HOPE's Emergency Network System (HENS)

The Need:

• In almost all 50 states, senior citizens' income is unable to sufficiently cover the cost of living. 

• According to a study done by Fidelity Investments, an average baby boomer's necessary retirement income will exceed actual income by a shocking 44%. 

• In May of this year, 2,174,900 Americans over the age of 65 received some form of Supplemental Security Income, according to the Social Security Administration.

• The American Psychological Association states that "It is estimated that over 40 million people in America have some level of disability, and many of these individuals live in poverty."

• Medical issues can have a huge impact on homelessness. According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 62% of personal bankruptcies filed in 2007 were caused by medical debt.

These issues can leave households facing a great deal of financial difficulty. The Central Florida area is not a stranger to these problems, and HOPE strives to assist those in our community through these tough situations.

How HENS Helps:
The HENS program provides outreach to those who are elderly, disabled, or suffering from medical issues, and are on a fixed income, home-bound, and unable to access HOPE’s services in-house. Those who meet the criteria of the program receive weekly visits from volunteers. Assistance can include food, the provision of funds, basic repair services, transportation, and other solutions specific to a client's needs. 

A volunteer delivering food to a HOPE client

If you think you or someone you know may benefit from HENS services, call 321-765-4984 or email resources@hopehelps.org to speak with a case manager. More information about HOPE's various resources can be found at www.hopehelps.org.

If interested in volunteering with the HENS program, contact volunteer@hopehelps.org for more information.

Thrift Store Shopping

Have you checked out The HOPE Chest Thrift Store/Boutique yet? Shopping at thrift stores like The HOPE Chest offers tons of benefits, ranging anywhere from unique finds to helping the planet!

The Benefits of Thrift Store Shopping:

• Supporting your community - Did you know that The HOPE Chest is HOPE Helps, Inc.'s community thrift store/boutique? This means that donations and purchases from The HOPE Chest go back into your community. Donations from the community will be sold at The HOPE Chest or donated to families in crisis. The proceeds from purchases help fund programs like our Kids of HOPE Enrichment Program and our HENS, HOPE's Emergency Network System, program.
• Shopping locally - Shopping at thrift stores can impact your local community! Your purchases at The HOPE Chest will help with our mission of preventing and reducing homelessness in the Central Florida area.
• Finding great deals - You can find items like electronics and designer goods at a fraction of the price.
• Recycling - Buying and donating used items helps to cut down on waste and reduce what ends up in landfills.
• Discovering unique finds - Whether you're looking for something vintage, a unique painting, inexpensive music records, or an old Backstreet Boys CD, The HOPE Chest can help!
• Finding DIY materials - Are you looking for inexpensive items to try out your next Do It Yourself project? Stop by The HOPE Chest to check out our picture frames, housewares, clothing, and more!

DIY projects made by customers of The HOPE Chest:

Rake Necklace Holder



Sunglass Frame Holder



Potion-themed Party Decor

Upcoming June Sales at The HOPE Chest:

• Thursday, June 23 “National Pink Day” – Wear pink or purchase something pink and get an additional 25% off your purchase.  
• Monday, June 27 “National Beautician Day” – Get 25% off with ID  
• Wednesday, June 29 “National Camera Day” – 25% off all cameras

Regular Sales at The HOPE Chest:

• Mondays - Mystery Monday 
• Tuesdays - Military, Student and Professional Day 50% off 
• Wednesdays – Senior Day (60+) 50% Off 
• Thursdays - Thrifty Thursday, $1 items (items change weekly) 
• Fridays - Freebie Friday Gift with Purchase (gifts change weekly) 
• Saturday- $5 clothes bag *NEW: 2 bag limit per person

The HOPE Chest - Thrift Store/Boutique
1802 W. Broadway St
Oviedo, FL 32765

Charles Schwab's 2016 Volunteer Week

Charles Schwab employees and executives volunteered at HOPE Helps for their 13th annual volunteer week. We were thrilled to have had 50 "Schwabbies"come to HOPE the week of May 23rd - 27th and roll up their sleeves.

They repaired potholes, sorted donated home goods and clothing and priced items to be sold at The HOPE Chest Boutique/Thrift Store. They also participated in shepherding HOPE's resource clients through the food pantry, packing Kids of HOPE lunch bags and wrapping Back to School collection boxes at our Resource Center/Food Pantry.

