Rockin' for a cause: One nonprofit raised money during Give Local York with rocking chairs

Walking into the Community Aid thrift store in the Queensgate Shopping Center, four rocking chairs were lined up on the left, occupied by people, well, rocking.

It was part of a Give Local York fundraiser for the Jessica & Friends Community, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that operates group homes and provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.

It may seem odd that people rocking in chairs would be the focus of a fundraising effort, but it makes sense, said Susanna Reynold, the organization's human resources director. It is intended to honor the organization's late HR director, J. Patrick Peters, an Episcopal priest from Columbia. Jessica & Friends used to hold a "run, roll and stroll" fundraiser at Cousler Park in Manchester Township, Reynold said. It was hard to organize, and when Peters passed away suddenly in May 2020, the organization sought to launch a fundraiser that would honor his memory and legacy.

"He would not have been running," Reynold said. "He was not an athletic type of guy. He would have loved this."

Buckets to accept donations sat before each rocker and patrons of the thrift store could drop a few dollars in as they entered or left.

It is the third year that Jessica & Friends has held the J. Patrick Peters Rock On fundraiser, but the first year it has been affiliated with Give Local York, the community-wide campaign that benefits 315 nonprofit organizations. In the six years since its founding, Give Local York has raised more than $20 million for local nonprofits from thousands of donors.

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Friday was Give Local Day and included dozens of events all over York County.

And one of them was Rock On.

The fundraiser is important for Jessica & Friends because it relies on state money to fund its group homes and programs. Expenses, though, outstrip the funding, requiring the organization to go to the community for support, Reynold said.

Jessica & Friends was founded un 1998 by Peter and Paulette Teague, whose daughter Jessica was born with special needs in 1981. The organization now employs 150 staffers, operates seven group homes and provides services to hundreds of families in York County.

The organization was hoping to raise $85,000 through Give Local York. As of midday, it had raised more than $27,000.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: One nonprofit raised money during Give Local York with rocking chairs