Her Traditions strives to be a resource for women’s financial health and celebrate and support women as we make our dreams a reality. As we focus on the vital role strong women play in our community, we encourage you to nominate women who inspire you.
Whether she is crushing it as a business owner, lifting others as a community builder, or inspiring women through leadership — we want to hear about it! Help us shine a light on strong women by sharing their stories.
Please email stories and nominations to Nicole Shaffer, Director of Her Traditions.
A Dream to Serve, Educate, and Inspire
On MilitaryShare days, it’s all hands on deck for the team at Roots for Boots. Trucks carrying food, toiletries, and other items for veterans pull into the parking lot and are quickly unloaded by volunteers.
Working together, volunteers unpack boxes and organize their contents before veterans arrive.
“At our first event, we had eight veterans. This last month we had over one hundred sign up,” shares Christy Lucas, Founder and Executive Director of Roots for Boots. “As word spreads in the community, we keep reaching more and more men and women who served our country and need support.”
Looking back, Christy reflects on how Roots for Boots started to meet the needs and address the challenges of veterans, active duty, and military families. “At the time, I was the Principal of Annunciation B.V.M. School in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania,” she notes. “I had started planning an annual Veterans Day assembly at the school, and through that, I heard first-hand the stories from veterans and their families.”
After seeing how much the veterans appreciated the event, Christy started to dream about doing more, and the idea of starting her nonprofit was born. Christy worked days at the school, and at night she’d write the business plan for Roots for Boots.
Since its formation in May of 2016, Roots for Boots has helped servicemen and women access much-needed resources, provided scholarships to local students, and hosted community events that give veterans a place to connect. “On our MilitaryShare days, we always provide lunch,” Christy states, “We even have a World War II vet who attends. It’s a real bonding moment for the vets.”
Community support has been vital to helping Roots for Boots grow, and the support and guidance from local businesses have been essential. Christy is close with Ruth Shaffer, Traditions Bank Branch Manager for the Eisenhower Drive location, and regularly interacts with the branch team. “Ruth and I met at Rotary. We really connected, and she’s done so much to help make things run smoothly for us.”
On a recent hot September day, Team Traditions spent the day providing the volunteer muscle needed to make MilitaryShare happen. Ruth shares, “I’ve always been so impressed with Christy. She does so much to help others, and her drive is a real inspiration. I was so proud to have so many Traditions Bank team members pull together that day.”
Christy notes that passionate volunteers are a true blessing to the organization. The needs are ongoing – from requests for more nonperishable food donations to volunteers who can donate time. All resources go directly to support our immediate community.
“I knew the moment I first dreamed about starting this organization that I was going to make it happen,” Christy smiles. “But it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many.”