In 2014, Mable and John Hershey saw a need in their community and felt called to act. They realized a personal care home on Cherry Street in Columbia faced closure, displacing its residents.

"Being the kind of people we are, we said, 'Let's see what we can do to maybe keep it open,'" Mable recalled. "We're people that have a caring heart. We knew these 30 people living there would not have a home to live in if this had to close."

For the next three years, the Hersheys began the arduous work of turning the home into a nonprofit organization and improving the site.

"Through many miracles of people giving us funds, we were able to make it a nonprofit and make improvements to the home," Mable shared.

Neither Mable nor John had any experience running a nonprofit.

"We were farmers before this," Mable said. They relied on their faith and help from friends, forming a board and soliciting donations for the project.

The residents were able to stay in the home during the process, and in June of 2017, Our Home of Hope was born.

The prior owner had chosen the name, hoping to create a nonprofit. "She had chosen that name because she believed for the people who come there, it is their home of hope," Mable said.

Our Home of Hope can house up to 30 people, none of whom have the funds to enter a traditional personal care home.

"We take low-income, private-pay people who can afford the monthly charge," Mable explained. "They have to be able to move around by themselves. We do their laundry, provide their food and dispense their medicines, but when we get a need beyond that, our administrator and caseworker help to find the person a more suitable place to live."

Our Home of Hope offers supportive care to individuals with intellectual or mental health disabilities in a Christian environment. It serves those without the support of family or guardians, emphasizing dignity and compassion.

"Our Home of Hope has filled a 'gray area' between costly long-term care homes and traditional nursing homes," said executive director Robin Gamby, who came on board with the organization earlier this year. "At a time when there is an obvious and growing need for care homes like ours, we are actually seeing them close."

Prior to 2017, Our Home of Hope operated as a private care home, known as Cherry Street Guest Home. Mable now serves as president, with Gamby and a board that includes local business leaders.

"Our Home of Hope delivers an industry-standard level of support and care, as well as a fulfilling sense of camaraderie and purpose, making Our Home of Hope residents an asset to Columbia," Mable said. "Our residents enjoy walking around town, shopping in local businesses and listening to Music in the Park."

This past spring, Our Home of Hope signed up to Adopt-a-Block in Columbia Borough, and residents performed cleanups on the 200 block of Cherry Street, where the property is located, as well as the 100 block of North Second Street. Volunteering in the community and participating in projects like the on-site garden provide a sense of purpose and opportunity for physical activity for the residents.

Although Our Home of Hope aims to provide a loving and safe space for residents, the nonprofit needs community support.

"We could use volunteers to come and help with cleaning or other needs we may have," Mable shared. "People could 'adopt' a resident. Many of our residents have no one who visits them, so if someone could come and visit with them, that would be wonderful."

People or community organizations are also invited to bring programs to the residents as well, she said.

Through the Hersheys' vast community connections, they have formed partnerships with a variety of people and organizations that help support Our Home of Hope. Kreider Farms donates milk, and a community member supplies 40 pounds of bananas weekly.

"We're looking for someone to donate eggs," Mable said.

Despite their best efforts, there is still a need for financial support to keep the home operating.

Currently, the home needs $4,500 annually to support a full house of residents, or $375 per month.

"If someone could make that monthly contribution or a one-time-a-year donation, these amounts would help us have the income to keep the home open," Mable stated.

Our Home of Hope has been the beneficiary of a fall bingo event and participates in both the ExtraGive and Faithful Give, but major improvements are still needed at the site, and they will be costly.

The organization is working on securing a grant to pave the dirt-floor basement to use the space for storage, and on-site work on its wish list includes improvements to the front porch and installation of a slate pathway leading to the backyard.

To learn more about Our Home of Hope or to provide support, contact Gamby at ohohexecdir@gmail.com or 717-575-9032.