Stories

Jesse Goranson has a lot of people to thank. During his time at the Masonic Children’s Home, alum Jesse met and was mentored by several individuals who he said helped shape the person he is today.

It doesn’t matter if a child at the Masonic Children’s Home is in the transition process of their first week at the children’s home or their first week in college; Donna Shaffer, educational coordinator, is eager to tackle each educational step along the way. 

At the Masonic Children’s Home, children are given a chance to become who they aspire to be and achieve their dreams. This journey begins with getting a referral or filling out an application to the children’s home.

The social worker at the Masonic Children’s Home is “the glue that holds everything together.” Alison Izer-Bowman is now that “glue.”

Behind all 40 children at the Masonic Children’s Home is one social worker who helps to ensure each child’s needs are fulfilled. She meets with each one regularly and makes sure families are updated all the time on how their children are doing.

Success, a 2021 high school and children’s home graduate, plans to attend college at Penn State University this fall, thanks to scholarships made available to her by Masons and other donors.

Mark Kurzenknabe is a familiar face at the Masonic Children’s Home. Though he was only recently named director of children’s services, upon Ginny Migrala’s retirement in December 2020, he has been leaving an impact on the lives of many for more than 20 years.

Ginny Migrala has impacted the lives of hundreds of children through her dedication and hard work at the children’s home. She retired in December 2020 after 42 years of service, most recently serving as director for 13 years. During her time at the children’s home, Ginny also served as a house parent, coordinator of family [...]

Growing up, Hope Painter attended Elizabethtown Area School District and had friends and classmates who lived at the children’s home. After studying early childhood education, Hope applied to become a house parent at the children’s home on a whim, out of curiosity. “I was hesitant, as I hadn’t worked outside the home since having my [...]