Buddy inspires health, wellness program at Chambersburg apartment complex

inte8821 • March 7, 2012

Buddy inspires health, wellness program at Chambersburg apartment complex
By IRIS HERSH Staff writer Public Opinion

Wellness program mascot: A yellow lab named Buddy

Jason Huhn, Chambersburg, was born blind.

At 27 years old, in 2004, Jason spent a month in Michigan and came home with an 18-month-old yellow lab named Buddy, his new seeing eye dog. For more than five years Buddy and Jason were nearly inseparable. Wherever Jason went, Buddy was by his side.

In January 2010, Buddy suffered a seizure and could no longer work, but he continued to be a member of Jason’s family. So when Jason and his mother, Julia Huhn, moved to Washington Square Apartments, Chambersburg, in September, Buddy came along.

“Buddy loves people and people love Buddy, so he quickly became the building mascot,” said Anne Copenhaver, Supportive Services Coordinator, Washington Square Apartments. “Everyone who came into the building was greeted by his wagging tail and friendly ‘sniff.’”
Buddy spent a lot of time in the building’s community room, and he also loved to eat and everyone loved to feed him. Buddy became overweight.

By mid-January, Buddy became lethargic and was drinking water constantly.

After an examination and blood tests it was determined that Buddy was diabetic. That meant some significant lifestyle changes for Buddy. No more snacks, and Buddy was placed on a strict diet of two cups of a special dry food a day, he was tested daily, was given insulin injections and exercised more.
Buddy is getting better. He is getting more exercise, lost about 25 pounds, is more active and his blood sugar is back to normal.

Now he is doing even more.

Buddy became the mascot and inspiration for a year-long, building-wide program to help his human friends become healthier, Copenhaver said.

On July 1, Summit Endowment began providing funding through a grant for Buddy’s Buddies, also known as Growing Stronger, for a health and wellness on-site program at Washington Square Apartments. Lutheran HomeCare and Hospice, Chambersburg, is the program’s medical partner.

Lutheran Home Care provides monthly education and support group meetings an hour each month, said Joyce Kwamena-Poh, executive administrator of Interfaith Housing Alliance Inc. A nurse comes to check diabetic residents’ blood glucose readings and teaches them how to do this by themselves daily and track their readings. Certified diabetic educator, Mona Lemanski, Carlisle, provides presentations every other month. Sessions will be presented using hands on materials, PowerPoint presentations and product use. Residents will learn about the importance of diet and exercise. Participants keep logs to track their glucose readings, exercise activities and food choices. As part of the program, residents also participate in exercise classes twice a week and take part in a healthy meal session monthly.

“It (the program) focuses on the management and prevention of diabetes and other chronic diseases for the senior residents and is a component of IHA’s comprehensive support services plan,” said Kwamena-Poh. “The Growing Stronger program is a pilot program and IHA sees this as a benefit for many other low income seniors to help them live strong, independent and vibrant lives.

Washington Square Apartments is for low income seniors and disabled people. Please contact Becky Broussard for more information at rbroussard@interfaithhousing.org or 717-414-5030.

Gary Free resident at Residences at Railroad Square Apartments

March 3, 2025
Gary Free grew up in Brunswick, MD. The first time he saw the Residences at Railroad Square, he knew he would love to live in the apartments. Now all he can think to himself is, “I am living here!” Gary said the day he signed his lease he was so happy! He has a picture hanging in his apartment that says, “You’re Home.” Gary looks at it often and says to himself, “I am!” He finally feels at peace. Gary feels his home is nice! He also feels one of the ways of living at Residences of Railroad Square is that he now has everything he ever wanted, asked for and needed. The only thing he feels is a concern is that most of the time he gets lonely. His goal is to try to meet people. He says, “I’m a very friendly person.” Gary says his experience living at the Residences at Railroad Square has been rather good. If he has any concerns he can talk to the office staff. He feels it can’t get any better than this!

Lease-up of Residence of Railroad Square

By Crystal Thomas • March 3, 2025
With excitement and anticipation, I watched the groundbreaking on June 29, 2023, with my assistant Vickie and IHA’s Supportive Services coordinator, Sandi. By the middle of September 2023 concrete walls were being set up. We watched as the roof was completed; then the windows and doors were installed. We impatiently waited for the day we received permission to see the inside of the Residences of Railroad Square property. Finally, on September 25, 2024, we had the privilege to tour the inside of this beautiful property. On the weekend of September 27, 2024, the IHA property management team along with the CEO Jodie, held a two-day in-person application event. The owners of First Stop Brunswick generously donated their space at 2. E. Baltimore Street. That lease up kick off generated 56 applications. Over the next three months, ninety more applications were submitted. Each applicant came with their own story which stirred our hearts. No matter how different their stories may have been, they all had the same wish, a place to call home for Christmas! On November 5, 2024, the first resident signed their lease and on December 23, 2024, the last empty unit was filled! Not only were we able to fulfill these residents' Christmas wishes but it also filled our hearts with joy!

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce 4 funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

March 3, 2025
In November 2024, IHA was awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s three workshop series: Credit Café ; Financial Freedom Bootcamp ; and Ready, Set, Go… Home! In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp builds critical foundational skills for financial success. Ready, Set, Go… Home! walks participants through the entire homebuying process from start to finish. IHA also received a $1,574.37 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County. In December 2024, IHA was awarded a $29,498 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT). MAHT is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization. This grant program is a valuable resource for the advancement of affordable housing initiatives and will provide operational assistance to IHA’s affordable multifamily community in Cumberland, MD. In January 2025, IHA was awarded a $2,500 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.
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