Giving Hope

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – “Is it okay to come in? Is this where you get food?”

These are the types of questions Pat often hears from clients while working as a volunteer with Hope Charitable Services— a local Virginia food pantry.

“They don’t know if they’re qualified for it. They’re humbled by it because they’ve never been in this position before,” Pat said.

With the difficult economy and a tough job market, families who have never needed to ask for help before are coming to Hope Charitable Services desperate to fill their empty cupboards and refrigerators with food.

Pat should know—she’s not only a volunteer, but also a client.

Having been out of work for several months, Pat knows just how difficult times like these can be. “It has been a challenge for me to keep up with things,” she said.

But Hope Charitable Services has helped her put food on the table. So she comes back, to give to the food pantry the only thing she has—time.

“Helping Hope gives me hope,” she said.

And it gives her the opportunity to help other families who are in need of help for the first time in their lives.

Hope Charitable Services relies in part on help from Operational Blessing’s Chesapeake-based warehouse, which this past week supplied more than 69,000 pounds of food to over 30 partner organizations like Hope, who then distribute the food to local families in need.

“If it wasn’t for Operation Blessing, we wouldn’t have nearly the food we have,” Pat said, adding that OBI also helps with special needs like diapers and toiletries. “I’ve never seen them not help us,” she said.

Young mothers are especially blessed by Operation Blessing through those special donations to Hope Charitable Services. Debbi, another Hope volunteer, noticed it right away.

“It’s amazing, because they know they’re going to come and get food, but then to get the extra—to get disposable diapers, tissues, toilet paper—it is amazing to be able to meet that need and to see the surprise on their faces when they get those things because it was not expected. That’s a blessing.”

The Chesapeake warehouse is one of four Operation Blessing distribution centers; the other centers are located in Bristol, Va., Ocala, Fla., and Mira Loma, Calif. On average, these warehouses distribute over 1 million pounds of food and supplies each month.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.