At Manos House Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services, education doesn't take a summer vacation. A recent cornhole tournament raised thousands of dollars to help keep the organization's on-site high school operating through the summer.

The 11th annual EHD Cornhole Tournament, held in August, drew about 300 people and more than 50 teams, said Chris Runkle, executive director of Manos House.

"We raised $62,000," he said, noting that proceeds will support Prospect Grove High School, which operates in Manos House, 1290 Prospect Road, Columbia.

"It is going toward our unfunded summer school program," he explained, adding that the high school receives tuition funding from Hempfield School District during the school year but not over the summer. "Our summer school runs on donations and our own capital."

Prospect Grove High School is licensed through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, with certified teachers and a small student-to-teacher ratio. It offers the young men living at Manos House the opportunity to earn credits toward their high school diploma or work toward a GED.

As Runkle explained, offering school year-round for the residents of Manos House is a priority for the organization.

"We feel strongly that substance abuse should not influence your academic opportunities," he said. "We don't want a young man coming in during the summer months and having to wait a month or two to receive educational services. We decided a long time ago that our school would operate year-round because we're taking young men in year-round."

He noted that Prospect Grove High School is unique because it's only open to the residents of Manos House.

"We're highly focused on the population that we serve," he said.

Finding funding for teachers, staff and other expenses during the summer is an ongoing challenge.

"We don't turn individuals away," Runkle said, "but we need support for those cases where there's no insurance or where we have extra funding needs."

EHD chooses a local nonprofit as the beneficiary of its cornhole tournament each year. Manos House had a connection to the business because EHD serves as the organization's insurance broker, Runkle said.

"We want to say a huge thank you to EHD and state how grateful we are for our relationship with them," he said. "They have given us so much recognition and support over the years."

Manos House has been guiding young men through substance use challenges since 1972. Founded as a halfway house for adults transitioning out of prison, the organization shifted its focus to adolescents, offering substance use treatment, counseling and education under one roof.

Originally located in Lancaster city, the nonprofit now operates on a 14-acre campus that includes residential housing, classrooms, therapy spaces and an independent living program.

"We're a resource in the community for those suffering from substance abuse disorders who are struggling in outpatient care," Runkle said. "As a residential facility, we're taking away the distractions of everyday life for a period of time, allowing young men ages 14 to 20 to focus on drilling down into their substance disorder and get the help they need."

As a nonprofit organization, Manos House relies on donations from community organizations, individuals and businesses such as EHD. In a typical year, Manos House might see a deficit of $100,000 that's unfunded by any of its revenue streams, but families are never billed for services.

The organization will participate in the ExtraGive on Friday, Nov. 20, holding a meet and greet at the Prince Street Cafe, 15 N. Prince St., Lancaster, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"We'd be happy to talk to anyone more about what we do," Runkle said, noting that staff and board members will be on hand to answer questions and provide information. "We're also always open to fielding calls and connecting people to local resources, even if it's not with us. We can network with them to connect them to the services that meet their needs."

To learn more about Manos House, visit https://manoshouse.com.