New Hope Ministries' Children & Youth programs provide intervention and prevention services for approximately 450 socially and financially disadvantaged young people in the Dillsburg, Dover and Mechanicsburg communities of south central Pennsylvania. By offering structured, constructive programs with positive adult role models, New Hope seeks to break the cycle of poverty for the next generation.

Many of the young people we serve could be characterized by a lack of stability in their homes, few aspirations for a successful life and poor school performance because of academic, behavioral or truancy issues. Children attending our programs are generally children of our crisis families, or their peers, who tend to be from the same socio-economic background.

Our club programs for Elementary, Jr. High and Sr. High youth provide wholesome recreation and educational activities while promoting positive morals and values. Team-building exercises promote character-building, thoughtful decision-making, improved social skills, and positive self-image, and are conducted within a safe and caring environment. Each program provides additional activities, such as weekend retreats, field trips and community service projects to promote a greater awareness of self and the world in general.

National research demonstrates that young people who participate in voluntary community service show marked improvement in feelings of self-worth and character development, and we have made service to others a key component of our program. In fact, the United Way of York County recently named our youth volunteers as winners of the “Attitude is Everything” Volunteer Group of the Year for their extensive community service. Projects included community clean-up events, participation in the 30-Hour Famine for world hunger awareness, sorting clothing for a local thrift shop, and gift presentations to residents of a nearby nursing home. By helping others, our kids are able to look beyond their own circumstances and environments.