Stunning Success
Hope Community Center in cooperation with Restoration Ministries of Staunton, Covenant Church, and numerous other churches and organizations sponsored a two-day event of providing FREE food, clothes, and toys to distressed and homeless persons. Josh Bare, Community Activist for Hope Community Center, coordinated the event.
The community center was turned into an efficient thrift store with thousands of items of clothes sorted by size. Signs marked sections. Racks and tables were orderly. University of Virginia students operated a grill for 1600 hotdogs, potato chips, and lemonade.
Registration was conducted in the computer room with all eight computers being used. Persons were processed, waited in an auditorium with Christian bands and musical groups providing music, and then by number went to clothes, groceries and toys. Scores of volunteers were available to assist. City policemen were present and additional security was provided by volunteers.
More than 300 families and 1200 persons of multiple language and ethnic groups were present. All the items were donated, with the exception of cases of laundry detergent purchased for 80 cents per carton of six. Every family was given a case of detergent.
We are deeply grateful for all the persons who volunteered to help with this project.