To the Editor:

I am writing to thank the Mercer County community, for supporting Hope Loves Company’s fourth Night of Hope on Saturday, March 16 at Union Fire Co. and Rescue Squad in Titusville. Hope Loves Company, Inc. (HLC) is the only nonprofit in the United States with the unique mission to provide emotional and educational support to children, teenagers, and young adults who have had or have a loved one battling ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. HLC was founded in 2012 and we are located right here in Pennington.

There is currently no known cause or cure for ALS, which affects appropriately 30,000 Americans each year. I know a lot about the disease because I personally lost my husband, Kevin O’Donnell, to ALS in 2001. He was 36 years old.

Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed in the U.S. and in that same amount of time, we lose another person to ALS. There are currently many families whose lives have been affected by ALS locally and it is our job to help spread awareness, to bring these families together, and to support them the best we can.

It’s wonderful for our local restaurants and businesses to come together to support this annual event for ALS. Pennington Bagel, Vito’s, PJ’s Pancake House, Osteria Procaccini, Revere Restaurant, Cugino’s Italian Market, Pru Thai, Tea for All, and Freddie’s Tavern all donated food and as Hope Loves Company’s Founder, I say, “Thank You!”

Many local businesses also donated gifts for our silent auction. You can see the lists of local contributors on our website at www.hopelovescompany.org.

There will be a day when everyone knows about ALS and understands the toll it takes on our families and our community. Until then, we’ll continue to educate, explain, support and unite to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Hope Loves Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. Proceeds from our fourth annual Night of Hope fundraiser will benefit our free programs and resources for families affected by ALS including Camp HLC, a three-day weekend retreat, Hugs of Hope care packages, Family Fun Days, educational materials and resources, and more.

If you would like to learn more about Hope Loves Company, please visit our website at www.hopelovescompany.org, or call the HLC office at (609) 730-1144.

Jodi O’Donnell-Ames
Hope Loves Company