Hopes Outlet Ministries Inc

PROVIDE FOR THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE UNDER-RESOURCED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

LOCATED IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR THRIFT STORE CENTERS INTERFACE WITH 300-500 PEOPLE PER DAY. ROUGHLY 90% OF THESE CLIENTS ARE LOW INCOME AND APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THESE RECEIVE SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. WE ARE THE LOW COST PROVIDER OF BASIC PHYSICAL NEED ITEMS SUCH AS CLOTHES, HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES SUCH AS BEDS, FURNITURE, LINENS AND KITCHENWARE.

WHILE WE ARE THE LOW COST PROVIDER OF BASIC PHYSICAL NEEDS, WE ALSO GIFT PHYSICAL NEEDS TO MANY PEOPLE AS THEY EXPRESS THEIR LACK OF RESOURCES TO PURCHASE ITEMS. WE ROUTINELY GIVE FREE CLOTHING, ETC. TO FAMILIES IN NEED AND HAVE EVEN BECOME A CENTER WHERE OTHER AGENCIES SEND THEIR CLIENTS FOR FREE ITEMS AS WELL. OFTEN, WE PROVIDE AIDE FOR THOSE FLEEING ABUSE, VICTIMS OF HOUSE FIRES, AND OTHER EMERGENCY SCENARIOS.

ONE OF OUR GOALS AS AN ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TO PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM ACROSS CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LINES, HOPING TO EDUCATE AND HEAL MISPERCEPTIONS THROUGH THE VEHICLES OF FAITH AND CHARITY. WE PROVIDE SAFE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. WE ALSO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR DISABLED GROUPS AND COURT CLIENTS WHO NEED TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS REQUESTED BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

- WE PROVIDE BI-WEEKLY "TEA TIMES" WHERE WE COME ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THESE ARE GREAT SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT LIFE ISSUES.- WE PROVIDE A FREE SUPPER ONCE A WEEK AT 2 OF OUR CENTERS WITH THE DESIRE TO ENCOURAGE AS WELL AS PROVIDE A MEAL FOR THOSE IN NEED.- WE SEEK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO COME TO OUR THRIFT STORE CENTERS, AND IN SO DOING WE OFTEN ESTABLISH A REGULAR MEETING TIME FOR BIBLE STUDY OR MENTORING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE SEEN THESE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO US THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.- WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CLIENTS OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH THAT COME AND JUST SPEND THE DAY AT OUR CENTERS, RATHER THAN WANDERING THE STREETS. WE HAVE FREE COFFEE, SNACKS, AND SOMETIMES A MEAL FOR THEM AND PROVIDE A PLACE OF RESPITE OR WORK, DEPENDING ON THEIR NEEDS.- IN GENERAL, WE HAVE CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE PEOPLE WHO MAY "FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS" CAN COME AND FEEL ENCOURAGED AS WELL AS HAVE SOME FORM OF MEANINGFUL WORK TO DO (VOLUNTEERING).