Wildheart Ministries in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg has been a force for positive change since its establishment in April 2016 by founders Tannon and Cristina Herman.

 

“We moved to the Harrisburg area 10 years ago and immediately looked for ways to serve the community,” Christina says. “Tannon and I felt compelled to make a difference and asked, ‘What would change look like?’ We connected with our neighbors and listened to their needs. A major concern was trash and illegal dump sites.”

 

Wildheart Ministries was founded in an effort to promote awareness of the issues within the neighborhood and rally individuals and the public and private sectors to participate in meeting those needs.

 

“As a community, we can sit back and wait for change, or we can jump in. In one of our first clean-up efforts, we focused on the block around our facility. In three weeks, we removed 120,000 lbs. of trash.”

 

Since then, Wildheart Ministries volunteers, residents, and the local government have been working together to “Love the Hill” and make tangible change by mobilizing over 11,022 volunteers to remove over 2.6 million pounds of trash within 113 city blocks, affecting 2066 families (8264 individuals) and reducing crime by nearly 50%.

 

“The cool thing is because we’ve made progress, public works can now come in and maintain those sites. Now, we see progress and change. Now we have hope.”

 

 

Karen Ackley of Next Door Photos real estate photography has been a volunteer and board member of Wildheart Ministries since 2018, contributing to engagement and fundraising efforts.

 

“Our introduction to this non-profit organization came through our church,” Karen says. “Shortly after our initial encounter, Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR) hosted their Realtors Reach Out Events, providing opportunities for members to engage with local non-profits such as Wildheart. Whenever possible, we eagerly signed up for these service opportunities.  This GHAR series of events opened the door for my husband Mark and I to serve at Wildheart clean-up days alongside Realtors.”

  

Karen says Next Door Photos has participated as a team in volunteering at every Wildheart business day out event.  “We learned more about Wildheart and embraced their broader initiatives, such as redevelopment projects and farming ventures, aimed at fostering lasting change in the community.  This organization is anything but stagnant. They actively identify needs and go above and beyond to fulfill them.  I knew this was something we wanted to be a part of!”

 

Participating in these activities allowed Karen’s team an opportunity to give back to the community and strengthened the bonds within her team. “Working shoulder to shoulder during their business day out events fostered a sense of camaraderie among our team and other local businesses, making it a fulfilling experience on multiple levels.

 

And, says Karen, volunteering with Wildheart has had a positive impact on her family. “We have four boys, ages 7, 9, 13, and 15. There is always something for everyone to help with when we are there.”  

 

Wildheart operates through three main avenues:

 

Harrisburg Community Development Corporation (HCDC) for affordable housing

Love the Hill projects to eliminate blight and enhance the community

The Hill Farm focuses on food security and healthy living education.

 

Wildheart has been working within the area between Paxton Street to State Street on the north and south and Cameron Street to South 19th Street to the east and west. This area comprises nearly 34% of the total population of the City of Harrisburg.

 

“Currently, there are almost 800 abandoned properties within the square mile. Every summer, as we’ve cleared properties, people come in and buy those properties, and hopefully, they turn those properties around,” Christina says.

 She shares the story of one property that had been derelict for over 20 years. “It’s a corner property where people would hang out, sell drugs, drink. After volunteers cleaned it up, the property was purchased and fixed up. It may take a couple of years to see the turnaround, but it’s one of many positive outcomes.”

 

Wildheart is currently involved in its inaugural housing development initiative including commercial spaces and nine residences. In subsequent phases, the focus will shift to transforming abandoned houses and properties into assets for the community, particularly addressing the urgent demand for affordable housing. The goal is not only to deter trespassers but also to create a space that serves as a valuable housing resource for community members in need.

 

“Investing time, money and talent in communities like Allison Hill is a huge way to give back. We probably work with more Realtors than any other industry,” Christina says.

 

Wildheart Ministries remains anchored in their core values: hope, creativity, proactive love, connection, diversity, excellence, and personal stewardship. These principles guide their ongoing efforts to rebuild, restore, and revive the Allison Hill community, and businesses and individuals are invited to join the cause.  

 

Becoming a part of a committee or contributing time, money, and talent are all avenues through which people can actively participate. The vision is to invest comprehensively in the community, channeling resources and time towards its betterment.

 

Business Day Out Events on April 5 and October 4 provide an opportunity for businesses to contribute to neighborhood clean-up efforts.

 

The Swing for the Hill Golf Event on May 9 invites individuals and corporate sponsors to support Wildheart's initiatives.

 

This year’s Love the Hill Gala will be held November 16.

 

Tannon and Cristina also invite local businesses to contact them directly to organize clean-up days or farm workdays for offices or teams.