Dear friends and supporters,
As 2026 unfolds, I continue to be inspired by the momentum building across SACA and the Lancaster community we proudly serve. For more than five decades, SACA has worked alongside our neighbors to create opportunity, strengthen families, and build pathways to a better future. Today, that mission continues to grow through the programs and partnerships that touch thousands of lives each year.
In the months ahead, you will see new progress across many of the initiatives that define SACA’s work. From expanding workforce development opportunities through Tec Centro to strengthening our affordable housing efforts, behavioral health services, community meals, and senior programming, our team remains focused on meeting the evolving needs of our community with compassion, innovation, and purpose.
This year also marks an important milestone for our organization. SACA is preparing to launch its first comprehensive capital campaign, “Bettering Lives, Building Community,” a five-year initiative with a goal of raising $30 million to expand and strengthen the programs that serve our region.
This campaign represents more than a fundraising effort. It is a vision for the future of Lancaster County. The initiative will help modernize training equipment for Tec Centro, expand affordable housing opportunities, strengthen social services such as case management and senior programming, invest in neighborhood revitalization, and ensure that essential programs like community meals continue to reach those who need them most.
Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more about this exciting campaign and the opportunities it creates for our community. My hope is that you will join us in this vision. Whether through partnership, advocacy, sharing our story, or supporting the work in ways that are meaningful to you, there will be many ways to be part of this next chapter for SACA.
Thank you for standing with us and believing in the power of community. I invite you to explore the updates throughout this newsletter and to stay connected as we continue this journey together. If you would ever like to share an idea, make a connection, or simply learn more about our work, please feel free to reach out to me at jrlopez@sacapa.org.
Together, we are building something lasting for Lancaster.
Jose R Lopez
CEO, SACA & SACA Development
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Every quarter, we share a highlight from each of SACA’s main program areas. We invite you to reach out should you ever wish to learn more about our programs and how you can help. |
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SACA News & Announcements
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Revisit the 2025 Annual Report
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In case you missed it, we are again sharing SACA’s annual report which highlights the progress and accomplishments we experienced in 2025. We welcome you to share this with your peers and colleagues to spread the message of SACA’s work in the community! |
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Advancing Key Community Projects
SACA Development Corporation continues to make progress on several transformative projects designed to strengthen Lancaster neighborhoods and expand access to essential services.
Development is moving forward on Sanavida Plaza as the team awaits final land development approval from the City. Once completed, the project will feature a new freestanding Fulton Bank branch, an Urgent Care and Pharmacy operated by Union Community Care, additional office and retail space, and 48 workforce rental units managed by Duke Street Apartments, LLC, a joint partnership between Vanguard Development Group and Monarch Development.
At the same time, renovations at El Centro Hispano are also awaiting final city approval and will include both site and interior improvements. The updated facility will house an Integrated Neighborhood Health Clinic in partnership with Union Community Care, made possible in part through funding from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
In addition to these developments, SACA Development continues advancing initiatives that support long-term community stability and opportunity. The El Centro Hispano campus will remain a vital hub for services, including SACA’s Nuestra Clínica Education and Prevention Program, the long-standing Senior Center in partnership with the Lancaster County Office of Aging, and ongoing community meal programs for individuals experiencing food insecurity through partnerships with local grocery chains, CAP, and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Through the SDC Homeownership Program, progress also continues with the sale of a completed home at 506 Beaver Street currently under agreement, alongside renovations underway at 309 Pershing Avenue and 305 Coral Street, and new construction beginning at 470 Beaver Street to expand access to homeownership in the community.
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Community Meals & Senior Center
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María’s Story
For many older adults in our community, the SACA Senior Center is more than a place to spend the day. It is a place of connection, comfort, and renewed purpose.
María E. Hernández has been part of the SACA Senior Center community for about five years. She first came on the recommendation of her therapist and initially attended a few days a week. Today, she comes every day.
“The center has truly been like therapy for me,” María shares. “From the moment I walk through the door, I feel the difference in my mood. Even on difficult days, being here lifts my spirits.”
At the Senior Center, participants gather not only for meals, but for meaningful connection. Through crafts, exercise classes, conversations, and daily activities, seniors find a welcoming environment where they can stay active, engaged, and supported.
For María, the center has also provided important practical support. Access to meals and food items helps ease financial pressures while ensuring she remains healthy and nourished.
But what stands out most is the sense of community.
“I enjoy the crafts, the exercises, and the conversations,” she says. “It truly feels like a supportive and therapeutic environment.”
Stories like María’s reflect the heart of SACA’s Community Meals and Senior Center programs. Every day, these spaces bring people together, reduce isolation, and provide the resources and relationships that help our seniors live with dignity, joy, and connection.
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Public Broadcasting (WLCH Radio)
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Workforce Development (Tec Centro)
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Tec Centro Lancaster Welcomes
New Semester & New Programs
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Tec Centro Lancaster began the new semester with strong momentum, welcoming more than 125 adult students into workforce training programs and over 130 students enrolled in adult education courses, including ESL and HiSET. These programs continue to provide individuals in our community with accessible pathways to strengthen foundational skills, complete their high school equivalency, improve English proficiency, and prepare for meaningful employment opportunities.
Looking ahead, Tec Centro Lancaster is expanding its workforce offerings with the launch of a new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program beginning in April. Developed in collaboration with CNS Truck Driver Training Center, this new course will prepare students for high-demand careers in the transportation and logistics industry, further strengthening Tec Centro’s role in connecting Lancaster residents with practical training and career pathways that lead to family-sustaining jobs.
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SACA is actively seeking community partnerships at all levels and for every program. We ask our supporters and stakeholders to keep an open eye and ear for opportunities to expand our impact through both financial and physical donations, sponsorships, and sharing of resources. All we need is an introduction! Have an idea or someone you’d like to introduce to SACA leadership? Please contact jrlopez@sacapa.org.
Or make an impact right now… |
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