Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville JULY 9, 2025
SAVE THE DATE! JULY 26 TASTE OF MOUNT JOY CRUISIN CUSINE CAR SHOW
REACHING MORE THAN 6,480 HOMES
Shining Bright at the Boys & Girls Club
AUG. 9 PLEIN AIR QUICK DRAW Presented by Mount Joy Area Historical Society
8:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M.
OCT. 24 DOWNTOWN SPOOKTACULAR Presented by Mount Joy Area Chamber of Commerce
5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
DEC. 6 WINTERFEST
2:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
VISIT
Mount Joy
BY CAT SHANNON
See Shining pg 2
See Hope pg 3
Andi Ortiz
personally, but also uplifts others through his or her actions, character and vision for a better future. The honored youth is a role model among their peers - someone who turns challenges into opportunities and dreams into action. “Andi is an incredible light, both in our club and this community,” Gray shared. “She has been active across many club and school programs, including our teen leadership club, Keystone; the collaborative robotics program; working with members of the other three
Hope Lives Here
Boys & Girls Lancaster city clubs; the Mini-THON fundraiser, run by Columbia High School for childhood cancer; and, of course art programming.” Andi, who is a rising junior at Columbia High School, is the daughter of Katherine Pizart. When Gray lauded Andi’s club contributions, he also noted that she strives to be a positive influence on others. “Though she is busy, she always makes time to check in on her friends and family, taking care of
“T
he club is a great place to just be a kid and grow up in a safe place,” said Andionette “Andi” Ortiz, describing the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster. “I enjoy mentoring younger members and enjoy art projects at the club.” Andi, who has belonged to the club for two years, recently received acknowledgement of her contributions to the programming when she was honored as one of the club’s Youths of the Year for 2025. The Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster holds annual recognition award banquets to honor the achievements of the outstanding young people at the club. Club members are recognized for their hard work, striving to improve their grades, improve their skills on the basketball court or on the chess board, explore science in STEM programs and perform acts of service in their club and community. Banquets are held each year at the four clubhouse locations in Lancaster County. Three are located in Lancaster city, and one is in Columbia. Andi received her award at the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster’s Columbia Clubhouse, 248 Locust St., at the end of April. She was recognized with remarks by clubhouse director Scott Gray, and she received a trophy as well as a personalized club fleece jacket. The Youth of the Year award honors a young person who exemplifies leadership, resilience and a deep commitment to making a positive impact in his or her community. This recognition is given to a youth who not only excels
VOL LXVI • NO 19
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
BY CAT SHANNON
11:00 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M.
R118889
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