A Zombie 5K & 1K Fun Run

Get ready to sprint, dodge, and laugh your way through the 2025 Run for Hope… and Your Life Zombie 5K, now at a thrilling new location — Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill!

This scenic 113-acre park, managed by Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, offers stunning nature trails that will set the stage for an unforgettable race experience.

Whether you're a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun family outing, the 5K and 1K Fun Run welcomes participants of all ages. It’s more than a race — it’s a family-friendly adventure filled with excitement, laughter, and maybe a few zombie encounters!

Summer 2025 marked a record-breaking season for Hope Services, as our Vocational Training Center buzzed with energy, learning, and growth. With a full house of enthusiastic participants, our Retail Fundamentals, Culinary, and General Career Camps welcomed 68 students, making this our busiest summer yet!

In the Retail Fundamentals Program, 22 students earned their National Certification, gaining valuable skills for the workforce. Meanwhile, 24 participants in the Culinary Program achieved their ServSafe Certification, opening doors to opportunities in the food service industry. Additionally, 9 students joined the General Career Camp, with many planning to return and pursue certification in one of our specialized tracks. These had the opportunity to hear from professionals in different trades.

This month 13 more kids are taking the Culinary ServSafe Program for a grand total of 68 teenagers living with disabilities who now have the tools and confidence to begin their career journeys with greater independence — applying the skills they learned during camp to real-world opportunities.

These camps are more than just summer programs , they’re steppingstones to brighter futures, built on empowerment, inclusion, and hope.

We’re so proud to celebrate Colin, who recently earned his NCCER Core Construction Certification through Hope Services! He’s now taking his training to the next level by participating in On-the-Job Training (OJT) with our incredible partners at Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside.

Despite the extreme Florida heat, Colin is thriving on-site, gaining hands-on experience and exploring the many skilled trades that go into building a home from the ground up.

Way to go, Colin! Keep up the great work, you’re building more than homes, you’re building a future.

July has been designated as Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of people living with disabilities, according to The Arc of the United States. The celebration affirms that disabilities are a natural and valuable part of human diversity, not a deficit or condition to be fixed. More than 1 in 4 adults in the United States, that's over 70 million people, have a disability. July calls on everyone to promote inclusion and ensure people with disabilities are accepted exactly as they are, without conditions.

At Hope Services, we celebrate our community members living with disabilities every day. We take great pride in working with and for them, ensuring that training and work opportunities are always available. Our goal is to help them live happier and more independent lives.

It is always my pleasure to choose a special person as our Volunteer of the Month, and this month, I am pleased to honor Linda Adum.

Linda has been a dedicated member of our Dream Team for three years. Though she may carry a soft and gentle spirit, her heart is mighty and always ready to serve. Linda consistently gives her all, whether it’s her time, her energy, or her love. She cherishes her family, her church, and Hope Services, and her commitment shines in everything she does.

Not only is Linda a generous donor, but she also played a vital role in the success of our 2024 Dance Your Dream, helping organize, design, and set up all the decorations that made the evening magical.

Linda is always willing to lend a hand—and a smile. She even encouraged her sister Kathy to join the Dream Team, continuing to grow our circle of love and support.

And here's a fun fact: Linda shares a birthday—October 25th—with our very own Danica! Just another reminder that some of the brightest lights in our world were born on the same day.

Linda, you are truly a cheerleader for Hope Services. I deeply appreciate your hard work, your kindness, and the genuine love you show to everyone around you.

Thank you, Linda. You deserve to be recognized as our Volunteer of the Month.

Cindy Bray/Founder/CEO