In case you haven’t already heard, this will be my last post as Executive Director. At the end of June, I will join many of you in the enchanted land of retirement and social security recipient. It has been my pleasure working with our donors who fund our mission and the staff and volunteers who carry it out on a daily basis. Since day one, Hope House’s core mission has been to feed the hungry. It’s a simple concept, but one that’s integral in the survival of folks in our community experiencing food insecurity or
hunger.
In addition to the meals we serve, we also offer guests comfort in times of despair or uncertainty, hope that their lives can change if they are willing to make some course corrections, and a source of understanding when they feel like no one hears them. I have seen first-hand how devastating addiction, homelessness, hunger, mental illness and joblessness can be and the long-term effects these have on those suffering from them.
But here at Hope House, I also see beauty. I see a strong sense of community, compassion, and family. It may not be “family” in the typical sense, but nonetheless, family. For most of our guests, Hope House is their “safe” place. For those experiencing homelessness, they may use our dining room
as a place to catch up on their sleep in between meals because they don’t sleep soundly when they’re on the streets. For those suffering from mental illness, Hope House becomes a safe place because it’s filled with familiar faces who understand their circumstances. For the hungry, Hope House provides them with 3 nutritious meals a day that offer fresh produce, fruit and a wide variety of protein cooked in many international styles.
As I approach the end of my tenure here, I would ask that you continue to support Hope House is any way that you can. Your support has been invaluable in keeping our mission alive and our organization financially viable. It is my hope that one day, Hope House will close its doors because the need will no longer exist. Wouldn’t that be a miracle!
John P. Madej
Executive Director