Press releases

Grant helped House of Hope
feed more people

PRESS RELEASE DATE: FEB. 3, 2010

Read more about the Safety Net Challenge

A grant last summer helped House of Hope expand food services to 2,000 hungry children and senior citizens throughout the second half of 2009.

That was in addition to the 12,982 requests for food that House of Hope fulfilled last year through its regular Food Pantry program in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach. House of Hope is the largest provider of food to people in need in Martin County, in addition to running programs that provide emergency financial assistance, clothing and household necessities, and long-term case management.

Last summer, House of Hope received $32,291 through the Safety Net Challenge – a matching grant campaign conducted in May 2009 by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and its partners: Allegany Franciscan Ministries, the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, and Quantum Foundation. 

House of Hope used the funds to purchase additional supplies of food – some for its own food pantry, but primarily to distribute to Martin County clients of the Council on Aging and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

At the Council on Aging, the food was given to senior citizens who were on the waiting list for Meals on Wheels services.  The House of Hope effort totaled 600 households served from September through December 2009.

At the Boys and Girls Clubs, the food was divided among East Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Port Salerno – clubs not already served by the Treasure Coast Food Bank’s BackPack Program. This arrangement ensured that more families had supplies available for nutritious meals – especially on weekends when children do not have a school-based meal. The grant helped supplement 1,440 families from August through December 2009.

Even though the grant has ended, need continues. The House of Hope food pantries are running out of many staples, including canned tomato products, large cans of soup, and canned beans.

To donate, people can bring nonperishable food items to any House of Hope location. For hours and locations, please call (772) 286-4673 or visit www.hohmartin.org. Resources for conducting a food drive are also available online.