The Hand of Hope
Our Story
Dealing with the spiritual challenges of today requires believers in Christ coming together in unity to share the love and grace of God to everyone they meet. The Hand of Hope emerged from this desire and a true vision from God given its founder, Donna Stripling, a vision which became a reality through a timely act of God in answer to prayer. Donna, along with her husband, Hobby Stripling, established Hand of Hope October 2015. Hand of Hope began as a thrift store designed to offer basic items for those whose resources are limited and others with no resources at all due to hardship, sickness, poverty, and other circumstances. It has grown each successive year, through its temporary shelter program, free community garden, daily distribution of food and clothes to those in need. Speaking life and the good news of Jesus Christ into a marketplace environment allows us the opportunities to know and personally reach members of our community with a simple message of the hope that Christ brings to the world. The Hand of Hope is an organization that seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone, to love God and love our neighbor. Contact us to learn more and get involved.
The Hand of Hope at a Glance
A Bit of Background
Here at The Hand of Hope, we are driven by a single goal; to be Christ to our community, by doing what we need to do in Christ's name for "the least of these" according to Matthew 25:40. We offer prayer and Bible teaching from 12:00 -1:00 pm Monday through Friday, led by faithful local preachers, Pastors, and teachers from various Christian congregations in the community. The Hand of Hope Thrift store is open Monday through Friday from 9-5, (closed for teaching from 12-1 weekdays) and we open 9-3 on Saturdays. We strive diligently to meet the needs of the community through low cost clothing and emergency food distribution, emergency shelter for homeless, stranded, and otherwise displaced individuals who find themselves in need and with no resources.
Activities
Making A Difference
Giving
Teaching the Word
Unity of Believers
Helping The Community
Giving to Hand of Hope is one way to partner with us in meeting basic needs of others. Your thoughtful donations help feed the hungry and clothe those in need. Hardship can occur in anyone's life and the Hand of Hope encounters the needs in our community daily.
Reinforcing our Commitment
With this initiative, our goal is to promote great opportunities for those in need. Starting with the felt needs of those around us, we desire to bring Christ into the everyday lives of children and adults of all ages. Our commitment is to declare the Kingdom of God among us, in the spoken Word and acts of love, grace and compassion to everyone.
Opportunities to Serve
With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to create fresh and meaningful opportunities to bring the Body of Christ together, in unity of purpose, in service to others. As a volunteer we invite you to come and see the miracles God does in the course of everyday life and in the lives of everyday people.
Our Projects
Projects are more than programs. They are opportunities for believers to put movement to their faith, carrying out what is believed and spoken.
Micro-House Shelters
A Place to Lay Your Head
Inspired by ministries in other areas of the country, in 2016 Hand of Hope custom built its first six feet by ten feet portable shelter house for stranded, displaced, and others in need of temporary emergency shelter for a night of two. Since that time we've added four more little portable "Micro-houses," as we call them. A bed, a chair, and a lamp, with AC for the summer and heat for the winter, and someone who had no answer about where he would sleep tonight, now has a place to lay his head. Most stays are only for one or two nights, but sometimes we encounter longer term needs. Our goal is to fulfill an emergent need, especially in inclement weather, and to help those who are serious about getting back on their feet.
Community Garden
Fresh Vegetables Free
"One plants, another waters, but it's God who makes things grow." Each year since 2016 Hand of Hope has planted a community garden, with the help of volunteers to plant, maintain, and harvest, fresh vegetables. Community members are also able to come and pick fresh squash, okra, dig potatoes, gather tomatoes and peppers, greens, eggplant, etc. Many generous people have donated to this good work, providing tractors, tillers, seed, labor, irrigation equipment, etc. to help the garden grow. The community is blessed to enjoy fresh food free from the garden.
Unity Development
Bringing people together
The many challenges of daily life can be met when we sincerely take the time to get to know one another. Division often exists, among churches and within the community at large, when people are estranged from each other. Hand of Hope seeks to regularly and intentionally bring the church and the general community together through specially planned events where people can eat together, visit, share their stories, and speak truth in love to one another; worship, enjoy entertainment, and learn more about one another. We sponsor events designed to get people together, to pray, to enjoy a fun activity for children, or hear some good outdoor music under the stars. We can't have community without unity, and so these moments of coming together with people outside of our normal routine of relationships creates new and meaningful relationships.
Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,you did it to me.
Jesus
Contact The Hand of Hope
