Press releases

Meal hits high note for House of Hope

PRESS RELEASE DATE: NOV. 15, 2010

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

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.

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