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<p>FRANKLIN TWP. &#8212; A trail of wrong choices and bad decisions led Mike Wunner down a path to homelessness, but hope from Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s Christmas at Camp helped him find his way.</p><p>About two years ago, Wunner was a guest at Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s annual two-week retreat for homeless men.</p><p>&#8220;They (Jim Payne and Lisa Stull at Camp Orchard Hill) guided me along and helped me face my issues,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Today, Wunner maintains a residence in Glen Lyon and volunteers at the camp to help other men.</p><p>&#8220;They (the staff at Camp Orchard Hill) saved my life,&#8221; Wunner said.</p><p><strong>The retreat</strong></p><p>Christmas at Camp began seven years ago, providing a haven from Dec. 14-28 for the homeless men of Mother Theresa&#8217;s Haven in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>The program developed from a form letter sent in 2008 from Vision, a men&#8217;s shelter program formerly in Wilkes-Barre, said Lisa Stull, food service director at Camp Orchard Hill.</p><p>She remembered taking the letter to Jim Payne, executive director at Camp Orchard Hill, and asking what they could do to help homeless men.</p><p>With a staff of just five and hundreds of volunteers, Camp Orchard Hill opened the doors of its facility December 2008 to nearly 70 homeless men for a two-week period, Stull said.</p><p>&#8220;This is who we are,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We believe in our Catholic faith and will walk the walk. These men need to know they are valued and deserve respect as people.&#8221;</p><p>The men are bussed into the Back Mountain, sleep in the camp&#8217;s cabins, have access to clean clothing, showers, three meals a day and the ability to use the camp&#8217;s amenities, Payne said.</p><p>Camp guests can also get help to renew or obtain photo identification, a necessity to apply for employment, Payne added.</p><p>The number of homeless men staying at the camp fluctuates year by year, Stull said.</p><p>&#8220;This year (2015), we average about 22 to 34 men a day,&#8221; she said.</p><p><strong>Benefits</strong></p><p>Hosting the homeless men has yielded unexpected benefits for the camp&#8217;s staff and the Back Mountain community, Stull said.</p><p>&#8220;I think it made the Back Mountain show its generosity,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Families and businesses throughout the Back Mountain and Wyoming Valley have donated clothing, personal care items and time to aid the men.</p><p>&#8220;We have over 500 volunteers that help,&#8221; Stull said.</p><p>Center Moreland, Lehman-Idetown and Trucksville United Methodist churches, the Harveys Lake Women&#8217;s Club, Gate of Haven and Our Lady of Victory Church have offered consistent support over the seven years Christmas at Camp was held, Stull said.</p><p>Every year, the men receive gifts ranging from socks, boots, hats, gloves, jackets and more.</p><p>&#8220;The Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church donated cards and stamps,&#8221; Stull said. &#8220;One man sent out two cards to family. Just the other day, he received two cards back (from the family).&#8221;</p><p>The positive interaction helps form the first step in rebuilding the lives of the men who attend the camp.</p><p>Wunner and Dave Wayda, a former camp resident and current volunteer, know this value first hand. Both men were able to fight through their homeless status with support and guidance received at Christmas at Camp.</p><p>Wunner and Wayda return to Camp Orchard Hill annually to volunteer and help other men by washing guests&#8217; laundry, serving meals or just talking with the other men. They hope to show them it is possible to get out of the homeless situation.</p><p>&#8221; I love being out here,&#8221; Wayda said.</p><p>Wayda&#8217;s best advice for the men, &#8220;You can&#8217;t get discouraged. Don&#8217;t give up.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s Christmas at Camp provides homeless men at Mother Theresa&#8217;s Haven a two-week retreat during the Christmas holiday. Jim Payne, shown here, is executive director of Camp Orchard Hill in Franklin Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL122415Homeless.retreat.jpg</photo0><caption0>Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s Christmas at Camp provides homeless men at Mother Theresa&#8217;s Haven a two-week retreat during the Christmas holiday. Jim Payne, shown here, is executive director of Camp Orchard Hill in Franklin Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL122415Homeless.retreat2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mike Wunner was homeless and found hope through his stay at Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s Christmas at Camp in Franklin Township two years ago. Today, Wunner resides in Wilkes-Barre and volunteers at the camp to help other homeless men. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL122415Homeless.retreat2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Mike Wunner was homeless and found hope through his stay at Camp Orchard Hill&#8217;s Christmas at Camp in Franklin Township two years ago. Today, Wunner resides in Wilkes-Barre and volunteers at the camp to help other homeless men. </caption1><photoCredit1>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Camp Orchard Hill’s Christmas at Camp offers hope for area’s homeless men