YORK SPRINGS, PA (August 31, 2026) — A unique partnership between two organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by disability is creating a meaningful impact both locally and around the world.
The HART Center, an Adams County nonprofit that provides employment and enrichment opportunities for individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, is partnering with Hope Walks, a Christian nonprofit working to eliminate the disability of clubfoot in low-income countries. Together, the organizations are assembling brace-painting kits that donors and volunteers use to decorate orthopedic braces for children receiving treatment for clubfoot.
Clubfoot is one of the world’s most common birth defects, affecting approximately 200,000 children each year. Without treatment, children can face lifelong disability, pain and social exclusion. Through Hope Walks’ programs in 15 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia, children receive treatment that enables them to walk, run, play and participate fully in their communities.
A key part of treatment is the use of a foot abduction brace, worn for several years after corrective casting. Through Hope Walks’ Brace Painting Program, supporters paint colorful designs on the braces, transforming a medical device into something joyful and encouraging for children and families.
Now, thanks to the HART Center, the kits used to create those painted braces are being assembled by local workers whose own lives have been shaped by disability.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of this partnership is that people whose lives have been touched by disability are helping children around the world overcome disability,” said Scott Reichenbach, president of Hope Walks. “Every kit assembled at the HART Center represents dignity, purpose and hope both for the individuals preparing the kits and for the children who will receive the painted braces.”
The collaboration provides meaningful employment opportunities for HART Center participants while helping Hope Walks expand a program that engages supporters in the United States and encourages children receiving treatment around the world.
For the HART Center, the partnership aligns closely with its mission of creating opportunities for individuals of all abilities to contribute their talents and skills in meaningful ways.
At the HART Center, we believe every person has gifts and abilities that can make a difference,” said Larry Ott, Executive Director of the HART Center. “This partnership gives our clients the opportunity to contribute to a mission that extends far beyond Adams and York Counties, helping children around the world while demonstrating the value and capability of people of all abilities.
Each painting kit contains the supplies needed to paint a clubfoot brace, allowing individuals, churches, schools, businesses and community groups to participate in supporting children receiving treatment through Hope Walks.
Leaders from both organizations believe the partnership demonstrates how local communities can make a global difference while creating opportunities close to home.
“The people assembling these kits understand, in a unique way, the challenges that disability can present,” said Reichenbach. “Their work is helping children around the world take steps toward mobility, independence and inclusion.”
Media representatives are invited to visit the HART Center, with notice, to see the assembly process and speak with participants involved in preparing the kits.
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About Hope Walks
Hope Walks is a Christian nonprofit organization working to ensure every child born with clubfoot can receive life-changing treatment. Through a network of partner hospitals across Africa, Asia and Latin America, Hope Walks provides treatment, family support and spiritual care to children and families affected by clubfoot. Learn more at www.hopewalks.org.
About the HART Center
The HART Center is a nonprofit organization based in Adams County, Pennsylvania, that provides vocational, educational and enrichment opportunities for individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Through meaningful work experiences and community engagement, the HART Center helps participants develop skills, confidence and independence. Learn more at www.hartcenterpa.org.
Media Contact:
Steve Robinson, Marketing and Content Manager, Hope Walks
steve.robinson@hopewalks.org
717-574-0693