United Churches Elizabethtown Area

United Churches Elizabethtown Area (UCEA) was founded in 1969 to meet the need for affordable and quality childcare. UCEA created the Elizabethtown Child Care Center, which grew into its own organization. Throughout its history, UCEA supported community projects and organizations while exploring the potential for more impact.

The mission of UCEA is to improve, expand, support and develop programs and partnerships with churches and social service agencies. Our vision is to continue to be increasingly supportive of the needs of marginalized people in the Elizabethtown area.

To this end, UCEA established the Community Cupboard, a choice food-pantry. Residents of the Elizabethtown Area School District who fall within the USDA guidelines can shop for food for their families once a month. They can choose a large variety of healthy, non-perishable items in addition to milk, cheese, butter, eggs and fresh produce. We currently serve approximately almost 150 households and over 400 individuals per month.  

The Cupboard also hosts the Military Share program.  This monthly service is for veterans and their families facing food insecurity.

We also have a Clothing Barn. Community members who need clothing can choose from our new and gently used clothing that is lovingly sorted and arranged by dedicated volunteers. We currently serve approximately 50 people per month. 

The Elizabethtown Meals on Wheels program delivers a hot and cold meal, 5 days a week, to ill, handicapped or elderly individuals in the Elizabethtown area who cannot cook for themselves. We average serving 21 homebound individuals each day.

After dreaming of a centralized location for services, UCEA purchased property on Washington Street in 2018. This campus of 4 buildings, including 10 apartments, is known as Community Place on Washington (CPOW). It houses the programs of UCEA and other community non-profit organizations, such as Elizabethtown Community Housing & Outreach Services (ECHOS) with their emergency shelter and housing programs, Bear Bags, Breakthrough Music Therapy, GEARS and more. 

Volunteers are the heart of UCEA. From sorting food and clothing, property and lawn maintenance, driving and delivering meals, to the delegates and board members that guide the organization, we couldn't do what we do without their dedication. 

Please consider a donation to help us serve our neighbors in the Elizabethtown community!