Helping those in need: Clover Area Assistance Center expanding in York County
The Clover Area Assistance Center unveiled plans Tuesday for a new center in York County, marking its first expansion since opening over two decades ago.
The administration and outreach center will allow the social services organization to expand its ability to help people, and will serve as place other agencies can reach the community. The organization provides food, financial assistance and education.
CAAC operates as a full-choice food pantry, where individuals can select groceries similar to a supermarket. The new 3,000-square-foot building will feature offices and a 20-person conference room. This space will accommodate financial management classes, which have been held at a local bank due to limited space.
Cameron Hurst, executive director since January 2023, has spearheaded the project.
“One of the biggest issues in the York County area is transportation,” Hurst told the Herald. “This conference room will allow numerous social service organizations to collaborate at no cost, bringing their services to our side of York County.”
Another pressing issue has been limited space within the current Clover Area Assistance Center building.
“We had to replace our walk-in freezer in March 2023, which reduced our available space,” Hurst explained. “This expansion became necessary as we reached capacity and couldn’t accommodate more services or programs.”
Last year, the center saw a 52.5% increase in individuals seeking assistance, a trend expected to continue.
The new building will be located directly behind the original, which will undergo its own renovations to expand the layout and distribute food more efficiently.
The Clover Area Assistance Center, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering self-sufficiency through life skills, education, and urgent services ranging from food to health, expects the $1.1 million project to open in September 2025.
“We still need to raise additional funds,” Hurst said, “but we’re grateful to be starting construction soon.”
Over 70% of the budget has been secured, with ongoing efforts to solicit donations and volunteers via cloverareaassistance.org/new-building/.
