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Hope starts with you!
Dear Friends of House of Hope:
As the primary safety net agency
for Martin County, House of Hope has been on the front
lines of local residents’ growing distress during the
economic crisis.
 People
come to House of Hope’s four locations across the county
to ease the pain of hunger ... to request help with
rent, medicine and utilities ... to receive clothing and
furniture ... to connect with other vital services ...
to seek hope.
In 2008, we were astounded to announce that House of
Hope food pantries had given out
90 tons of food — enough for about 141,000 meals. This
past year, we have provided about 179 tons
of food, the equivalent of about 280,000 meals. The
supply and demand has doubled. And it is still not
enough.
House of Hope has existed for 27
years to help people bridge periods of crisis in their
lives. During the recession, however, these crises have
become deeper, longer and more complex. People who come
to us requesting food usually have significant
financial, medical and family challenges.
To respond, House of Hope has
expanded its efforts to gather and give away food, and
it has opened an umbrella of care called Project HOPE
(Helping Others Progress through Empowerment). The
program includes financial assistance to help pay for
utility bills, rent, prescriptions and transportation.
But because people’s problems don’t go away with a
simple check, House of Hope offers case management, in
which our social workers offer guidance to help people
bring economic stability to their lives through
planning, training and other community resources.
In the past year House of Hope
served about 165 individuals with $400-$600 each in
financial assistance. This is a significant amount, but
requests for assistance show that Martin County
residents face an unmet need of about a half-million
dollars.
Conditions will only continue to
worsen as more and more families reach out to House of
Hope as they struggle with unemployment, low wages or
fixed incomes.
Imagine having to make a choice
between buying food or paying your electric bill;
between paying your rent or buying needed medicine.
Imagine not having enough food to feed your children.
Think of how desperate you would feel. This is the
reality thousands of people in Martin County face every
day.
You can help. The vast majority of
House of Hope’s support comes from people like you —
those who generously and thoughtfully help charities
that make a difference.
Please imagine what a tremendous
impact you can have on your neighbors in Martin County
by making a donation to House of Hope today.
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