Hope Villages of America

I have volunteered there over 10 years and found nothing but great people that volunteer and work there. Their prime objective is to do what they can to help the community.

Dating back to 1966, HVA is one of the oldest multi-denominational charitable organizations in the US. For nearly 60 years, HVA has been feeding the hungry, providing shelter those in need, and protecting victims of domestic violence.

Hope Villages of America offers a range of services to support individuals and families in need. They provide food assistance, ensuring no one goes hungry, and offer services to assist with basic needs. Additionally, they have crisis intervention programs for individuals dealing with issues like domestic violence. They also provide shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

I have been working with Hope Villages for over 10 years through my volunteering efforts. Mainly volunteered at their food bank that serves so many families that need assistance in Pinellas County. My youngest son also had the privilege to complete all his volunteer hours for his Bright Futures scholarship at the foodbank. I am now more family with the shelter, and this is also an excellent community outreach doing great work for those who are affected by Domestic Violence.

Hope Villages of America restores HOPE back to so many individuals and families who are in need.

My husband and I volunteer at this Pinellas County Food Bank on a weekly basis. It is very well organized and well run. We are fortunate to get quality food donations from reliable and well-known grocery stores on an ongoing basis. The food recipients are from all walks of life and all ages. We do ask for income information and assure they live in our County. We get so much gratification helping to distribute boxes of meat, vegetables, bread, baked goods, milk and sometimes fruit to so many needy people in our community.

I remember a time when I personally had food scarcity while raising my boys alone. I'll never forget the blessing that a few bags of groceries at a critical time meant to our family. Therefore, I totally respect those who come on a monthly basis to help feed their families. Hope Villages provides just that "Hope" which is tangible in food for needy families. We have made many friends who care about one another and we enjoy seeing them week to week while we work hard side by side. We are proud to be part of this worthy and essential community service organization.

I volunteer at the food pantry. One day I help put together the boxes of food that are given to the clients. Another day I work on the distribution line handing out the food boxes. All the volunteers and staff are very friendly. There are many different opportunities such as sorting the donated processed food, bagging the food, sorting fresh food and produce for the daily boxes, updating computer with visits by clients. They offer good instruction when you start, you will work along side experienced volunteers. I enjoy interacting with the clients on the distribution line. Best place I have ever volunteered.

My husband and I have been volunteering with Hope Villages of America for the past 2 1/2 years when our lives had become uprooted with our permanent positions due to Covid-19. We are so at home there and although our full time positions have resumed, we continue to volunteer part-time at Hope. Our supervisory staff is kind, considerate and patient. They always show their appreciation each and every time we serve. The staff is eager to show their appreciation with wonderful Volunteer Appreciation events they host each year. While volunteering with Food Distribution in downtown Clearwater and serving on the "front line" we have the opportunity to reach out to those who are hurting and in need. All those who enter the drive through food bank are treated with the utmost respect regardless of their demeanor or behaviour. The position, while physical is actually invigorating since there is always a feeling of satisfaction that comes from the end of the shift whether you are sorting food, filling boxes, packing up individual bags, searching for birthday cakes to share, bagging up diapers, registering clients or distributing hygiene bags to men and women. The Volunteers know that they are there to serve their neighbors and they do it with kindness.

For a while now, we both longed for a place to serve in our community and we are grateful that Hope Villages has filled that place for us.

Hope Villages of America's Food Bank on Druid, Clearwater, FL. is a rewarding place to Volunteer. I may only help 3 hrs a week BUT the work we do helps many people get the basics to prepare meals. The staff & other volunteers are a joy to work with and truly care for the clientele. The last several years have been extremely difficult for ALL (Covid-19, Inflation etc.), but it has been even tougher on those with food insecurities. I encourage anyone interested in helping others in need, to volunteer at Hope Villages of America in some capacity......it is a great organization to help you serve others.....Scott Baker

I've had the privilege to work for HVA the last 4.5 years, what a wonderful agency to work for with a mission I believe in! The work we do is wonderful and there is always room to grow within the agency. In my time here I've seen women thrive and it's a beautiful thing. I love serving our community!

In mid-2020 Covid left the Hope Villages of America food bank in Clearwater, Florida, short of help. Answering a notice in a local paper was the best thing I've done in a long time! Masked up, I learned the routine in the warehouse and quickly made many friends there. Two and a half years later, volunteering there is a high point of my week. Although much that I do is sorting food and filling boxes, I also find other non-profit groups in the area who can use some of the non-food donations that we receive. Most recently we were able to send five boxes of supplies to the area devastated by Hurricane Ian, thanks to the St. Petersburg Fire Department's staff who delivered the boxes and helped with the recovery efforts.

