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Erin Williams
In March of 2008, three Madison
county families met with a goal in mind
to create a unique camp experience for
children and young adults with special
needs. These families, comprised of the
Byrd, Rogers, and Phelps families, were
parenting children who had special needs,
and they were frustrated at how few fun,
extracurricular activities seemed to be
available to their kids during the summer.
While summer camp options abounded
for neuro-typical children, there was no
place for their children to create those
same memories. This need led them to
a foreclosed, 20-acre parcel of land in
Madison County, right off Catlett Road
in Canton, with an unfinished cabin and
endless opportunities. After acquiring
the property, Hope Hollow Ministries
was formed.
Grounded on their mission to enrich
the lives of children and adults with
special needs by providing fun, meaningful
camps and year-round programs,
Hope Hollow is a Christian non-profit
that works to create an atmosphere
where the coveted “camp experience”
of youth is available to all children,
regardless of ability. At Hope Hollow,
campers fill their days with a variety of
crafts, activities, therapeutic horseback
riding, water games, outside fun, and
smiling volunteers.
Owen Mullen, who is a registered
speech language pathologist and also
Hope Hollow’s executive director, is at
the forefront. Although Mullen became
actively involved with Hope Hollow in
2015, she has worked alongside the
special needs community in various
capacities for over 13 years and has seen,
firsthand, the role Hope Hollow plays in
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