Non-profit supports the children and young adults who have family members affected by ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) with free weekend CAMP. Children and young adults who have or had family members battling ALS (LouGehrig’s Disease), are invited, at no charge, to attend Camp HLC in May at Fairview Lake YMCA Camp in Stillwater, New Jersey.
Hope Loves Company (HLC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to supporting children and young adults who have had or have family members living with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is the only non-profit with this specific mission. Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, Founder of Hope Loves Company, and her team have hosted nineteen Camp HLCs across the nation. Camp HLC New Jersey next month will be their twentieth camp program. Hope Loves Company will run six camps across the country this year.
Mrs. O’Donnell-Ames has three children, now all young adults, who lost a parent to ALS before the age of twelve, so she knew from personal experience how ALS affects a family – especially children.
“Children are caregivers in many ways and recognizing them in our unique way at Camp HLC is what makes our program so special,” said O’Donnell-Ames.
Camp HLC will take place May 17-19, 2019 at Fairview Lake YMCA Camp in Stillwater, NJ. The camp program is free to 40 plus children and grandchildren of families affected by ALS, as well as their parents and guardians, from NJ, NY, CT, MA, PA, and beyond. It is a sleepover weekend retreat.
Camp HLC offers many fun experiences – including archery, fishing, a ropes course, boating, art, music, and more! Counselors will also be available for children and parents. More importantly, children, young adults, and parents in attendance will have something in common and can have fun, build new friendships, and feel less alone in their challenges.
According to one ten year old camper, Camp HLC, “Helps you get the hard times out and the good times in.”
One parent shared, “HLC is the one support avenue that embraces the whole family and lets us know that no matter where you are in your journey that is ALS, there are others that share the same journey. The camp allowed me to open upand really know that my daughter and I are not alone, HLC, you get it!”
For more information, go to HLC’s website at www.hopelovescompany.org. To see Camp HLC as featured on The Today Show, visit the following link: www.today.com/video/hope-to-it-kids-learn-to-cope-with-parents-als-at-camp-696665667876.
Camp HLC at Fairview Lake YMCA Camp is supported by the ALS Association, the LiveLikeLou Foundation, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Roma Community Bank Foundation, The Sunshine Foundation, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, and Church & Dwight.
You can reach the HLC office at (609)-730-1144 or visit the website for more information about upcoming camps.
