Published: May 02, 2008 05:08 pm            

HOPE shows appreciation of volunteers

By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

“We get by with a lot of help from our friends,” HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Enrichment) Inc.’s Partners in Health coordinator Shirley Reese said Thursday morning. “And thank goodness we have so many friends.”

Reese was referring to the many volunteers who log man-hours and expertise day in and day out for the benefit of HOPE and its community service programs.

“It really gives you a warm feeling inside to see the appreciation on the faces of people who just benefited from the programs that you help to keep going,” HOPE volunteer Zetra Hill said. “That’s the whole reward — knowing you’ve helped someone. And there are so many people that need help in this area.”

Reese and the rest of HOPE’s staff — including Executive Director Fran Daniel and Volunteer Coordinator Betty Ewalt — served the center’s many volunteers a tasty brunch Thursday as a way to show their appreciation for all the hard work they do for HOPE.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll probably keep saying it,” Daniel said, “we can not do the work we do without our volunteers. They are the backbone of everything we accomplish.”

Volunteers help HOPE in a plethora of ways — from cooking and serving in the center’s soup kitchen, two meals a day, five days a week and operating the center’s van for clients during regular business hours to keeping its education and other programs progressing.

Jacksonville residents Don and Sue Williams both volunteer for HOPE.

“We volunteer because they get things done,” Sue Williams said. “There’s a lot of need for help right now, and we’ve got the time. We both enjoy the work. We’ve got a real good program here.”

The couple helps in the kitchen and they help with the center’s ink cartridge recycling program. Don Williams also drives the HOPE van on occasion.

“We like to feel like we’re needed,” Don Williams said. “A lot of people have needs and we’re glad to help.”

New Summerfield resident Marie Armas helps HOPE reach the Hispanic community and is volunteering her time to educate people on the dangers and prevention of osteoporosis.

“It’s very important to me to stay busy,” she said. “It this is a very necessary program. I like to put myself to work and HOPE helps me reach a lot of people who really need the help.”

The HOPE Center provides emergency assistance to low-income families and helps provide the tools to promote self-sufficiency by pooling community resources that provide assistance through a networking system designed to prevent duplication of services.

        

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