Residents and staff at the John Kane Regional Facility at Glen Hazel have eagerly looked forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer. That’s because from June 22 through July 27, each Tuesday and Thursday, the “Week of Hope” program visited Glen Hazel.

Five youths and their sponsors made the weekly visits to Glen Hazel, where they assisted residents through socialization, various activities, storytelling, off-ground trips, bingo, crafts, cooking or simply taking a walk outside in the fresh air.

“Week of Hope has made such a different here at Glen Hazel,” said Kathi Lindsley, Therapeutic Recreation Manager. “Our residents can’t wait for Tuesdays and Thursdays to come around. The youths participating in this program set such a great example. There are so many positive things that these young people are contributing to the lives of our residents. We truly appreciate their visits.”

“Week of Hope” assists several regional agencies and various individuals as 690 adult and teenage campers participate in the program throughout seven weeks of the summer.

The Group Workcamps Foundation of Loveland, Colo., hosts the Week of Hope program to fulfill an overwhelming need for volunteers. “The Week of Hope provides an incredible opportunity for students to put their Christian faith into action,” said Joel Fay, President and CEO of the Group Workcamps Foundation. “It develops character and a service mind-set in youth while providing real rewards to the communities we work in. It is a tremendous benefit to everyone involved.”

New groups of as many as 99 campers will arrive and depart the region each week. These teen volunteers and their adult leaders each pay their own way to come to western Pennsylvania for a week of service while helping others. In addition to assisting Kane Glen Hazel, the campers will serve the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, Rainbow Kitchen, Jubilee Kitchen, and Hosanna House, among other organizations or facilities. They’ll also help individuals in need. Last year Pittsburgh’s Week of Hope was rated No. 1 for the value of work projects.

Locally, the Week of Hope is housed at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School with campers sleeping on floors, eating in large meeting rooms and enjoying inspirational morning and evening programs. “This service to the community would be impossible without the wonderful cooperation of the Pittsburgh Urban Christian School and Principal Bob Phelps,” said Kelli Frantik, the local Week of Hope Coordinator. The Group Workcamps Foundation will reimburse all costs to the lodging facility.

The Group Workcamps Foundation, headquartered in Loveland, Colo., was founded in 1977, after the Big Thompson River Flood. That tragedy united various church youth groups in the Northern Colorado region to help rebuild homes of affected residents. Since then, more than 280,000 volunteers have impacted the lives of thousands of people in need throughout communities across the United States each summer.

For more information about the Week of Hope experience, please contact Kelli Frantik, Local Coordinator at 412.559.6219. For information on the program at Kane Glen Hazel, contact Kathi Lindsley,Therapeutic Recreation Manager, at 412.422.6919.