Thirty years ago, in the basement of the old Dutch Pantry restaurant on Buford Avenue, a small group of volunteers sat around a table, collating and stapling together a vision. It was the first Community Health Assessment—a stack of papers that would eventually become the roadmap for a healthier, more connected Adams County and the precursor to an organization now known as Healthy Adams County.
On Friday, dozens of people gathered at The Lodges of Gettysburg to celebrate three decades of Healthy Adams County bridging the gap between medical care and human services.
“Every day, people are working to provide an amazing gift, to be able to access food,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, a native of Adams County, said during his keynote address.
Russell noted that the Adams County Food Policy Council, a Healthy Adams County task force, served as a model for the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council. He credited the dozens of volunteers who contributed to Healthy Adams County’s successes.
The story of HAC began in the early 1990s when the healthcare world and human service agencies lived in separate silos. Steve Renner, then-president of Gettysburg Hospital, made a pivotal call to then Adams County Office of Aging Executive Director Steve Niebler, asking him to attend a conference focused on building healthy communities.
At the conference, Niebler and others learned that issues are often a product of their environment. For example, teen pregnancy was often generational.
“We learned that if you ask the kids why they’re facing challenges, they often have the best solutions,” Niebler said.
By modeling programs after success stories across the state—where simple fixes like providing winter coats drastically reduced emergency room visits—HAC was formed under the principle that health is about more than medicine; it’s about the conditions in which we live.
What started as the Adams County Partnership for Community Health—a name the founders jokingly admit was a “branding nightmare”–evolved into the streamlined, impactful Healthy Adams County.
Niebler said the organization’s first executive director, Bill Taft, and his assistant, Jennifer Gastley, laid a foundation that was passed on to Kathy Gaskin in 2006. Gastley continued to work at HAC until 2024.
Task Forces: The Engines of Change
Today, HAC operates through a series of dedicated task forces that address the county’s most pressing needs. Gaskin said the Task Forces are evaluated regularly, and sometimes new ones are added.
- Adams County Women’s Cancer Coalition: Provides education and increases access to screening and treatment for female cancers.
- Adams County Food Policy Council: Engages with businesses, institutions, social service agencies, community members, the agricultural sector, and government to develop food policy and take action.
- Behavioral Health Task Force & Suicide Prevention Sub-Committee: Encourages an environment that promotes the improvement of mental and behavioral health and quality of life through a community-led process.
- Children’s Health & Nutrition Task Force: Supports environmental change to positively impact children’s health and nutritional status in Adams County through providing advocacy, education, and resources.
- Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Task Force: Reduces the incidence of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Adams County by raising awareness, educating the public, prevention, and collaboration.
- End of Life Committee: Helps the Adams County community prepare for end of life.
- Latino Services Task Force: A community forum for addressing problems affecting the health and quality of life of the Latino Community.
- Physical Fitness Task Force: Leads a united effort to improve the health of individuals in Adams County through increased physical activity.
Awards
The room on Friday was filled with people committed to making Adams County a great place to live. Some, like Niebler, are retired from their professional careers but continue to serve as community volunteers. Others are much younger and carrying on the important work.
Gaskin expressed appreciation for them all and presented special awards to a group of standout Health Adams County partners.
Jen Weigle, Gettysburg School District Social Worker, received The New Seed Innovator Award for piloting creative, forward-thinking solutions that push community health efforts into the future.
The Crisp Core Service Award was presented to Betsy Meyer and Yeimi Bautista for their longtime volunteer efforts. Meyer has chaired the Physical Fitness Task Force for about a decade and founded the free 5Ks held on Memorial and Labor Days. Bautista has been the chair of the Latino Services Task Force for more than 15 years.
Gastley, Gaskin’s right-hand woman, earned The Shining Apple Award. Gaskin lauded Gastley’s organizational skills and people-centric approach to problem solving.
WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital received The Heritage Apple Award for its decades of commitment to the organization. Healthy Adams County was made possible by Renner’s foresight and continues to provide operational support, allowing Gaskin and her team to focus on addressing issues rather than fundraising.
The Gettysburg Hospital Foundation was honored with the Orchard Steward Award for consistently nurturing the health and well-being of Adams County.
Featured photo: Those receiving awards from Healthy Adams County on Friday are, front row from left: Latino Services Task Force Chair Yeimi Bautista, Healthy Adams County Executive Director Kathy Gaskin, and Physical Fitness Task Force Chair Betsy Meyer; back row from left: Gettysburg School District Social Worker Jen Weigle, WellSpan Community Health Coordinator Jen Gastley, Gettysburg Hospital Foundation Director Jill Simonson, Executive Assistant for WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital Administration Sherry Small, and System Director for Community Health at WellSpan Stephanie Voight. (Photo by Alex J. Hayes)
