Brandon Sheetz stood in Penn Square Saturday afternoon holding the canvas painting that got him into college.

The Lancaster resident has one year left of school at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, but Sheetz — the first member of his family to attend college — can't afford to go.

Due to loans provided to him by American Education Services, a loan service company that helps college students pay for their educations, he can't meet the payments on these loans, let alone take out future ones.

"I owe American Education Services more than $19,000," Sheetz shouted in the square. "They're not going to be seeing that anytime soon."

Sheetz, along with a group of about 30 members of Occupy Lancaster, gathered at the square to share their stories of why they "occupy" and the changes they want to see made by the government in the upcoming months. Members would shout a line of their story and the group would repeat it, both in an effort to be better heard in the noisy downtown atmosphere and as an act of solidarity.

One by one, the stories continued to unfold. Group members of all ages — a 63-year-old man who lost his job, an 18-year-old boy just out of high school — stepped forward to remind each other why they camp out and why they stand united hoping to make a difference.

Audrie Marsh, a 29-year-old Lancaster resident, came close to tears as she told fellow occupiers that she will be paying off her college loans until she is 60 years old.

After graduating, Marsh and her partner bought a home together, after they were told by a lender that they could "own a home for just $500," she said.

"We were 21 then," she said. "At 21, you make some pretty bad decisions.

"I work between 60 and 90 hours a week now, and even that is barely enough to pay my mortgage," she said. "Don't buy into the American dream."

Tom Caruso, a Connecticut resident and former student of the Lancaster Theological Seminary, was visiting Lancaster for the weekend when he happened upon the gathering in the square.

After working as a business editor for the Connecticut Post newspaper in Bridgeport, Caruso said he has been both a member of the "1 percent" while also witnessing the actions of big-time CEOs in his town — CEOs who Caruso said would spend $200,000 on landscaping without giving a dime to those in poverty.

"When asked to give donations, they would say 'How do we know you're not going to spend it on drugs and alcohol?' " he said. "Well, you know what I say. How do we know they're not going to take their million dollar bonuses and spend them on drugs and alcohol?"

Occupy members, including Natasha Herr, threw their arms up and cheered in response. Herr, 29, shared her own story and that of her 9-month-old nephew, Zander Bradley, who was tucked tightly into her winter jacket.

Herr only got a few lines out about her nephew before bursting into tears, but her friend and fellow Occupy member, Amanda Reitz, was there to help.

"My parents don't have much money but my belly is full," Reitz read off of Herr's sign for Zander. "I am one of the lucky ones.

"Please don't stop fighting. My future depends on it."

Herr's story read a little differently, though.

Since age 13, Herr has had a job, working her way through high school and college. She's lived in Lancaster her entire life. Despite her efforts, she is currently "tens of thousands of dollars" in debt from student loans and hasn't had health insurance since she was 19.

But Herr's motivation hasn't been diminished, she said, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I refuse to be defined by the number on my head," she said, in reference to her low credit rating.

After the rally, the group marched throughout the streets of downtown Lancaster, chanting "We are the 99 percent" and "This is what community looks like" while holding their signs high.

Some passers-by in cars waved and pumped their fists to group members who waved in return.

Occupy members were also armed with fliers. Overall, reactions were positive. Many downtown citizens even joined in the chants while walking by.

"We're really lucky," said Reitz, a member of Occupy Lancaster from its beginnings Oct. 17. "We have a great relationship with the police department and the downtown community. There's been a lot of support."

Members of the community have donated subzero sleeping bags, blankets and other supplies to the Occupy campers, who have maintained a presence despite the falling temperatures.

Occupy Lancaster offers members of the community a chance to get involved with the movement, holding discussions at 6 p.m. and general assembly meetings at 7 p.m. daily.

Saturday afternoon featured teach-ins for those looking to learn more about "occupy" issues with Franklin & Marshall College professor Antonio Callari and Lancaster Coalition for Peace & Justice member Louise-Ann Cooper.

"The biggest thing holding people back is that they don't feel empowered," Reitz said. "We need to show them how to take action."

And while the fate of the Occupy Lancaster movement may remain unknown as members requested earlier this week to renew the permit that expires Jan. 1, the energy and motivation of the group remains.

Sheetz's voice cracked as he urged the assembled group in the square to remember why they came out to support the movement in the first place.

"I want my hopes and dreams back," he said. "Believe with me. Believe together."

bhorn@lnpnews.com