Page 7 - Martin Downs Bulletin - August '24

Martin Downs, Page 7

Good worKs

House Of Hope Awarded connect women with prenatal care early in their pregnancy,
Three Community Impact we’re here and ready to roll.”
The MOM Mobile is a 38-foot van equipped like a prenatal
Grants From United Way Of care office, with an exam table, lab facilities, radiology
equipment and an educational area. Midwives will staff the
Martin County van as it makes its rounds to five locations in Martin County:
East Stuart, Golden Gate, Hobe Sound and Indiantown.
With more than 21,000 people depending on them for Expectant women will get the same high level of care that
assistance every month, House of Hope gratefully accepted they would get in the typical medical setting and have an
three 2024 Community Impact Grants awarded by the opportunity to meet doulas who can help them through their
United Way of Martin County in June. pregnancy and birth. The staff is bilingual and representative
The three grants, totaling $110,750, will support of the clients who will be served.
Project HOPE, which offers an array of cost-free services
including basic needs, case management, financial United Way President and CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez,
assistance, clothes closets and referrals to other resources House of Hope staffers Deidra Kinnaman, CEO Rob Ranieri
in the community that assist clients with developing plans and Amy Belisle, and United Way Board Chair-Elect Elliott
to become financially independent and self-sustaining; Paul celebrate the 2024 Community Impact Awards to House
Client Choice Pantries and Food Bank services, which of Hope. Photo by Sevin Bullwinkle.
provide individuals and families with dignified and
efficient access to healthy and nutritious food and supports House of Hope is now celebrating its 40th anniversary
30 other agencies in the area with food and supplies, all at in a typical House of Hope way – by finding new
no cost; and Centers for Enrichment, where individuals opportunities to serve people in need. Currently, the
can take advantage of free classes and services focused staff is inviting the community to donate 40 items for its
on health and wellness, education, English literacy, career hurricane-preparedness pantry or 40 items for the school
readiness, access to technology and arts and culture. supply drive. “The needs are endless,” Ranieri said, “but
In presenting the award, United Way of Martin County fortunately so is the generosity of our community.”
President and CEO Carol Houwaarts-Diez said of House To learn more about House of Hope or to make
of Hope, “Your dedication to empowering Martin County a donation, visit House of Hope’s website at www.
residents and addressing critical needs is game-changing.” hohmartin.org or call (772) 286-4673.
House of Hope has made its mark on the community Updates and announcements can also be found on
not only with the number of people served but also the Facebook, Instagram and X. Martin County Healthy Start Coalition Board, staff and
innovative ways it has created to meet its mission. “Food enthusiastic community supporters gathered at the new MOM
is vital,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri, “and Mobile: Maternity on the Move in June to launch the mobile
we’re proud that we were able to support our community Martin County Healthy Start prenatal program that is changing the landscape of maternity
by distributing 1.3 million pounds of food last year. And care in Martin County.
that food is made more nutritious thanks to the fresh fruits Coalition MOM Mobile Brings
and vegetables we produce on our Growing Hope Farm.” Prenatal Care To Martin “This is going to make a tremendous difference in the
“But it’s more than the food itself,” Ranieri continued. health of women who haven’t been able to access prenatal
“It’s the many services we bring together to help our clients County Neighborhoods care and ultimately to the health of their babies,” said Dr.
set goals for themselves and lay out plans that will lead Ashley Calderone, president of the Martin County Healthy
them to a healthy, empowered future.” The MOM Mobile is on the move, bringing prenatal care Start Coalition Board of Directors. “We know stories of
This year the United Way awarded 38 community impact to expectant women in neighborhoods throughout Martin women who have had to take as many as three buses in this
grants to 27 nonprofit agencies in Martin County, totaling County. county with limited public transportation to get to an office
$958,000. An addition $992,437 was allocated to support The Martin County Healthy Start Coalition held a ribbon appointment. That’s a huge strain, and sometimes women just
other local nonprofit program services through direct cutting for its newest service, the MOM Mobile: Maternity give up on getting prenatal care. Our MOM Mobile changes
designations and funding for the United Way’s internal on the Move, on June 20 and celebrated the beginning of a everything for them!”
programs, including Leaders United, Students United, Ride program that will change the landscape of maternity care in The mobile unit was purchased and outfitted with
United, Volunteer United, United Way Holiday Project and Martin County. grants from Martin County, which allocated a portion
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). That’s a total “Way back in 2019, this was our ‘pie in the sky’ idea of the American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the
of $1,951,237 invested in the community in just one year. – to bring prenatal care to pregnant women who couldn’t county as part of the federal government’s response to the
House of Hope has been a United Way partner since House get to a doctor’s office or a clinic because of transportation COVID-19 pandemic, plus a $100,000 Impact Grant from
of Hope was founded in 1984 and continues to work closely problems,” said Martin County Healthy Start Coalition CEO Impact100 Martin. Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, 100
with the United Way leadership to address critical needs Samantha Suffich. “It’s been a long, hard road, but thanks Women Who Care of the Treasure Coast and the Martin
throughout Martin County. to our supportive partners and the compelling mission to County Department of Health all contributed assistance and
equipment. The program will be sustained thanks to funding
from the Children’s Services Council of Martin County, the
Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
and the Hobe Sound Community Chest.
For more information about the MOM Mobile, its
neighborhood schedule, and the many other services of
the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, visit www.
mchealthystart.org.
For more information about Martin County Healthy
Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.
mchealthystart.org, call (772) 463-2888 or follow the
organization on Facebook.

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