Hannah’s Hope invited their compassionate community out for some fun in the sun on Sunday afternoon. Luckily, they picked the perfect day for it, as it was a beautiful, sunny day great for a fun-filled event.
Hannah's Hope is a Northwest Indiana non-profit that provides developmental equipment to kids with special needs, connects families with special needs children, and makes life and communities more accessible to them. Its namesake, Hannah Martinez, was born with severe brain damage brought on by a prenatal stroke, but that didn’t stop this young girl from inspiring all whom she graced with her smile and her strength. Her birthday was June 18th.
“Hannah loved to be outside,” said Mary Martinez, Hannah’s mother and co-founder of Hannah’s Hope. “There was something about sunshine that helped Hannah relax.”
The event is held annually in Hannah’s honor, and open to all families impacted by the organization. Dozens of families came to the picnic to play a few carnival games and to celebrate all that is good in life.
This year’s picnic had a carnival theme, made complete with a stuffed animal building station, fun games, and even a cotton candy machine. It was easy to spot the group at Wicker Memorial Park in Highland, not only by the big, colorful carnival games they had set up, but also the laughter of children that emanated from the park.
“We’re grateful for our sponsors this year,” said Niki Avina, who orchestrated this year’s festivities. “Thrivent helped cover the cost of the food, and Party Connection Inc. donated all the carnival games, a cotton candy machine, and the build-your-own-plush machine.”
Families who came out got to spend the day enjoying themselves and laughing along with their precious children, while helping further create a community of solidarity between families with special needs kids.
“It’s great to watch the families get together and realize they’re not the only families in the area to have a child with special needs,” said Martinez. “It’s fun to watch them connect. We have a lot of families come back year after year so it’s a really great day for everyone to come out, relax, and enjoy the food and entertainment.”
“Hannah’s Hope has been such a blessing,” said Heather Savka, a mother to a young girl named Emma, who benefits from Hannah’s Hope. Emma has achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism, and sensory processing disorder. Emma was in need of adaptive equipment to help her live her life to the fullest, and Hannah’s Hope was there to help.
“Insurance companies don’t pay for a lot of special equipment that makes these kids’ lives easier, so it’s just a blessing to have Hannah’s Hope around, and to know that they care for our kids’ life and well-being.”
“We give out scholarships all year long to kids we never get to meet,” said Martinez. “Today we get to meet those families, see them, and have a great day in the park with them. It’s a great way to celebrate Hannah.”
For more information about Hannah’s Hope, please visit www.hannahshope.org.