Page 4 - Hobe Sound Reflections - April '20

Page 4, Hobe Sound

Good worKs

House Of Hope Seeks Support students will not have transportation nor the supervision For residents seeking to either give help or get help,

In Preparing For Drastic to access daily feeding sites. Households arranging for House of Hope has been updating its website, social media
channels, and newsletters to keep everyone informed
alternative childcare options will experience new financial
Spike In Needy Households hardship and compromise for those still working. With more as quickly as possible. With four service centers across
than 37,000 Martin County residents already living in food Martin County now offering curbside prepackaged pantry
As local need is expected to drastically increase by more insecure households, 40 percent of households regularly distribution in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen
than 50 percent – worse than post-natural disaster numbers, cannot afford a $400 decrease in their monthly income. The Beach, those newly in need are encouraged to bring their
House of Hope is asking the public to get involved. Monetary need for assistance by this population is expected to rise by photo ID and proof of residency in Martin County in order
donations, volunteers for food distribution procedures, and 50 to 75 percent. to receive emergency food service. For those seeking
nonperishable food items are needed immediately to meet House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri shares, “How cohesive financial assistance, residents should call (772) 286-4673.
the rapidly increasing community needs. Daily operations the community can be in responding to this situation For updated information about services and resources
have shifted to taking unprecedented measures in order between the local government, nonprofit agencies, funders, available, the public is invited to visit hohmartin.org/
to implement precautions needed to protect volunteers, our health department, the school district and the general COVID before heading to the nearest service center.
staff, and clients from exposure to COVID-19 risks while public will dictate how our most vulnerable populations About House Of Hope
continuing to serve thousands of residents in need. will fare. We’ve got to work together to prevent dramatic Founded in 1984, House of Hope touches the lives of
The local workforce is heavily tied to the restaurant and slides into homelessness; donations of food and financial over 5,500 people per month with services that include basic
hospitality industries whose workers are now losing their jobs support will be key.” needs – food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance – and
with no assurances of re-employment by any particular date. Along with the anticipated increase in demand for assistance long-term case management which helps people build life
Any resident whose livelihood depends on tourism, dining comes the challenge of other resources decreasing drastically for skills for a more self-sufficient future. The agency has service
out, and recreational activities has already been drastically the nonprofit. Eighty percent of House of Hope volunteers are centers and thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown
affected by the mandated closures and social distancing in the high risk category for being susceptible to complications and Jensen Beach. Several nutrition gardens and the newly
practices. Many of these workers have never received from COVID-19 and are no longer able to report for their normal constructed Growing Hope Farms provide a sustainable
assistance from agencies such as House of Hope before and shifts. Cancelled and postponed fundraisers, slow business in the source of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition
will need to learn where they may find help to combat food agency’s thrift stores, and slower private donations have crippled education and vocational opportunities to the community.
insecurity and possible eviction. Additionally, children home the revenue available to House of Hope. With the highest House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in
from school for the foreseeable future are no longer having urgency to procure food, hygiene items, pet food, diapers, and Stuart offers free programs, technology, and workshops
free or reduced meals offered twice a day and many of these other supplies needed to offer crisis-support to thousands more designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health and
Martin County residents now struggling, House of Hope has overall well-being. For more information, visit hohmartin.
developed a comprehensive plan to utilize the public’s help in org or call (772) 286-4673.
the most impactful ways possible.

With dozens of new clients showing up daily at each location
Volunteer Kirk McLean carries hydroponic greens harvested already, House of Hope is asking the public to help keep the
from the agency’s Growing Hope Farms and packaged in shelves stocked with nonperishable food donations. Photo
the Elisabeth Lahti Nutrition Center to be added into the by Tara Jacobs.
day’s allotment of curbside pantry service bags. Photo by
Volunteer Susan Leigh (left) and House of Hope staffer, Fe Tara Jacobs.
Vall de Ruten, work to bag up groceries for the curbside
pantry service being offered at each House of Hope Service
Center in Martin County. Photo by Tara Jacobs.

House of Hope administrative assistant, Jennifer Ortiz,
sanitizes shopping carts in-between each curbside pantry
House of Hope case manager, Tasha Morales, gathers a service client. Photo by Tara Jacobs.
variety of pantry items for curbside distribution directly
into Martin County resident vehicles. Photo by Tara Jacobs. Good Works on page 5

Volunteer Dryell Brown from the Boys & Girls Club of Martin
County shows off 192 fresh sandwiches made from a food
donation provided by TideHouse. Photo by Caitlynne Palmieri.

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