Operation Warm Hearts

Thrive Housing 

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Emily Gochenaur founded Central PA Operation Warm Hearts while studying at Messiah College and continues to lead the organization while working full‑time. A dedicated volunteer, she’s often found organizing donations, attending events, or dreaming up new community challenges.

In 2024, Operation Warm Hearts expanded its impact, donating 3,548 handmade and essential items—including hats, blankets, socks, mats, and hygiene kits—to 17 local organizations serving neighbors in need. 

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Founded in 2014, Thrive Housing Services began with 10 affordable transitional housing units. Since then, we've expanded to offer both transitional and permanent supportive housing, along with life skills and case management services. Adopting the Foyer Movement model, which provided young people with a place to stay and job training, Thrive is the first to implement it across three distinct programs: youth, young adults, and adults/seniors. We combine safe housing with mentorship, job training, and goal setting to reduce homelessness and support residents in achieving educational, work, and lifestyle goals. 

(00:00:00)
Emily Gochenaur founded Central PA Operation Warm Hearts while studying at Messiah College and continues to lead the organization while working full‑time. A dedicated volunteer, she&rsquo;s often found organizing donations, attending events, or dreaming up new community challenges.
In 2024, Operation Warm Hearts expanded its impact, donating 3,548 handmade and essential items&mdash;including hats, blankets, socks, mats, and hygiene kits&mdash;to 17 local organizations serving neighbors in need.&nbsp;
(00:22:21)
Founded in 2014, Thrive Housing Services began with 10 affordable transitional housing units. Since then, we've expanded to offer both transitional and permanent supportive housing, along with life skills and case management services. Adopting the Foyer Movement model, which provided young people with a place to stay and job training, Thrive is the first to implement it across three distinct programs: youth, young adults, and adults/seniors. We combine safe housing with mentorship, job training, and goal setting to reduce homelessness and support residents in achieving educational, work, and lifestyle goals.&nbsp;

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.