Hope villages of America helped me and my family when no one else would. We found ourselves homeless in cal of 2021 and didn’t find housing until spring of 2022. Hope villages provided me and my children, a safe place to live, food and life skills that have helped me today. Without hope villages, I don’t know where my family would be. I will forever hold their kindness in my heart!

My experience with Hope Villages has been great. It is a great company, and they help a lot of people. Especially, those who need food assistance. The expansion was a great idea because now they are able to cover many more counties with assistance. I think they just need more advertisements to show the great work they do there! More people need to know Hope Villages!! I would love to see Hope Villages and what they need to help others posted all around the state.

I have had the privilege of starting my career in human services with Hope Villages of America. I feel thankful everyday that I have the opportunity to serve our community with a team of passionate, dedicated professionals who relentlessly pursue our mission to restore hope with dignity to those in need. Through seeing Hope Villages of America staff and volunteers serve, I have learned that no hurdle is too high and that no challenge is too difficult; our mission is always bigger than any obstacle. The hard work and compassion of this organization will continue to inspire me throughout my long career ahead. Thank you to all of my team members at Hope Villages of America for the work you do for this community.

A survivor I knew, received help from Hope Villages of America and was able to not only get back on her feet but she was able to secure a job, create a new life for herself, have people to rely on and mentor her along the way and feel overall supported! Her entire life changed when she never thought that was possible.

I have been part of the Hope Villages of America team for almost three years. I am very proud to be part of this exceptional organization. All our work is done with dedication and professionalism to offer the best in our services.

Hope Villages of America is an organziation long suffering to help it's community. HVA has a wonderful group of employees that poor themselves into their work because of the passion they have to help others. Hope Villages of America is constantly looking to foster relationships with other business in the community who have the same desire to see our community healthy, safe, and know that their community cares for it's residents. HVA encourges their staff to be the best they can be in their position by offering education reimbursement, trainings, great benefit package, flexibility to work schedule, staff recongnition, growth opportunity and many more.

Hope Villages of America has been helping folks address issues of food insecurity, housing, and abuse since 1967. I have seen many women who have come through the domestic violence shelter move from surviving to thriving.

My client and I searched for months trying to find a place for her and her family to live. We checked the neighboring counties and nothing was available in the price range of her Section 8 voucher. Mom was in tears and at times felt hopeless. She and her family were on the verge of becoming homeless. So as a last option, I decided to reach out to the local shelters and much to our surprise we found that, Grace House was no longer a shelter but had become an, Affordable Housing Program. We were told that they had available 3 bedrooms, which was what my client needed. They were very helpful with guiding us through the process and making sure that we secured a place for this family to call home. This nonprofit organization is a glimmer of hope in the community, especially during these unpredictable times, when so many can barely afford to make ends meet. May God continue to bless them as they help to meet the needs of others.

Upon entering the program back in 2019 with my daughter, I had little to no hope and felt defeated. While in the program the staff was very attentive, caring, and resourceful. My case manager at the time made sure that she met with me regularly to make sure that I was on top my goals that we had set together and to also hold me accountable. Week by week my self confidence began to rebuild and I started to become hopeful that I could be one of the ones who made it out. Every week they provided life skills classes that I felt was very beneficial because they taught us things such as healthy eating, how to improve our parenting skills, resume & job interview skills, and also had banks come in to teach us about financial responsibility. The staff in the program made my daughter feel so welcomed and made her stay there enjoyable. We eventually moved into the transitional apartments they had which has become such a blessing and life saver. I was so touched and blessed by the help they provided me that I am now involved as an advocate at another shelter but continue to work side by side with Hope Villages to change the lives of many others. I am very thankful for being able to have been apart of this program and as cliché as it sounds, without Hope Villages I honestly don't know where me & my daughter would be or how our lives would have turned out.

i’m a single mother that was in a bad situation i was so blessed when grace house accepted me and my sons into the program… 3-4 years later i’m finally in my own place with the help of now hope village my sons are finally happy to be in their home i have a great job and timothey is an amazing case manager that has pushed me to push thru life and my goals.. i honestly wouldn’t know where i would be today if i didn’t have al the love and support
thank you so much for helping my family and I..

My name is Donna I just want to thank the Grace house for everything. They have been a great help to my family. Thank you to Mr.Timothy for always staying in contact with me and sending me whatever resources are available. I truly appreciate everything.