Along with their commitment of volunteering their time, HOPE will receive a $2,500 grant from Charles Schwab as a part of their volunteer week. 

Volunteering their time and wide variety of skills contributed to a hugely successful volunteer week. Thank you to the valued Charles Schwab volunteers!

To check out more photos from their week at HOPE, visit the HOPE Helps Flickr HERE.

Become a sponsor for HOPE's Kids of HOPE Back to School Bash!

Thank you for considering sponsorship of HOPE's Kids of HOPE 8th Annual Back to School Bash. During the academic year, economically disadvantaged children have access to healthy lunches through the Free/Reduced School Lunch Program, but during school breaks, children miss out on these lunches. Families registered with HOPE can pick up a week’s worth of free lunches for their children during the 13 weeks of break throughout the year, and have access to a case manager.  Toward the end of the summer, these families are then invited to participate in the annual Kids of HOPE Back to School Bash. They will receive everything their child needs to start their first day of school! 

Sponsorship
This event will directly impact children in need right here in our local community, and is your chance to advertise you business and gain positive attention. Click HERE for a copy of our detailed sponsorship packet.

School Supplies

If you would like to donate items for the Back to School Bash, please do so by July 29th. A copy of our shopping list can be found HERE.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Orlando Health, 

and to our sponsors Costco and The Defense Litigation Group.

We appreciate your consideration in support of HOPE Helps, Inc. After you have had a chance to review the information, we'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please submit questions and applications to Stephanie, our Special Events & Development Coordinator, at events@hopehelps.org.

Orlando Sentinel Family Fund donates $25,000 in grants to HOPE Helps, Inc.

Media Contact: Joan Faulkner CEO, HOPE Helps, Inc. Phone: 407-366-3422 Email address: joan@hopehelps.org

Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, A McCormick Foundation Fund Donates to HOPE Helps, Inc.

OVIEDO, FL. (July 24, 2015) - HOPE Helps, Inc., an Oviedo based nonprofit serving families on the brink of homelessness, received a $25,000 grant through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation fund. The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund has supported HOPE's Kids of HOPE Enrichment Program for the past several years, impacting the lives of children from low-income families. The funds will go directly toward The Kids of HOPE Enrichment Program, which provides free, healthy lunches through HOPE's Food Pantry during each school break throughout the year. The parents of these children also benefit from the program by having access to HOPE's other resources, as a part of HOPE's mission to help families to become financially independent and sustainable. "The support through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, allows us to continue our efforts in alleviating hunger for children in our community," said Joan Faulkner, CEO of HOPE Helps, Inc. "Now in its 7th year, Kids of HOPE has been extremely successful in tracking progress of families in need and helping them to self-sufficiency. When parents register their children, they are able to meet with a case manager to help them with a personalized plan to get them back on their feet.", Faulkner said. "Our client families in the program are invited to register for the annual Back to School Bash, which provides everything a child needs to start school. The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, has been extremely instrumental in their support in funding this program."   HOPE Helps Inc.'s Joan Faulkner (CEO), Jasmine Campbell (Resource Coordinator), Heather Georgen (Case/Program Manager), and Nick Ramos (Resource Specialist) receives a check from Lisa Jacobsen,Charitable Giving and Communications Manager of the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund. "The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund and HOPE Helps share a commitment to addressing the growing needs of our local communities," said Lisa Jacobsen, Charitable Giving and Communications Manager with the Orlando Sentinel.  "We're proud to support the Kids of HOPE program to help ensure that children have access to nutritious food all year round."

About HOPE Helps, Inc.

HOPE Helps Inc. prevents and reduces hunger and homelessness in Central Florida by assisting individuals and families in times of crisis and by equipping them to become self-sufficient through Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education. HOPE's services include a Food Pantry, Resource Center and Thrift Store. For more information, please visit www.hopehelps.org.

About Orlando Sentinel Family Fund

The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, is committed to supporting programs that move low-income children and families to self-sufficiency. Since 1990, through the Fund, more than 870 grants totaling more than $35 million have been awarded to local nonprofit organizations serving Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and W. Volusia Counties. To learn more about the Orlando Sentinel Children's Fund, visit www.orlandosentinelfamilyfund.org.

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