On a large campus like GJR in PA, it is easy to notice the big moments. A youth accomplishment. A staff member stepping in at the right time. A unit that feels calmer today than it did yesterday. But those moments do not happen in isolation. They are supported by a steady, behind-the-scenes network of people who make sure the environment itself is cared for, consistent, and ready for growth. That is where our maintenance and warehouse teams shine. These teams are not only keeping things running. They are helping shape the conditions that allow CARE to work, day after day.

The Warehouse Team: Meeting Needs Before They Become Stress

When people think about CARE, they often picture relationship building, routines, and developmentally focused support. But at the foundation of all of that is something simple and essential: youth and staff need the right resources at the right time. Our warehouse team makes that happen across campus.

They keep critical items stocked and moving so that units are prepared, programs can operate, and daily life stays predictable. That includes clothing, meals, snacks, and the supplies that help youth get through the day with dignity and stability. It is not glamorous, but it is high-impact.

In CARE, we talk a lot about reducing unnecessary stressors and being intentional about the environment. The warehouse team does exactly that. When the basics are handled consistently, youth are not stuck in scarcity thinking. Staff are not scrambling. The day can stay focused on connection, skill building, and progress instead of problem solving shortages.

It is hard to overstate how much calm comes from “we have what we need.”

Maintenance: Caring for a 500-Acre Campus With Pride

If the warehouse team supports the flow of daily life, maintenance protects the space where that flow occurs.

Our maintenance department cares for our 500-acre grounds and the buildings spread across them. They maintain land and facilities, respond when things break, and keep spaces safe, functional, and welcoming. They handle the issues people notice immediately, and just as many that people never think about until something goes wrong.

In a residential setting, the physical environment matters. A well-kept campus communicates safety. Reliable heat and working doors communicate stability. Clear walkways, maintained grounds, and functional spaces communicate that this place is cared for, and that the people in it are worth caring for.

That message is powerful for youth who may not have always experienced consistency, predictability, or pride in their surroundings.

Maintenance work is not just repairs and upkeep. It is stewardship. It is protection. It is a daily investment in the setting that holds everything we do.

CARE is a Whole Campus Commitment

CARE is relationship based, trauma informed, and developmentally focused. But it is also ecological, meaning it recognizes that youth are impacted by the full environment around them. The campus is part of the care.

That is why our maintenance and warehouse teams are CARE in action.

• They help create predictability through consistent support and supply.

• They reduce stress by preventing small issues from becoming big disruptions.

• They protect safety and structure by maintaining the spaces youth live and learn in.

• They demonstrate respect by ensuring people have what they need and a campus that reflects pride.

Even when their work is quiet, its effect is not. It shows up in smoother days, fewer disruptions, more readiness, and more opportunities for staff to focus on what matters most: connection.

Thank You for Holding It All Together

To our warehouse and maintenance teams: thank you.

Thank you for the early mornings, the constant movement, the problem-solving, the physical labor, and the responsibility you carry. Thank you for making sure our campus runs, our youth have what they need, and our environment is safe and cared for.

You are a crucial part of our mission, and you help make CARE possible across every corner of this campus.