Grant may fund public place for non-drinkers in Shippensburg

There are many great restaurants and places for people to gather in Shippensburg, but all of these places have one thing in common that causes a problem for many individuals: They serve alcohol.

There are many people in the Shippensburg community, as well as the Shippensburg University community, who choose not to drink.

This is what caused Melissa Mankamyer, Pastoral Associate at Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, to think of the idea of The Harbor.

Mankamyer wants to provide the community with a place to gather and meet with friends that is not part of the bar scene. Mankamyer said the community needs “a place between church potlucks and the bar scene.”

She said plans for The Harbor include music, pool tables, dart boards, coffee machines, a shuffleboard table and there is a possibility of dance classes.

Mankamyer said her inspiration for The Harbor came from someone who asked her, “How can you be a blessing to your community?”

She decided a great way to help the community would be to help those who she has worked with closely. From her experience helping recovering addicts, she has learned it is often a struggle for these individuals to spend time at places that serve alcohol.

Mankamyer said she also knows there are many people in the community who choose to live a sober life, and she wants to provide them with a non-alcoholic environment.

Mankamyer has entered her idea in the State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program, which will grant $25,000 to the Top 40 causes out of 200 finalists.

On Monday, April 8, The Harbor was ranked at 30 out of 200. If it is still in the Top 40 when voting ends on April 22, the $25,000 grant will be given to Mankamyer to get The Harbor started.

Anyone can help vote for this cause by going to the State Farm Neighborhood Assist application on Facebook and searching for “The Harbor.” Each voter is allowed 10 votes per day to vote for the cause.