Friends of Donegal

We harness the collective power and influence of the community to improve the lives of our neighbors.

Vision

Together we promote hope and equity for all.

Core Values

Equity

We believe everyone should be seen, heard, valued, and empowered to succeed. We work to change practices, structures, and policies to realize equity for everyone.

Making Sustainable Change

We are committed to the economic security of all people. Unlike systems that create and maintain disparities, we adopt approaches that meet the individual's needs the way they experience social problems.

Persistent

We understand to make sustainable change we must pursue our goals even when it is difficult or opposed by others. We are driven to think and do what is best for those in need in our community.

Opportunity

We work with others to create the circumstances for members of our community to thrive.

With

We are here to walk with you, team with you and celebrate with you.

Empathy

We are genuinely interested in the emotional state of others and engage with those emotions to compassionately take action.

Relationships

RelationshipsWe build connections between people and organizations, founded in mutual respect, to work together to bring about change.

Our Board of Directors

Andi - President

Andi was born and raised in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Donegal High School, where her parents and grandparents also graduated. Andi earned her nursing degree from Lancaster General School of Nursing and her MBA from Lebanon Valley College. After a 40+ year career in nursing, where she held various positions at the bedside and in administration at Lancaster General Hospital/Penn Medicine, Andi retired. She has served on the Board of Directors for other local nonprofits such as The American Heart Association, United Disabilities Services (UDS), and Love, INC. Andi has a passion for those who are under-resourced and actively pursues ways for the community to help neighbors investigate their circumstances and change their lives.

Christina - Vice President

Christina is a licensed social worker and doctoral candidate at Millersville University. Her research has focused on building the social capital of homeless youth. She has nearly a decade of experience as a social worker in the community. Christina is currently a professor at Lancaster Bible College in the Counseling and Social Work Department. She was previously a Foster Care Specialist for the Bair Foundation and a School-Based Therapist for TW Ponessa and Associates. Christina is the board president for the Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel. She is also a member of the Donegal community, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Jessica - Treasurer

Jessica Tyson has a passion for serving youth and their families in the Donegal Community. She has firsthand experience with poverty and homelessness, which gives her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those who are under-resourced. Jessica is the project coordinator for Donegal Power Packs, which provides nutritional assistance to qualifying families in the Donegal area.

Stacy - Secretary

Stacy Emminger is a Mount Joy native. She is the founder and Executive Director of Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works with families and individuals impacted by addiction. Stacy began volunteering at 16 and has been active with many organizations over the years - St. Joseph's Hospital, The Humane League, Milanof-Schock Library and Donegal School District to name a few. She is excited to bring her years of experience to Friends of Donegal.

Tom

Tom Weber was born and raised in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Donegal High School, where his parents also graduated, making the Donegal tradition very special to him. Tom has always been impressed by the hard work and dedication of the community of Donegal to make the area a better place for everyone. He is currently serving as the pastor of Florin Church on Bruce Ave. in Mount Joy. Tom is married to Sandy and they live in Lancaster near their children and grandchildren. In addition to his pastoral duties, Tom is also a board member of Helping Services Ministry of Mount Joy, a board member of Bible2school of Donegal, and a chaplain for the Mount Joy Fire Company.

Jen

Jen Koppel, MHA, BA, has over 30 years in government, non-profit, and health system organizations, which provides her with a unique perspective on delivering social services successfully within the community. She has been recognized at the White House for transforming homelessness systems in Lancaster County and is the recipient of the Isaiah 61 Restorer of the City award. In 2018 she was appointed to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency by the governor of Pennsylvania where she still currently serves and was recently re-nominated by the governor for a second term in November 2022. She is a founding board member of the Friends of Donegal and serves on the board of The Lancaster County Food Hub. Jen has been invited as a presenter at various conferences and has served as a consultant on homeless services to communities across the country. She also guest lectures on poverty, homelessness, and social determinants of health at her alma mater, Millersville University.

Pam

Pam Eckman is a member of the Donegal community and the third of four children. Pam attended Lancaster Bible College and is a lead lay counselor in women's and youth ministries. Pam is a certified facilitator for the Getting Ahead program. She is excited to share her experience while serving on the Friends of Donegal board.

Mission