Past Years of Meal or No Meal

Meal or No Meal 2010

The fifth annual “Meal or No Meal” Community Awareness Dinner was held Nov. 5, 2010, raising more than $40,000 for House of Hope to help families struggling with life’s basic needs.

Click for photo gallery

The 200 guests in attendance at St. Mary’s Pittenger Center in Stuart enjoyed a dinner served by the volunteers from area churches that operate community kitchens throughout Martin County. Guests were entertained by the St. Joseph Catholic School Jazz Band and a new addition to the lineup -- the Jubilate Choir from Jensen Beach High School.

Presenting sponsors for the second year were John & Donna Haas, and the event co-chairwomen were Kerry Caruso and Judy Rosenthal.

Executive director Patrick Slattery summed up what the event is all about and why the guests were there: “Because 5,000 more residents of Martin County crossed the threshold of poverty in 2009, and even more will cross it this year. Because House of Hope was asked to respond to nearly 23,000 requests last year for food, clothing or emergency financial assistance, and that’s twice as many as the year before. Because the unemployment rate here in Martin County is 12.5%, and those now seeking help from HOH have been unemployed for an average of 16 months. Because more and more Martin County residents are being forced to decide: Meal? Or no meal?”

John Haas also spoke to the guests, explaining why he and his wife have chosen to invest in House of Hope and elaborating on a familiar proverb: “Not only does House of Hope provide food and clothing for families when they need it, but they give them a fishing pole. Then they show them how to use it and show them where to go fishing,” Haas said. “They have social workers who work together with these families so that the return on equity that we give is so well spent. Ninety-four cents of every dollar goes directly to help clients. How many charities in America can say that?”

The Meal or No Meal guests also heard from Sandra Gorney, a single mother who struggled after losing her job as a cook at a nursing home in 2008. “Many months we wouldn’t have had much to eat if it weren’t for the House of Hope food pantry,” Gorney said. “At various times, they helped me with rent, electric, gas cards, and medicine for my daughter’s asthma. They also gave me some clothes for when I got my new job in May….

“But there is one thing that I’m the most proud of that House of Hope has helped me to accomplish. You see my whole life I have had bad teeth and have always wanted to get dentures. Because of the case management program at House of Hope and the funding that was available through grants, my dream came true. As you can see I have a great smile now thanks to House of Hope. That’s a very big help when it comes to applying for jobs and greeting and speaking as I do a lot of these days.”

The funds raised at the event will be a great help, but guests went home with a program filled with suggestions about other ways to give, including volunteering, planned giving, purchasing organic vegetables, sponsoring upcoming events and funding a refrigerated truck. Click for giving opportunities

For more information about House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673, or visit www.hohmartin.org.

2010 event

Photo Gallery
at Facebook

Video Highlights
at YouTube

Event Committee
Judy Rosenthal &
Kerry Caruso,
co-chairwomen

Debbie Flerx
Dale Hudson
Elaine Matts
Gail Pedersen Pfister
Bob Schneider
Colleen Schramm

Participating Churches
St. Joseph Catholic
St. Mary’s Episcopal Redeemer Lutheran
Hobe Sound Presbyterian
First Baptist of
Jensen Beach

House of Hope surpassed its fund-raising goal for the Fourth Annual Meal or No Meal Community Awareness Dinner held Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at St. Mary's Pittenger Center in Stuart.

The event netted $40,012 for the agency -- about $3,000 more than the goal. The agency provides food, clothing, case management and emergency financial assistance to thousands of Martin County residents in need.

Click here for our Facebook gallery of the event.

Meal or No Meal 2009 presented chance to win an Amazing Holiday in Grenada. The prize package included four nights for two people at LaSource Resort in Grenada, courtesy of LaSource and the Grenada Board of Tourism. As a bonus, American Airlines provided an airfare voucher to help the lucky winner get to Grenada.

The prize package was won by Michelle Maguire,
pictured below with her husband, Thomas, and American
Airlines employees as the Maguires took off for Grenada!

The “Amazing Holiday” at LaSource included luxurious accommodation; all meals and beverages; a range of land and water sports including golf, tennis, archery, fencing and scuba diving; a comprehensive program of body treatments designed to relax and rejuvenate mind, body and spirit; yoga and tai chi; and much more.

LaSource is perched on the southern tip of Grenada, on secluded Pink Gin Beach. Grenada, located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, is one of the world’s most prolific sources of spices. 

Sponsors and
Underwriters
2009

Presenting Sponsors:
John & Donna Haas

Soup Sponsor:
Bobbie Trimble

Appetizer Sponsors:
Awareness Technology
Dale & Mary Hudson
James & Ellen Myers
Seacoast National Bank
St. Joseph Catholic Church

Cocktail Sponsor:
Stephen Schramm,
HBK Sorce Financial

Dessert Sponsors:
Thomas & Polly Campenni
Frank & Carol Doyle
Ralph & Joanne Ebner
Lee & Gaby Elsey
Florence Macdonald
Patrick Exterminating
Richard & Judith Rosenthal

PB&J Sponsors:
FPL
Madeleine O'Neill

Spice Sponsor:
Senior Home Companions/
Sharon Slattery

The Third Annual Meal or No Meal Poverty Potluck and Community Awareness Dinner was held Nov. 7, 2008, at St. Mary's Parish Life Center and raised $58,500 to help Martin County's struggling families and senior citizens. Read more about the 2008 event >>

Executive director Patrick Slattery congratulates 2008
event co-chairwomen Judy Rosenthal, left, and Kerry Caruso.

See Stuart Magazine's Meal or No Meal photo spread >>