“GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE”

May 2012

Our Community: Inspiring Hope

It takes everyone working together in a community to bring about a stronger future.

Businesses, agencies, churches, and individuals strategically engaged in their community can make a difference. With collaborative support and help, much can be achieved.

At Center of Hope, we help individuals and families. We offer friendship and guidance that opens a whole new world of opportunities and experiences. This is a place where anyone can come and never feel alone. Through our services and programs, not only is this a place of community for those less fortunate, but this is a place for all individuals to come and build a better life.

For years, members of our community have supported Center of Hope in a myriad of ways. Many businesses and individuals have held food drives, local organizations help finance the Center with grants and donations, churches around Parker County host Camp Hope, and our Hope for Tomorrow program could not be as effective without the help of business leaders educating our students.

All of these organizations and individuals have learned that it takes action, discipline, courage and support in order to develop a better community. Engaging in Center of Hope is easy as finding what you are best at and using it for good. Here are some ways many of our neighbors have become engaged:

Retired teachers share their expertise with our Jobs for Life students.
A father goes into work early and stays late in order to free his time to volunteer.
Businesses challenge their employees to compete in food donations.
An auto shop repairs Center vehicles at no cost.
A local restaurant takes up small donations and then makes a $1,000 company donation.

We invite you to come and make a lasting change to your community. Working together makes us stronger, creates opportunities and inspires hope.

National Volunteer Appreciation Month

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of our volunteers who are so instrumental in making us what we are today.

Whether they serve one hour or every day, each volunteer plays a vital role. Through their actions and words, they are making an impact upon our clients who are looking for compassion and support.

Without our volunteers we would have to pay staff to offer the services that we provide.

"Hope for Tomorrow volunteers listen, teach, and build relationships with their students. There is no way this program could survive without them." - Jerry Buchanan, Hope for Tomorrow Director

"Our volunteers are here to give to others, and ask nothing in return. We are so grateful for them and know that they will be abundantly blessed by Him!" - Jane Wilsky, Weatherford Director

My volunteers mean the world to me. The reason we are able to do what we do at the Center is because of them. They are men and women who serve with humble hearts and give of themselves unselfishly. They truly are the hands and feet of Jesus in the lives of everyone they serve. I'm so blessed by their precious gift of friendship! - Laura Noll, East Parker County Director

"One of the best parts of working at Center of Hope is the quality of people we work with. The volunteers here are the 'cream of the crop – the best of the best'. When a volunteer walks through the door, coming in to serve for the day, they let go of all their troubles and give themselves completely to serving others.

Both the one being served and the one serving are blessed - just one of the many wonders of how God works in our lives." - Paula Robinson, Executive Director

Churches of Hope

Every organization needs a foundation to be successful.

For us, our backing is the local Body of Christ. It is beautiful to see so many different denominations come together to help others.

In 2003, we started serving meals with just 4 Churches of Hope. Today, almost 60 Parker County churches commit to support Center of Hope.

Every organization needs a foundation to be successful. For us, our backing is the local Body of Christ. It is beautiful to see so many different denominations come together to help others. In 2003, we started serving meals with 4 Churches of Hope.

Oak Ridge Church of Christ comes every Tuesday to help unload the trailer after they've picked up from the Food Bank. They have done this faithfully for the past 9 years!

Today, almost 60 Parker County churches commit to support Center of Hope.

It is the collaboration of churches that supports our Kitchen Ministry by supplying both the food and the volunteers to provide restaurant-style meals for our clients.

The kitchen ministry shows love in a very tangible way and offers more than food for the body.

Volunteers treat clients with respect and value when taking their order, delivering the food, and offering a prayer.

This enforces the message of Center of Hope - God loves you and is for you and not against you. Many churches go above serving in the kitchen.

Here are a few ways they have shown love in action over the years:

Waxed our floors
Helped set up and maintain the Tree of Hope
Completed printing jobs
Knitted hats and scarves for our clients every winter
Supplied most of the food for Christmas Food Boxes
Gave 10% off sale of a piece of land
Coupon shopped to stock the Aledo pantry
Provided snacks for our East Parker County location
Volunteered to clean and do minor repairs around the Center
Paid for staff training at local workshops

The ways your church can become involved in Center of Hope are unlimited. Get involved today!

Feburary 2012

Reflections of 2011

With over 15,000 family visits, Center of Hope reached families both with crisis assistance and long-term solutions. God blessed us abundantly this past year and our ability to serve others grew with His blessings.

Our Community Experiences Poverty Simulation

Center of Hope hosted a Poverty Simulation to create a situation where someone could "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" for a brief time.

Hope Continues to Grow!

Center of Hope is proud to announce the expansion of the Hope for Tomorrow Program.

New classrooms are under construction to allow us to enhance our program that offers long-term solutions for families.

The administrative offices have moved across the street to allow for areas in computer training, adult education and Jobs for Life classes.

Food for Familes is Needed!

Poverty won't take a vacation this summer. Food is needed at Center of Hope to feed families.

Whether you pick up a couple items during your weekly shopping, or help with a neighborhood or office food drive, you can help fill our shelves.

Most needed items:

Canned meat – chicken, tuna, chili, etc.
Peanut butter & jelly
Soups with meat
Rice or pasta pouch meals
Vegetables (other than corn)

We have the supplies for you to host a neighborhood food drive. All you need to do is dropoff the sacks and go back 2 days later and pick them up.

This is a great project for your family, your civic organization, or your church group. Together, we can make a difference in our community!

January 2011

Developing Passion for Life

Kit Marshall "I never dreamed that getting groceries at Center of Hope would lead me where I am now," stated Karen, a student graduating from the Jobs for Life program. Karen continued, "I can proudly say that I'm clean today from drugs and alcohol."

Special guest, Aledo Mayor Kit Marshall, spoke to the group at the East Parker County Center of Hope about having a good work ethic, developing skills, and having passion for life.

She encouraged the students, "You have something to offer. Stay connected to the people here as you continue to find employment."

Read Complete Story!

More than a meal or groceries!

Job /Career Preparation

Education

New Beginning

Collaborating with Weatherford College & Workforce Solutions

Jobs For Life Program

Computer Classes:
Microsoft Office-QuickBooks
Jobs & Computers

Money Management

CAMP HOPE - An outreach targeted specifically to children on free-breakfast and lunch programs who do not receive consistent meals when school is out of session.

Click here to find out how you can support Center of Hope!

Be a Volunteer!