It’s hard to believe that we will be having our 21st year of Hope House anniversary in October! Twenty one years!!!!! I remember thinking when we started that this was a small attempt at helping with a HUGE problem and wondering if we would ultimately make any difference at all.
Well, I would say that we have indeed made a difference—in many
ways and for many people:
·
In our community, the chance to reach out to
those of our neighbors who need assistance in times of stress---or just to help
make life bearable—has led to an unexpected benefit Hope House offers to our
clients. That benefit is the chance to feel like part of a community, a “family”!
Our waiting area is often the home to recipe exchanges, resource sharing and
even good natured sport ribbing.
·
To our clients, our Market window, our clothing
and household items, books, puzzles, games and toys mean that often they can
make their rent that month, or buy the shoes their child so desperately needs. Helping
them stretch their budgets feels wonderful!
·
Our mostly volunteer staff. Wow, I don’t even
have words for how awesome my staff is—truly they are angels. Always willing to
fill in and work extra shifts, always prompt and friendly. Don’t get me started
on how far they will go to find just what a client is in need of (let’s just
say that once in a while, one of the staff goes missing in the middle of the
shift—only to reappear with size 4 diapers because someone needs them and we
are out!) I am constantly trying to get them to go with what we have out on the
shelves, but they are too compassionate not to look further.
·
Our donors. Just wow. So many wonderful people
who think of those in our community with less than they have. So many bags of clothing,
food, household items, diapers and hygiene. Monthly online donations to us,
seasonal chunks of change, memorial donations when one of our loved donors
passes…….just thanks seems so small, but it is all I have to offer…………
We are truly blessed at Hope House, and I can’t even wrap my
head around 21 years of blessings!
I work on the
presumption
that if you are
doing God's work,
it is God's
business to look after you.
