New Shoes and a New Point of View

This year's Back to School Bash was a huge success. The community came together to provide hundreds of children with the supplies they needed for a great first day of school. An impact was made not only on the children but on the volunteers who participated in the event as well. Below is a story we received from a volunteer. 

                                        

I had the honor of being a shepherd/volunteer for HOPE at the back to school bash this year. One 10 year old boy touched my heart forever! He was very excited and talking while walking to his car with all of his new stuff. The little boy stated this was only the second time he had ever had a new pair of shoes. He had always gotten hand me downs from his older brother and they were always too big. I was truly touched by all of the hard work that it took to give all the children a good head start for returning to school. Thank you HOPE for being such a wonderful organization for parents and children in need! 
-K. Ford (Back to School Bash Volunteer) 

A huge thank you goes out to all the donors, volunteers, and organizations that made this event possible.You can view additional photos on HOPE Helps, Inc.'s Facebook page.

Kids of HOPE 3rd Annual Back to School Bash

This was my first experience at a HOPE event, and it was a memorable one. It was amazing. As I helped sort through thousands of school supplies donated by the community, my heart swelled with pride that even in these hard economic times, compassion still stands strong in the hearts of those in our community. The hours seemed to fly by, as we hand counted pencil erasers, notebooks, and backpacks.

We set up and prepared the site provided by our OneBody Church Coalition, and lined up our service agencies in a row together, ready and willing to assist families in crisis. How many service agencies, you ask?

Chiropractic evaluations by Oviedo Family Chiropractic, Vision Quest Bus for eye health screening, vouchers for haircuts, Food Stamp sign up, The Grove Counseling Service, Healthy Start, Tobacco Free Florida, Shepard's HOPE, WIC, Legal Aid, and Whole Foods Market! PHEW! That's not including the Bounce House and games provided by A Leapin' Lizard, Balloon Artists and cinch bags provided by Walt Disney World, Face Painting, crafts for kids, and basket raffles!!

As the children and their families lined up, it was an unbelievable feeling. Emotions were running high - giving to those in need is almost like an addiction! As the families walked through and kids were able to pick out their backpacks and school supplies, there was this quiet ease of relief that you could sense on their parents mind, and excitement for the children - it was Christmas in August! I had an opportunity to walk through with a parent and assist in picking out supplies, along with chatting with other parents and hearing their stories - we hugged and were reminded that, at least in our town, our community sticks together and is there to support each other.

At the end of the day, we were able to serve almost 500 students and their families. Would you like to know what that was like? Take a look at our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities!

Want to help, but don't have the time to volunteer? Make a donation to HOPE, today!

Written by:

Sara Ozim
Administrative/Events Assistant
Hope Helps
www.hopehelps.org

HOPE Really Does Help

Giving back, helping others, serving the community. It is something that we are taught from an early age from our parents... morals that are encoded in our DNA. Those of us that work and volunteer at HOPE are lucky enough to not only live by this code, but actually work in a field where those morals are upheld.

I knew from the day I began working here at HOPE, that I had found a job that would fill me with a sense of satisfaction and would point my moral compass in the right direction. This week, I had an opportunity to talk with a woman who HOPE would be able to help. As she hesitantly told us her story, I was filled with the overwhelming sensation to wrap my arms around her and hug her - to let her know that she is not alone. Not anymore. When I relayed my feelings to my co-worker, we talked about how each story from each family and individual we help touches our hearts, because we've all been there.

At HOPE, we understand what it feels like when you go from being the one giving to the one receiving. We also know how hard it is to admit when you need help. At HOPE, you do not only get assistance, you become part of a much bigger thing - a family... the HOPE family. In our family, you are never judged and help is always available.

If you, or anyone you know, are in need of help... please, come see us at 149 E. Broadway in Oviedo - or make an appointment to see a Resource Manager by calling 407-366-3422.

Sara Ozim
Executive / Events Assistant
HOPE Helps, Inc.

Oviedo Named One of the Best Towns for Families - Partially in Thanks to HOPE!

Oviedo, Florida Population: 32,894
Median Income: $69,894
Median Home Price: $197,500
Households with Kids: 42%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Great Schools Rating: 10

The nation's premier theme parks may be just a 30-minute drive from this sunny Orlando suburb, but Tom and Connie O'Hanlon and their two teens don't have to get in the car to do something fun. Instead, the family enjoys biking on the 22-mile Cross Seminole Trail, taking walks around scenic Lake Charm and jogging under the majestic oaks lining the streets. "There's something calming and beautiful about running from one shade tree to the next," says Tom, 51, a real estate investor. Daughter Katie, 18, and son Zachary, 17, pedal to and from Oviedo High School, where some 70% of students who take Advanced Placement tests score a 3 or higher. And residents know they can count on their friends and neighbors. When Katie was injured in an accident in February, people delivered home-cooked meals every night for two weeks and made her a get-well quilt. "My in-laws, who came to help while Katie recovered, were amazed," says Connie, 48, a property manager. "We weren't. We know we've found paradise here."

Good Deeds
The HOPE foundation, founded by resident mom Krissy Todd, aims to prevent homelessness through outreach and education services to 6,000 central Florida families every year.

See the full article on the Family Circle Website

Local Youth Group's Brings a Man to Tears of Joy

HOPE opens its doors to many organizations, businesses, and churches to enable them to volunteer and do community service together as a group.  Recently, a local church brought their youth group down for a week of service.  The teens worked in our food pantry, sorted donations, and packed lunches for our Kids of HOPE program. 

On their last day with HOPE, they spent some time helping clients in our food pantry, and were touched by the individuals they met there.  One such individual, Ron, has been unemployed and actively seeking work for over a year.  His unemployment just ran out, and they are attempting to survive on his wife’s part time salary. They have two middle school aged children.  Ron has been coming to get food from the pantry, and because we are aware of his situation, we always slip him a little something extra to get by. 

The leader of the church youth group and his children approached the staff at HOPE, and asked if they could please use the $40.00 that they had to do something extra nice for one family.  Our minds immediately jumped to Ron, who had just left with his pantry goods.  We knew that he had been without milk and eggs for a month, and that there were some things that our pantry just couldn’t provide for him.  What a blessing to have these amazing students reach out to their fellow man in a tangible and loving way! 

Ron was very touched and started to cry when the students asked him for a list of things he needed, and set off for the local grocery store to purchase them.  While we waited with Ron, one of the student leaders purchased a $20 hope “gift card” which would allow Ron to also purchase things from our thrift store.  The students returned with 8 bags of groceries to go with the two boxes we gave him from the pantry.  I know that he and his family will be eating well tonight, and that the students that were involved learned a very valuable lesson about the worth of their fellow man today.

Thank you so much to everyone involved in bringing a little joy into Ron's day and life!!

Jailene Warren

Food Pantry Coordinator

IT Facilitator

HOPE Helps, Inc.