Club Hope Gets New Home in Shelby Bar Building

Club Hope has a new home.

The foundation recently purchased the Shelby Bar building at 26 Fountain Avenue.

“We are blessed more than we ever thought possible for the support our warriors and our foundation continue to receive,” said Founder Kara Atkinson. “This building will open up so many opportunities for what we can do to bring HOPE to our warriors and families!”

Atkinson said the move will be beneficial for the Foundation.

“We were thinking about it looking for a permanent location but were never actively looking. Renting is just renting, and we wanted to use the support given to the Foundation in the best way possible.”

Having their own building will give the group a lot more room to host their own events and to have a kitchen to use for events. She said they won’t really be changing the look of it too much.

“It’s an awesome place to welcome people in, and will give us much more room to do what we do,” Atkinson said. “We were outgrowing Chemo bag room. It’s truly bittersweet to say that as the foundation continues to grow.”

Atkinson said purchasing the building helps the Foundation meet one of its goals to keep as much money going to help patients. She said 90 percent of the funding goes directly toward patients.

Club Hope has been around for 16 years as a club and six years as a foundation.

As of the end of 2024, about 1,600 people have been directly given a box with giftcard, etc.

The Foundation also provides crafts for holidays contributing more than 1,550 crafts for one holiday to all the cancer treatment facilities in the counties of Lawrence, Mercer, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, and Westmorland.

Club Hope is currently preparing for their 2025 Celebration of HOPE Ball, which will be held Saturday, March 22 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle. With nearly 600 already confirmed attendees, the new location is not quite big enough to host the ball. Seats can still be reserved for the event through the end of February.

Atkinson said Club Hope has been blessed during its 16 years.

“God leads us to it, and we follow the way,” she said.

Contact Club Hope at:
Phone: 724-657-7672
Email: clubhopefoundation@gmail.com
Facebook: Club Hope Foundation Inc.
Mailing Address: 113 Collins Rd. Ellwood City, PA 16117
Physical Address: 26 Fountain Ave. Ellwood City, PA 16117