Dauphin County Commissioners, Northern Dauphin Human Services Center to hold annual back-to-school yard sales and First Day, Fresh Impressions program to help students in need get ready for school

ELIZABETHVILLE, PA (July 11, 2018) – For the past eight years, Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George P. Hartwick, III and the county’s Northern Dauphin Human Services Center (NDHSC) are holding free back-to-school yard sales and the “First Day, Fresh Impressions” program to distribute donations of gently used clothing, school supplies and gift cards to students in need.

“A big thank you to everyone who is donating school supplies, backpacks and clothes for children and teens who may otherwise not be able to afford them,” said Hartwick, who has oversight of the county’s Human Services Department and the NDHSC. “Together, we can help students start the school year ready to learn.

First Day, Fresh Impressions has also helped many area students in need get ready for school. Students are taken shopping for clothes and shoes and can get a haircut or style using donated Walmart and Smart Style Salon gift cards.

The free back-to-school yard sales and First Day, Fresh Impressions programs are scheduled for the following dates:

  • For Halifax Area School District, the yard sales will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on August 17 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 18 at the Halifax Elementary      School Gymnasium, 3940 Peters Mountain Rd. Call Donna from Valleys Evangelical Covenant at 896-3118 to register for First Day, Fresh Impressions by August 20.
  • In Millersburg School District, the yard sale will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on August15 at the Millersburg Assembly of God, 2261 Shippen Dam Rd. Call Pastor      Justin at 692-3904 to register for First Day, Fresh Impressions by August 5.     
  • In Upper Dauphin School District, the yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 28 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 25 East Main, Elizabethville. To      register for First Day, Fresh Impressions, call Bonnie at 905-2700 by July 31.
  • For Williams Valley School District, the yard sale will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 4 at the Williamstown Fire House, 225 W. Broad St., Williamstown. Call      Lucinda at 647-2956 to register for First Day, Fresh Impressions.

“We’re extremely grateful to the many generous donors, volunteers, community partners and school districts for making this annual back-to-school drive possible,” said Haste. “Our goal is to break down barriers to learning and success in the classroom.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 5 students live in poverty.

“The response from the northern Dauphin community every year is overwhelming,” said Pries. “We’re grateful for everyone who has stepped up to help students and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in school.”

The NDHSC, which coordinates these programs, is located at 295 State Dr. in Elizabethville.  For more information about the center and its programs, please call 717-905-2700.