching is intended to provide additional support, strategies and direction in specific areas to help you move forward.
Helps you develop a personal pathway. A coach is responsible to be an active listener who guides you toward taking action. A coach will not diagnose your situation or prescribe your solution. It's your responsibility to first choose the focus and then arrive at the possible action steps that will move you on your own personal pathway toward a goal.
Provides a safe place. You can expect transparency from your coach and you can feel safe talking about whatever is on your heart.
Is supportive. You are the expert on your own life, so you take the lead role and are responsible for follow through. A coach will walk alongside of you every step of the way.
Knows it's an ongoing journey. Whatever your journey, with coaching it will be intentional and forward movement will take place.

A coach is not...

A therapist or counselor. A trained and licensed professional can assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Coaching is not to be used in lieu of professional counseling or psychotherapy.
A licensed social worker.
A mentor or teacher: Mentoring is passing on knowledge, experiences, or skills, usually by someone who is seasoned in a certain area of life or vocation. A coach's role is to help you clarify goals, focus the conversation, and provide accountability and support to ensure you are taking the steps you decided upon.
Going to 'fix': No coach can 'fix' a problem for someone. For that matter, no coach can change a person. It is not the job of a coach to direct you on any given way forward or do the majority of the work. The joy is in the journey toward greater self-sufficiency!