HOPE Helps, Inc.

HOPE’s choice Food Pantry provides non-perishable food, produce (fresh fruits and vegetables), meat, and fresh bread to local families in crisis at no charge. The Food Pantry and other food outreach programs are supported by faith groups, schools, businesses, civic groups, and many others who organize food drives and donate throughout the year.  HOPE also purchases from Second Harvest at a reduced rate.  The Food Pantry is unique in that clients have a "choice pantry" to choose items they will eat, therefore avoiding waste. All clients are guided by a volunteer shepherd/guide. 
The goals of the Food Pantry include preventing hunger in Seminole County by meeting the basic food needs of its clients, helping them obtain access to more stable food sources, and starting them on the path to self-sufficiency through referral into HOPE's Resource Center.   HOPE is currently serving between 200-250 households (unduplicated) per week.

The Kids of HOPE program alleviates hunger and provides food for disadvantaged children while on 13 school breaks throughout the year. The Federal Free/Reduced School Lunch Program provides economically challenged children with healthy lunches during the school year. Unfortunately, during school breaks, many of these families cannot afford to fill that gap.  When families come to HOPE to pick up their children’s week of food, which includes fresh fruit and easy open items for children who may be home alone while their parents work, parents have the opportunity to meet with a case manager to discuss their personal situation and make a plan to get back on their feet. Additionally the Kids of HOPE Back to School Bash a child receives school supplies and everything a child needs to start their school year off right.  A budgeting class specifically geared toward preparing for the new school year is provided by HOPE's Resource Center Financial Literacy Team.

Christmas in the City is a celebration where people of all faiths come together to eat, celebrate, collaborate, and share the spirit of Christmas. Christmas in the City pools resources and volunteers from throughout the community to meet the real needs of neighbors who need help making the Christmas season all that it should be. In 20, 500 volunteers share Christmas with over 300 families. Using HOPE's choice model, families are guided by a shepherd/guide and given the choice of items for Christmas they wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford, including socks/underwear, toys, supplemental school supplies, family portrait, holiday bag of groceries, books, gift cards and the encouragement and resources to ensure that they won't need the same help next year.  A budgeting class specifically geared toward preparing for the holiday is provided by HOPE's Resource Center Financial Literacy team.

HOPE’s Emergency Network Service (HENS) is a program that works to help community members (typically elderly or disabled) who have experienced some form of crisis or chronic situation that doesn't allow them to physically come to HOPE for resource services. The HENS network of volunteers delivers food weekly to clients who are unable to utilize the food pantry at HOPE because they are handicapped, disabled, elderly, or suffering a temporary short-term medical issue. They also handle emergency deliveries of food, household items, and other necessities as the need arises, and are able to be mobilized on short notice.  The volunteers of the HENS team are multi-talented, bringing to the table a large range of skills and interests, which can then be matched up with clients in need, with regular follow-up to Case Managers.