Additional Programs
Princess Project
We have over 350 dresses and more than 50 tuxedos for local youth to borrow for prom and other formal occasions.
Approximately 90-100 students per year participate in the Princess Project program.
Please call ahead to book an appointment. We can not guarantee an appointment to walk-ins.
Fire Survivor Vouchers
Any family or individual that has experienced a fire (or catastrophic flooding) is eligible to receive a Fire Survivor Voucher listing an entire household's worth of items. They are able to return to the store an unlimited number of times within a year to find the items they need. Families that have experienced this type of tragedy need to come in multiple times as immediately after the tragedy they often don't know exactly what they need. Individuals are often in need of different items throughout the year and we have found this flexible system is the most effective way to extend support.
Miscellaneous Voucher Program
We have a very close relationship with many schools in our area. School counselors are often in charge of picking up the Backpack Program backpacks to distribute to their students. Because of these existing relationships and the conversations around the Backpack program, many unexpected needs arise that are handled with vouchers for every school. Any teacher is eligible to purchase clothing or items needed either for the classroom or the students with these supplemental vouchers that have no cap.
Teachers, nurses and all affiliates and educational professionals are able to participate in this program. At the beginning of the school year, we have a representative from H.O.P.E that is dispatched to local schools to explain all of the programs and available support including requests for services.
In all cases we aim to provide and make certain that everyone has an advocate that can attend to that individual’s unique needs. Introducing H.O.P.E. along with our staff and volunteer network remains critical to our mission of empowering professionals and local members of our community to continue supporting the hardship and adversity that often goes unnoticed in our society and our community.
Odds and Ends
Old T-Shirts are made into food bags for our food shelf, by community members.
Old blankets and towels are given to local veterinarians, stables and kennels.
Sheets, vintage clothing, and random items are often donated to our local theater groups.
Jewelry or lonely earrings are made available to a group of ladies that produce a beautiful Christmas tree inlaid on velvet. The final art piece is raffled off with the proceeds going to H.O.P.E.
H.O.P.E. saves shrunken, misshapen or worn wool sweaters for several crafters that make boiled wool crafts.
H.O.P.E. provides yarn to several local women that make hats and mittens for use in Christmas packages and for those individuals in need
H.O.P.E provides fabric (including outdated clothing made of good solid fabric) to a local artisan that crafts potholders, aprons and table runners. Some of these crafts are sold in the H.O.P.E. thrift store
H.O.P.E. supplies toys and coloring supplies for public places (including the children's sandbox at local baseball fields, DCF waiting room, etc.)
Holidays
Christmas: In 2021 H.O.P.E. served 616 individuals. Over 90 stockings were distributed to seniors and shut-ins in the local area. Most boxes contained pajamas, outfits, boots, jackets and snow pants if required, socks, underwear, toys, books, hats and mittens, toiletries, stocking stuffers and specifically requested miscellaneous items. Each child’s box contained a small gift for them to give to their parent or care-giver. Additional boxes are available for adults in need. Most families that received Christmas gift boxes also received a food box with holiday meal staples and baking supplies, including a few extra goodies and/or sweets.
Thanksgiving: H.O.P.E. collaborates to have
Thanksgiving meals
delivered on Thanksgiving Day. Each year we distribute more than the previous year and, as of 2016, the program was moved from a home kitchen to a commercial space working closely with Amy Bean. Currently, Amy organizes a sit-down dinner that serves hundreds of community members at The Darling Inn. Sharing and collecting food items in partnership with Amy and the Darling Inn has allowed us to better accommodate the growing volume of people. Lyndon Town School and Little Dipper Doodles Daycare provide the bulk of the food during this holiday dinner.
Martin Luther King Jr., Day:
Every year during MLK JR., Day H.O.P.E. organizes a free coat giveaway. Hats, scarves and mittens are included with the coat giveaway.
Easter:
H.O.P.E. provides Easter Baskets (averaging roughly 40 in total) to any area agency or school aware of children in need.
