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.

2025 Out of Reach

By Jodie Ostoich • September 8, 2025
Maryland and Frederick County: A Growing Housing Affordability Crisis Each year around this time, I share data that highlights the growing challenge of housing affordability in Maryland—and this year is no exception. Maryland now ranks as the 8th most expensive state in terms of wages needed to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. A worker must earn $39.15 per hour —or nearly $81,450 annually —just to meet that threshold. Unfortunately, the situation in Frederick County is even more severe. Alongside Calvert and Charles counties, Frederick tops the list, requiring a staggering $44.50 per hour —equivalent to $92,560 annually —to afford a two-bedroom apartment.  Meanwhile, the average renter in Frederick earns just $18.25 per hour , which translates to an affordable rent of only $949 per month —far below what the market demands. This stark disparity is exactly why the mission of Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is so critical. We are committed to addressing these inequities and advocating for solutions that make safe, stable housing accessible to all. Below, you’ll find the 2025 data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition , detailing housing affordability across Maryland and its counties.

Fall Newsletter Grant Updates

By Rachel Gardner • September 8, 2025
Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce two funding awards received this quarter from community partners. In July 2025, IHA received a $3,500 grant from The Croteau Family Charitable Gift Fund, which is a donor-advised fund (DAF) held at T. Rowe Price Charitable. IHA also received a $5,000 grant from The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support all of IHA’s endeavors in strengthening the many communities we serve.

Build Confidence With Your Finances at Financial Freedom Bootcamp

By Lacy Allen • September 8, 2025
Money can sometimes feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to! This October, Interfaith Housing Alliance is offering our next Financial Freedom Bootcamp, a free, two-part workshop designed to help you take positive steps toward financial stability and confidence.  The bootcamp kicks off with an in-person workshop on October 15th from 5:30–7:00pm, where participants will explore the building blocks of financial health. You’ll learn how to create a budget that actually works for your lifestyle, discover the best practices for saving, and walk away with strategies for reducing debt in realistic and manageable ways. After the first session, participants are invited to take part in an optional virtual Credit Café, a supportive space to dive deeper into questions about credit and money management. This extra resource helps reinforce what you’ve learned and gives you the chance to connect with others working toward similar goals. The second workshop will be held virtually on October 29th from 5:30–7:00pm, making it convenient to join from home. This session will focus on building confidence when communicating with creditors, understanding your credit, and setting SMART goals to stay on track for the future. Together, these two sessions provide practical, easy-to-use tools to support your financial journey. No matter where you are starting from—whether you’re new to budgeting, trying to rebuild your credit, or just looking for ways to feel more in control—Financial Freedom Bootcamp is a welcoming and encouraging place to begin. At a Glance What : Financial Freedom Bootcamp – free, two-part workshop series When: October 15th (in-person) & October 29th (virtual), both 5:30–7:00pm Topics: Budgeting, saving, debt reduction, credit confidence, SMART goal setting Extras: Optional virtual Credit Café between sessions Register: Contact Lacy Allen at lames@interfaithhousing.org or 301-662-4425 ext. 1203
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