Stories

George Kahler never knew his parents well. His mother passed away from bone cancer when he was just 2 years old, and his father died of a heart attack three years later. George was the youngest of five children. His brother, Ray, was closest in age and only nine years old when their father passed [...]

Joanne Westafer’s childhood was like a fairytale, filled with long summer days outdoors and stretches of homegrown vegetables and roaming chickens in her backyard. It was a “happy, yet simple time” that she still remembers vividly today at age 88. Joanne’s father was a “busy-body” who devoted his time and energy to her and her [...]

Fourteen years ago, the children’s home received a call from a secretary at a local church. She said she knew of a 17-year-old boy in her daughter’s class who was homeless. The boy’s father had thrown him out of the house, because his new girlfriend did not “like” him. The boy visited the children’s home [...]

Born and raised in Elizabethtown, house parent Shelley Smith remembers going to school with kids living at the Masonic Children’s Home in the 1970s. “They were always so well-dressed and well-spoken,” she remembers. “It always seemed like they had everything they needed.” Now, as a part-time house parent in Dougherty Cottage, Shelley knows it’s possible [...]

Billy Graham; Roy Halladay; Aretha Franklin. These are just a few of the public figures who have influenced Stu Brown during his 90 years of life. Each time an idol passes, he makes a gift in his or her memory to his favorite charity. He also does this for friends and family. “I could send [...]

When Amos made the journey from his Philadelphia home to the children’s home seven years ago, he was surprised in many ways. He was surprised to see the Lancaster County countryside that was so different from his city life. He was also surprised that he could go miles without seeing someone. The biggest surprise of [...]

How different would life be if there was a rewind button? Fortunately, thanks to the children’s home, 24-year-old Cole Tamarri (far left, pictured with his fellow 2013 graduates) was able to experience the next best thing: a second chance. Cole grew up in the Midwest, often moving from home to home. He was living on [...]

This house parent feels he has found his true calling in raising and supporting young men at the children’s home. Often, it’s the opportunities you don’t see coming that have the biggest impact on your life. John Tracy’s unexpected opportunity was becoming a house parent of teenage boys at the Weller Cottage. After John graduated [...]

This young man is working on discovering himself and his future. Like his favorite fictional superhero, 10th grader Mark is witty, funny and loyal. Spiderman doesn’t buckle in the face of danger, and only gets stronger after each feat he conquers. “When I was 3 years old, my parents up and left,” Mark said. He [...]