My organization, A Mother's Arms Inc., had the pleasure of partnering with Hope Villages of America with the involvement of families at the Grace House. We were able to provide life skills training and empowerment courses to the families and by working together we were able to foster new beginnings and create positive growth development for the entire family as a whole. Kudos to Hope Villages and the Grace House participants and staff!

First of all I would like to say how Blessed I was to find this place,My son and I was homeless because we moved from one county to another and I was looking for a place to stay in pinellas county and I was having a hard time till my aunt told me about a place call Grace Home, I called them and they had me to come in an told them, I told them how I became homeless,They didn’t look down on me for being in my situation but they opened their doors to me and my son,They gave me a lot of information on ,jobs,schools, careers and housing and giving me ways I can make my goals on staying on top of things,we had classes,meeting and they fed us good an made sure they were available if we needed a ear to listen to our problems,They made me feel like I wasn’t a Failure because I was homeless, I took all their advice and did everything I had to do no matter how tired I was some days because I believe at the end it will all work out and I can truly say,it did for me and my son and I am so grateful for the help and concern that the staff gave us and till this day I will still pick up the phone an call my case worker at Grace House and thank him again and to just say I and let him know we are doing good thanks to all of them..

Every was very helpful, my team was there for Hurricane Ian clean up detail and volunteer.
The task to be completed and tools needed were available. The staff did a great job making us feel as part of the team.

Awesome place to work and volunteer at! You will definitely see, and feel the hope that is given to the community from this organization

This opportunity to volunteer was identified by our leadership team at Tampa Airport. Hope Villages of America team members met with us at the site for cleanup. We had an opportunity to share some stories and meet everyone. Everything we needed was provided for us, equipment, water, etc. It was a great opportunity for some team building, but more importantly we were able to cleanup a wonderful facility that is making a difference in our community. On behalf of Tampa International Airport, thank you for the warm welcome and the opportunity for us to help maintain your facility.

I love Hope Villages of America, it has been an ongoing inspiration in my life for three years now.
I love seeing the lives that we help change on daily basis, and listening to how each volunteer loves volunteering with the organization, helping to make the lives of others in the community better each day, Hope Villages of America is such a great inspiration of hope for those in need!

Back in the 1980’s, I was a client twice in the spouse abuse shelter as well as the domestic violence counseling services. The first time, I miscarried while at the shelter as a result of a beating before I entered. But I went back. During the year between my shelter stays, I spoke often with the counselors while I was at work and got clear enough and strong enough to get out and stay out. I stayed at the shelter again and RCS was literally a lifesaver for my son and me. I could not have survived and escaped without the love, care and professional services RCS gave me. They also gave me a crib and some other things to start my own life as a single parent. My son is now 32 years old and I live a dignified and happy life filled with people who love me and free from fear and abuse. Words cannot express the depth of gratitude to RCS for guiding and helping me during those dark times. Love and blessings always to you and the people you serve.

My husband and I recently opened a new shop on Clearwater Beach and decided on this organization as our charity of choice. We included them as part of our grand opening celebration and while it was only a small donation from a small store, every bit of help counts for RCS and their clients. We will continue to support their mighty efforts to improve lives in our community.

This will be year 10 for Teen Dating 101 at Countryside High School in Clearwater. It is sponsored by the school, The Haven of RCS, Julie Weintraub's Hands Across the Bay and GFWC North Pinellas Woman's Club, Inc. This project has saved many teenage lives.

We became involved with RCS Grace House about 10 years ago by adopting an apartment, at that time we wanted our employees to experience giving back to our community, we started this with offering them a paid day off to go and spend it working at our apartment, every couple of months we would spend a weekend cleaning repairing painting and replacing what ever our apartment needed. It didn't take long and our employees asked to donate the money that we would pay them to help the Grace House, and that was what we had hoped for that they would learn a way to give back you our community in which we live.

The Haven of RCS, part of the RCS umbrella has been critical in assisting clients referred by the community for safety from Domestic Violence.. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated group in our community.

My family has supported RCS for a number of years both financially and by volunteering and based upon that experience I have recently joined the Board of RCS. RCS plays a critical role in Pinellas County through the RCS Food Bank, the RCS Grace House which provides short-term housing for families with children, and the Haven of RCS, which provides support to individuals impacted by domestic violence.

This is a multi service organization which services four different needs: Provides help for feeding the hungry, dealing with issues of violence in the family/relationship, transitioning the homeless through immediate shelter and training for living independently, and providing a thrift shop for those less fortunate in our community--especially those in one of the other programs of RCS.