Hometown Mentors a "STATE-OF-THE-HEART CORPORATION"

The Little Girl from Emporium starts thinking

By Cathy J. (Ostrum) Swarmer

These chapters are part of an eBook about the formation of the nonprofit charity, Hometown Mentors, Inc. 

This unique 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation has done some special things over the years that have brought many smiles and some encouragement to our mentors of the past as well as to the residents of the future.  

The WHO, WHAT and WHEN are integral to the "vision theory" and purpose for HMI.  Each component was a puzzle piece in the beginning, which took form, when gathered together, to create the charity as it is today.  

I don't believe in coincidences.  I believe there are only reasons that things happen the way they do and the puzzle pieces had to be connected. 

The theory for a nonprofit started with a passion for the welfare of current residents, along with the nostalgia held for our hometown by the people who used to live there and with whom I grew up.  Emporium now has a population just over 2000 people and, as with other rural towns, the population has diminished over recent years.

Many of my friends and relatives were skeptical about the formation of Hometown Mentors at first, as they thought that it couldn't be done.  All agreed that it was a wonderful idea, however.  

Frankly, this author wasn't sure it could be done either, but went about the step by step tasks of forming HMI with a determination and an attitude of  - "Where there's a will there's a way". 

That is how I proceeded, full steam ahead! Although, at times it felt like our ship was dead in the water, I knew that we were going in the right direction... albeit slowly.  

HMI is the ultimate creation of a "STATE-OF-THE-HEART CORPORATION".

The first puzzle piece had a lot to do with my late Mother.

So, my Mom always said, "Cathy, once you get something in your head, there is no getting it out".  I'm not sure if she thought that to be a good thing or not.

Another thing, both Mom and Dad agreed on, through my life, is the fact that I have always taken things apart to fix them.  Unfortunately, the clock on my Mom's wall oven in 1965 never worked again after I took it apart, but I tried.

Maintaining a positive attitude, persistent determination in life, along with a mind that always tries to find "A FIX" for something, can be quite daunting and tiring over the years.  However, all these traits have ultimately worked together and served me well over the years.

From her many sayings, to the songs she sang for any subject to personal talks of caution through life, my Mother played a very key role in the beginning theoretical science of the HMI concept.  It was such a profoundly memorable role, that I thought for a time of naming the nonprofit organization after my Mom and Dad.  I was reminded, however, by family, that she was a very private person and would not want her name on an organization, no matter the cause.

And so, we start the HMI story on January 27, 2005, at The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. 

January 27, 2005, had national historical significance due to a visit to Cleveland Clinic by then President, George W. Bush.  


January 27, 2005, is remembered by me and my family, because the Emporium Ambulance Crew came to Main Campus, to take my Mother home to Emporium, one last time. 


Of course there was traffic congestion, while roads were closed and cars were rerouted in order to accommodate The President of the United States.

You have to understand that Emporium is about "fifty miles from everywhere".  It is at least, a three hour drive by car from the Clinic and she was in such a fragile state with so much pain, that no way could she be jostled and shaken by a long drive like that.  In fact, the doctors warned that trying to take her home in our car, would most certainly be fatal. 
So, you see, my Dad was up against a rock and a hard place.

Days earlier Mom made up her mind that she wanted to go home.  She wanted to spend her final days in Emporium, where she was born and raised, and where most of her friends lived.  She understood about going into hospice care, following a long battle with cancer, and asked my Dad, saying, "Please take me home".

That request was not as easy as it sounded to fulfill.  

The health professionals, at Cleveland Clinic, explained that Mom would need to go by ambulance, if at all.  They also explained that the cost would be prohibitive.

Most likely the expense would be in the thousands of dollars because an ambulance and crew for that distance, especially, was a very expensive means of transportation.  Such a long trip would be a huge financial burden that the insurance would not cover, and that is not even to mention the cost of a flying ambulance.  

The remote location is the reason we like Emporium, as it is safely nestled in the hills of north central Pennsylvania, Cameron County, away from many hustle and bustle struggles of urban life.  

The remote location is also the reason living in Emporium can be challenging in times of health emergencies, because it is truly in the heart of the PA Wilds Area. 

Believing that there was a way to take Mom home, Dad contacted the Emporium Ambulance Crew who immediately said that they would come to Cleveland Clinic and bring her home.  Many things have changed in the intervening years, but at the time, the cost could be worked out later and would not be in the thousands of dollars.

So it was, that this date was chosen and they had to fight the presidential motorcade and traffic.  The Cleveland Clinic is a large facility and some roads were closed and traffic rerouted on Main Campus for the president's visit.  It took a little while and a lot of patience, on the part of the driver, but the ambulance crew found my Mom in her room.  

This was an emotional day for all of us.  I was present as they gingerly lifted her from her bed to the gurney and then wheeled her down the hall to the waiting ambulance.  Her prayer was being answered the journey home began.

When Mom was safely on her way down the hall, Dad reached to shake the hand of one of the crew members and said, "Thank you so much.  This means a great deal to us."

The response from this person resonated in my mind for many weeks after that.  He said, "It's alright, Ken.  Emporium takes care of their own."

This would turn out to be an "Ah Ha" moment and the whole outside frame of the puzzle which lead to the formation of HMI.  I thought, "But who takes care of Emporium"?

Emporium, PA Borough

The town is separated from the rest of the state by hills on all sides and Emporium is the seat of the Cameron County Government.  

There is one school district and some students are bused nearly 30 miles to school each day. This is my hometown.  

Next to God and my family, Emporium is my heart.

So, when I heard the words, "Emporium takes care of their own", it resonated in my brain and I wanted to "FIX" something.  


I wanted to make it better.  


I got it in my head, and remember what my Mom said, "Cathy, once you get something in your head, there is no getting it out".  

From this point on, I began turning over the puzzle pieces, one at a time, until the charity, Hometown Mentors, Inc. was a reality and the "FIX" was in.

Are you interested in starting a nonprofit corporation?  I like to call it a "for purpose" organization.

If you are interested in starting a charity for your cause, what is the first thing that you must possess to start a 501(c)3 tax exempt charity?

The answer to that question is clear:  PASSION for a worthy cause.
In my case, it was PASSION for my hometown of Emporium.

If you like what you've read, click on the Follow button on the right side of the page and follow along.  It is absolutely free of charge.  Cathy would be honored.

A list of Cathy Swarmers writings:

therealcathy.blogspot.com

myrealfaithseeds.blogspot.com

travelswithcathyjane.blogspot.com