H.o.p.e. is a program developed from a place of love and compassion by my aunt who saw a need in her community and wanted to find ways of meeting those needs. At this point, more than a dozen members of our extended family have contributed to helping her to make this a successful program. My family in particular donates educational supplies and toys for the children who visit h.o.p.e.'s Kid's Corner. This helps my two children appreciate their own education more while realizing that many don't get this opportunity. We donate food, bought and homemade, and help to make food baskets at the holidays. My kids have helped to make every loaf of bread we send in. Plus, one Christmas, they involved their friends in making decorated Christmas bags stuffed with cookies. At Thanksgiving, they got their friend's Brownie roop involved to help make baskets. My children involve their friends in these activities, because they see the importance in helping others, and they enjoy it. They want their friends to experience this type of giving also. I am an educator, and my school did a "Sharing our Humanity" day. H.o.p.e came and set up a booth to share what they do, hoping to inspire more volunteers and to show people the little ways that they can help. In addition, h.o.p.e. makes it easy for people to give. I have had two friends who wanted to donate stuff, but they didn't have the means to get it anywhere. H.o.p.e sent a truck and handled it for them. This stuff is then sold at a garage sale, where nothing is tagged. People pay what they can. My son, who is five, cares so much about the work done that he was determined that we needed to make cookies and home made lemonade to bring down to the people in attendance. Finally, h.o.p.e has two community gardens. The most recently built one, is closer to our home, so my children and I will go down and help to weed it this summer. Overall, there are many ways people in need can get services from h.o.p.e.
I have been involved in helping raise money for h.o.p.e for 3 years now. h.o.p.e is a charity that I believe strongly in because of their constant effort to help their community by feeding, clothing and housing them to name a few qualities. I push h.o.p.e to anyone I know when it comes to donating clothing, toys and food. I am very proud of them!
I have been volunteering for h.o.p.e. for over two years now and am amazed in how much they have accomplished. In 2008 they served 10,000 individuals, in 2009 over 13,700 individuals and within the first 5 months of 2010 close to 8,000 people. Their main focus has always been to help the hungry, homeless and individuals with disabilities by providing food, clothing, financial support, household items - no questions asked or proof of residence, etc. The other thing that impressed me with this organization is how they work with other food pantries, churches, women's shelters, and other organizations in provided these same items to make sure no one is left out. This is one of the most unselfish organizations I have been involved with and feel that they deserve any additional help they can.