08/19/2026
Long post warning ⚠️ I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this message together... July was a whirlwind 🌪️ it's taken me a bit to regroup 🩷🙏🏼
Over the past few weeks, our community came together for two events that mean so much to us — the Under the Stars Special Needs Prom and Hope House Outreach’s Back-to-School Event.
This year, 320 people, including individuals (161) and their wonderful caregivers(159), joined us for the Under the Stars Special Needs Prom, filling the evening with dancing, laughter, friendship, and memories we will carry with us for a very long time.
Just one week later, Hope House Outreach helped 63 local children prepare for the new school year, providing clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, personal-care items, and other necessities.
320 people celebrated. 63 children supported. Two very different events. One incredible community behind them both. ❤️
When you look at these events from the outside, you may see dresses and suits, dancing and decorations, backpacks, new clothes, school supplies, food, and lots of smiling faces. But to us, they represent something much bigger.
They are about making people feel seen, included, celebrated, supported, and loved.
And none of it would have been possible without the incredible people in our community who continue to show up.
Some of you donated financially. Some donated food, drinks, clothing, school supplies, or other needed items. Some donated your talents and services. Some spent hours setting up, decorating, organizing, packing, serving, carrying, loading, unloading, and cleaning. Some worked quietly behind the scenes doing things most people will never even know needed done.
And some simply asked, “What do you need?” and then found a way to help.
Every single contribution mattered.
We would like to recognize and thank the wonderful individuals, families, businesses, churches, organizations, and volunteers who helped make one or both of these events possible:
Jen & Scott Butler
WINGS Group from Acme Methodist Church
AAA Cattle
Bud Murphy’s Sports Bar
Wilson’s Painting
Kisiel & Associates
Tangled Hair Salon
Superior Mulch
Somerset Trust – Train Station
Sue & Jerry Reagan
Heather & Tom Reagan
Diane & Mark Darrell
Glenda McLaughlin
Kelly Linko
Dolly Murphy
Jill from Laurel House
Dorothy McFadden & Karen Yurchak
Kylie Carleton
Kel Nicholson
Steph Shultz
Aaron Zolbrod – The Health Insurance Store
Michaelena Testa Shodd
Kelly Booth
The Vendors at the Laurel Mall Flea Market
Nicole Gowton
Virgina Hall
Robin McLaughlin
Melanie Hiles
Jerene Bryner
Jeremy Sturtz
Andy & Sharon Lesko
Kristy McLaughlin
Ashlie McLaughlin
Brandi & Arlo Helms – Constellation Power Labs
Bev & Ron McLaughlin
Marsha Conrad & Don Keller
Hailee Liska
Andy Shultz & Summer Butler
Johnson Tax & Accounting
Kiss My Apples Bakery
Mula’s Munchies N More
A & K Creations
Aleshia Hissem
Ralph Shupp
Mary Lou Bell
Lori Burrell
Jessica Frye
Abbie & Stevie McLaughlin & Brooke Powell
Shallow Pond Farms LLC & Floured Grounds Coffee Shop/Bakery
Matt McKnight & the Connellsville Township VFD
Darlene VanDyke
Karen’s Cucina
Grain & Grackle Bakery
Layla & Annie Galipeau
Lora & Tom Murphy
Pastor Morgan Kelly
Bess Ritenour
Timeless Memories by Chaney DeWitt
Lilac Love Photo Booth
Kelly Lynn
Brenda, Kevin & Emily Fike
Bonnie Parker
Bob McLaughlin
Nicole DeVallance
Kristin Conn-Vensko
Jeff Fenton
Pletcher’s Farm Market
DJ Ernie Johnson
Huffman's Auto Sales
Sandy Rosensteel
Lori & Tom Murphy
Saltlick Twp. Auxiliary
Kiwanis Club of Uniontown
Laurel House Inc.
Fayette County Behavioral Health
Fayette Resources, Inc.
ARC
Ron & Anita Miskanin
Cathy Staggers
Dunbar Distributors
Farris Distributors
PNC Bank
Somerset Bank
Uniontown Bethel Baptist Church
Looking at this list is truly humbling. So many hands and so many hearts came together to make these two events happen.
To everyone who helped with either event — and especially those who jumped right back in and helped with both — please know how deeply appreciated you are.
Because of you, 320 people came together for an evening where our prom attendees could dress up, dance, laugh, spend time with friends, make memories, and simply be celebrated for exactly who they are.
Because of you, 63 local children walked away from our Back-to-School Event better prepared to begin a new school year with confidence.
But more importantly, because of you, they were reminded that their community cares about them.
You didn't just donate to an event.
You didn't just volunteer a few hours.
You showed up for people. ❤️
And that is something no dollar amount could ever measure.
Thank you for believing in what we do. Thank you for trusting us to serve our community. Thank you for giving your time, your resources, your talents, and your hearts.
We could never do this alone — and thankfully, because of all of you, we don't have to.
A Special Thank You to My Husband ❤️
And on a personal note, I have to give a very special thank you to my hubby, Jerry.
Thank you for helping with all the things — for the late nights, the endless loading and unloading (and loading and unloading again 😂), the running, carrying, moving, fixing, and whatever else I somehow manage to get us into.
Most of all, thank you for always supporting me in every crazy thing I decide I'm going to do. You never hesitate to jump in beside me and help me figure out how we're going to make it happen.
So much of what people see at the end of these events wouldn't be possible without everything you do behind the scenes.
I truly couldn't do any of this without you.
Thank you for always being there, for believing in what I'm trying to accomplish, and for being my partner through all of it.
I love you. ❤️
With all our love and gratitude,
Under the Stars Special Needs Prom
& Hope House Outreach ❤️
