Working our way back to "normal" here at HOPE

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HOPE recently served Steven and Pamela, whose lives had gotten off course because of family difficulties, illness, and Steven’s addiction. A former brick mason, Steven suffered a back injury and surgery, which resulted in his disability. Two years ago, he became homeless, and his new “home” centered around a bus stop on a busy road. During this time, he survived drug use, losing two toes to frostbite, and the “nightmare” of being on the street. How?

“It was a real rough road. I didn’t make it myself,” Steven said. “God brought me through that! I know he had a shield around me.”

When his mother became ill with Alzheimer’s and was hospitalized, Steven decided that it was time to turn his life around. His mother lived for the past 20 years in Severna Park, and though she passed last year, St. John the Evangelist was where he and Pamela turned for assistance. They began making plans to get an apartment by saving their money from her job and his disability allotment.

“ ‘We don’t care if we don’t have any furniture' we said. We just got to get a place so that we can get stable,” Steven remembered. When they got their apartment, St. John referred them to HOPE For All.

The first thing that HOPE did was deliver a bed to get them off of an air mattress that was wreaking havoc on Steven’s back. The remaining household requests were delayed while we replenished our inventory amidst the state shutdown from the pandemic.

Delivery day in May brought the grateful couple a sofa and chair, dining table and chairs, and all of the little things needed to function in your own place: a toaster, vacuum cleaner, and other blessings from the community. Without a car, Steven and Pamela walk to the grocery store, and they are thrilled with their new shoes.

This long road that Steven traveled gave him a clearer perspective on life.

“I’ll tell you what it’s taught me, it taught me that I’m not here for myself. I’m here to help somebody if I can,” Steven said. “Thank y’all, and thank God from the bottom of my heart.”

Over the past 12 weeks, so many of us have felt isolated as we abruptly paused our normal routines in the wake of the pandemic. Many have had to deal with feelings of loneliness and uncertainty.

Here at HOPE For All, we continued on with a skeleton staff in our suddenly quiet warehouse. Our operation is usually bustling with activity, but on many days there were only a few people in the entire building. Our regular interaction with our volunteers, partners, supporters, and visitors quickly disappeared. No donations could come into the building, and we worried for our clients who were counting on us.

But we were not alone. In Acts 23:11, God encourages Paul during his isolation; your actions had the same effect on us at HOPE. Through your emails and Facebook messages, you encouraged us. Through your checks, you supported us. Through so many deliveries of Amazon Wish List items, we knew that our clients would have enough. And through your prayers, you sustained us.

Thank you for keeping us going over the past few months. We never doubted that our supporters were out there; it was simply a joy to see that while we all were going through a difficult time, your love and concern for others never waned. We won't soon forget it.

Beginning on Tuesday, June 9, we will be accepting donations of school aged children's clothing sizes 4-20, high chairs, and second step car seats. While we continue to be closed to the public, we are accepting donations of essential furniture, kitchen supplies, and linens, and the above new items.

Space considerations related to quarantining and processing incoming items has necessitated that we accept fewer things at this time. Drop by anytime on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thank you!

We are blessed with so many wonderful relationships. The AngelWing Project is a local performing arts organization and Theatre in Residence at the Chesapeake Arts Center. Not only do they offer arts opportunities and shows for the community, they use their platform as a vehicle to serve.

They reached out to HOPE in April, asking what they could do to support our mission during the pandemic. The picture above, with 72 towels, 300 wash cloths, 24 twin blankets, 60 twin flat sheets, and 60 twin fitted sheets, was recently delivered to our warehouse! This follows up their donation of toiletries to us in January.

When we say that God provides, we mean it! We know that many people in our county are struggling now more than ever, and the good people at the AngelWing Project were proactive in wanting to help the community. Their generosity is uplifting!

Our Yard Sales during the month of June have been cancelled.