Page 5 - Stuart Exposure - July '21

Stuart Exposure, Page 5
NoNprofit News
House Of Hope Approaches 2 partners working together to
address this growing issue
Million Milestone of food insecurity in Martin
County.”
For most organizations, approaching a 2 million mark would Generous donors in the
be cause for celebration. For House of Hope, it’s both a cause community supply food
for celebration and a concern for the community. In 2019, pre- to the House of Hope
COVID, House of Hope distributed more than 970,000 pounds Food Pantry or make cash
of food to those in need in Martin County. In 2020, in the midst of donations, and grocery
the pandemic, that number jumped to nearly 1.5 million pounds. stores such as Publix and
Rob Ranieri, CEO of House of Hope, anticipates they will exceed statewide partner Farm Share
the 2-million-pound mark before the end of 2021. supplement the donations.
The COVID pandemic has made every basic need more urgent During the pandemic, the
and more challenging to fill. Certainly, no need is more basic than Martin County Board of Mediterranean chicken and
food. “People who would never have imagined that they would County Commissioners and broccoli meals packaged
be wondering where they would get their next meal have come the United Way of Martin and frozen for distribution to
to our doors seeking food during the pandemic,” Ranieri says. County stepped forward clients at the Elisabeth Lahti
“It’s taken determination, creativity, and all of our community as partners, using federal Nutrition Center
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Hydroponic greenhouse growing Swiss chard, romaine
lettuce, and butter lettuce
House of Hope Board Chair Hans VanDerlip and Vice
Chair Craig Dreyer prepare healthy meals for clients at the
Elisabeth Lahti Nutrition Center.
CARES ACT dollars to assist House of Hope in feeding the
increased number of hungry families and individuals.
Several years ago, House of Hope’s leadership realized they
needed to do things differently if they were going to not only
supply food but supply good nutrition. “Nutrition and health are
a major part of the equation at House of Hope. The link between
poor health and poverty is irrefutable. Part of our mission is giving
people the skills and knowledge to make better food choices. We
want to not only feed people but feed them well,” Ranieri says.
Growing Hope Farm in Palm City is an innovative House of
Hope program that uses hydroponic farming to grow fresh fruits
and vegetables which are then made available to low-income
residents through House of Hope’s four pantries and network of
food partners.
“We know fresh foods improve our diets,” Ranieri says,
“but they are often cost-prohibitive for the people we serve.”
By growing their own, using both staff and volunteers, House
of Hope is able to offer regular access to healthy, fresh foods,
delivering 1,400 packages of produce weekly.
A $100,000 grant House of Hope recently received from
Impact 100 Martin will make it possible to expand the program
during the coming year. With the help of previous grants and
donations, the expansion also includes completing a dedicated
packing house with its own cold storage and the planting of a
fruit tree orchard.
The Elizabeth Lahti Nutrition Center, on-site at House of
Hope’s main location in Stuart, is a pristine commercial kitchen
where 1,600 packages of healthy meals and salads are prepared
for clients and partners every week, in addition to sandwiches
provided daily to clients experiencing homelessness.
Particularly during COVID, the entire community has stepped
forward to help with the unprecedented need for food. Support
from the Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie, the United
Way of Martin County, and the Martin County Board of County
Commissioners, as well as the local Funders Consortium and
individual donations, have assured that no one who is hungry is
turned away.
“It’s difficult to predict whether the 2-million-pound mark
is a once-in-a-lifetime high or whether we will need to sustain
ever-higher needs for food,” Ranieri says. “Whatever happens,
House of Hope will rise to the challenge, and with our partners,
we’ll continue to be an innovative beacon of hope in Martin
County for those in need.”
About House Of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome
hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more
than 7,000 people each month helping with basic needs such as
food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-
term case management services that help build life skills for a
more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers and thrift stores in
Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach. House of
Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart offers free
programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life
skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm
in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide
sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as
nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the
community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or
call (772) 286-4673. Updates and announcements can also
be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.