Pequea Valley townlively.com
JULY 17, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 30
Comfort and inspiration Clinic for Special Children opens in Gordonville BY ANN MEAD ASH
“T
oday is the day we officially take off our hard hats,” said Herman Bontrager to applause. Bontrager, board chair of the Clinic for Special Children and chair of the Keeping the Promise Building Hope capital campaign, was addressing the gathering at the June 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house held at the new Clinic for Special Children, recently completed at 20 Community Lane, Gordonville. B o n t ra g e r w e l c o m e d t h e group and immediately recalled April 4, 2023, when the organization broke ground for the new building. He also reminded the gathering of the vision and courage of Dr. Holmes Morton and his wife, Caroline, who founded the clinic 35 years ago. “We have served the most vulnerable among us - children and adults facing rare genetic disorders,” said Bontrager,
adding, “Today children with once life-limiting disorders are growing into healthy adults and new treatments are on the horizon. This building represents the clinic’s promise to care for children as they age and seek life-giving therapies.” The Rodriguez family from New York spoke next, with Alicia, mother of Eric and wife of Walter, telling the stor y of how the family was overwhelmed by Eric’s diagnosis of glutaric acidemia when he was born at 31 weeks of gestation. Walter searched the internet for answers, and when he discovered the clinic in Lancaster County, the family drove the four hours to meet staff members. “We thought the GPS had made a mistake,” noted Alicia of the final portion of the trip when the car traveled through a farm field and a cluster of trees. “From the moment we walked in, we felt hope,” she stated, noting that Eric, who is now 5, is in good See Clinic for Special Children pg 5 A ribbon cutting and open house was held at the new Clinic for Special Children in Gordonville on June 20.
Won’t you be a good neighbor? Bridge of Hope is working to bring hope to homeless families in the Pequea Valley area. Specifically, the organization, which aids families that have been through transitional housing to move to safe and sustainable housing, is looking for volunteers for its neighboring program and two housing units that could be rented to families in the program at fair market value. “Bridge of Hope utilizes a multi-pronged approach to ending family homelessness,” explained Anne Dunnenberger, Ayanna (second from left) and her son, Raymond (second from right), talk with Bruce (left) and Wanda, members of a group of neighboring
See Bridge of Hope pg 2 volunteers from Goodville Mennonite Church.
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BY ANN MEAD ASH
Aaron’s Acres campers are happy in New Holland BY ANN MEAD ASH
For the past 13 summers, Sam has been enjoying camp with Aaron’s Acres, an organization that provides programing for children and adults with special needs. Sam has become a fixture at camp, and staff members affectionately refer to him as “The Mayor.” Sam’s focus at camp is on time in the water. His favorite thing is swimming. Since 2022, Sam has been swimming in the New Holland
Community Pool, located in the 400 block of Jackson Street. “We have truly been blessed with this partnership (the New Holland Community Park and Pool, which is overseen by New Holland Borough),” said Risa Paskoff, executive director of Aaron’s Acres, referring to the borough and park staff members. “They welcomed us. They tell us they love having us here, and we love being part of this community.” Aaron’s Acres holds camp in New Holland over three two-week See Aaron’s Acres pg 6
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