The Smiles in their Hearts

   Every May, HopeTree Family Services' Developmental Disabilities Ministry conducts Camp Coley/Keaton. This Camp experience originally began through the efforts of a parent who was one of our earliest supporters of our efforts to assist adults with intellectual disabilities. Named Camp Keaton in her honor, this was a great opportunity for 'the guys' to have a few days of fun and relaxation and fellowship with their peers and friends from other locations. A few years ago, the name was changed to Camp Coley/Keaton in honor of Wayne Coley who had worked tirelessly on behalf of adults with intellectual disabilities for the Baptist Mission Board and HopeTree Family Services.

   Should you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these camps, please do. The absolute joy exuded by the men and women who attend is unrivaled by anything else you will experience. Their comraderie, their enthusiasm, their compassion, and their unbridled excitement will give you a wondrous new outlook on life. One must see the spring in their steps and feel the joy beaming from their faces to appreciate how much these men and women enjoy life. Behind the smiles and laughs and joyful banter live questing minds, loving hearts, and searching souls filled with a committment to their faith that must be experienced to be appreciated.  

  

A Fin Good Time

Probably one of HopeTree’s greatest, but most over-looked, assets is the large fishing pond nestled under the hill between the main campus and Interstate 81. Beautiful in any season, the pond restores, relaxes, and offers recreation to all residents and many friends. Such was the case on Saturday, May 14 when HopeTree hosted its annual Fishing Rodeo, an event that has served as part Open House, part Thank-You party for the Salem Community and HopeTree’s supporters for nearly 20 years.


Thanks to the efforts of Activities Director Larry Hicks and donations from the Roanoke Kiwanis Club and Hall Community Services, the pond was stocked the prior week with nearly a thousand Rainbow trout. In addition, two former residents have been instrumental for many years in helping maintain the pond. Fred Brownley keeps the brush cut back and Matt Willard maintains the large rocks which protect the pond’s banks. HopeTree’s Staff Trainer Lisa Assad and her son Zach contributed a great deal of weed-eating labor before the rodeo.

Although Saturday dawned darkly overcast and threatening, the environment around the pond was welcoming and the faces bright with smiles as residents and friends alike circled the water to cast their lines. Nearly everyone was rewarded with a fish (or five or more). More importantly, the fellowship and the spontaneous way Children’s program residents came to the aid of our Developmental Disabilities Ministry residents was truly heartwarming.