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allowing children to experience the same
spring break and summer camp activities
their peers and siblings do.
“Although our campers have various
mental and physical disabilities that
would exclude them from other camps
in the state, they have way more abilities
than others may realize,” said Mullen.
“They are absolutely 100% aware that
their siblings and peers at school may get
to go to certain summer camps or do
certain summer activities that they will
not be able to do. They are aware, even
at a young age, that there are things they
will miss out on. Hope Hollow steps
between them and those feelings and
says, ‘Hey, come have fun with us this
summer!’ and it is a beautiful thing to see.”
Now, over 10 years later, Hope Hollow
Ministries is preparing to kick off their
11th year of summer camp in 2019 and
serve another 100-plus special needs
campers and their families. Consisting of
seven, one-week camps throughout June
and July that take place from 8am-3pm,
summer camp at Hope Hollow has
become a place where both campers and
their families feel at home.
“I cannot express the joy that Hope
Hollow has brought to our family or the
positive impact they have made on the
community, both for people with special
needs and those who care for them,”
said Tammy Goss whose son, Coy, has
attended summer camp at Hope Hollow
for years. “We have a son who is nonverbal
and prone to seizures, and he
absolutely flourishes at Hope Hollow.
He squeals and, in his own way, loves to
tell tales of what he does each day.”
And there are hundreds more stories
just like Coy’s.
“Hope Hollow is a place where we can
say to campers that you are not less than
or worse than or more incapable than
anyone else,” Mullen said. “It’s important
for these campers to know that they may
be different than, but not less than. After
all, each one of us is only one catastrophic
illness or accident away from potentially
being in the same situations as some of
our campers.”
Mullen spoke of how the campers
consistently change the way she perceives
the world. While she is passionate about
the campers and their families, she is also
passionate about the volunteers who are
integral in Hope Hollow’s success.
“We have volunteers help us throughout
the year, not just throughout camp,
and we couldn’t do what we do without
them. It’s great for the volunteers, many
of whom are students, to learn to
56 • January 2019