Boonville ministry provides wide array of services, help

Friday, January 31, 2014
Hope
Central
Boonville ministry
provides wide array
of services, help
Cover Story
Hope Central fills a need
Friday, January 31, 2014 »
WARRICK
» E VA N SV I L L E
COURIER & PRESS
Pastor’s idea blooms into ministry that provides food, clothing, health advice, classes
AMY M. ABBOTT / SPECIAL TO THE COURIER & PRESS
10 Julie Hannon was delighted to find several great pairs of jeans for her 10-year-old son at Grace Garments at Hope Central. He wears a slim size,
Special to the Courier & Press
St. Francis of Assisi reportedly said “Preach
the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.” Near
downtown Boonville, an ordinary old building is a testament to St. Francis’ edict about
helping those in need. The unremarkable
brick building offers no obvious clue of the
life-affirming activity inside at a place called
Hope Central.
While difficult to quantify, hope is all
around at this center sponsored by Encouraging Hope Ministries Inc.
Hope is as tangible as the broad smiles on
volunteers Christopher Broshears’ and Wilma
Whitney’s faces.
Broshears, a member of the Wayside Chapel, volunteers at Hope Central because he
likes helping in the Manna Market. Volunteering has helped him be a better role model for
his siblings.
Wilma Whitney, a volunteer who attends
Embassy of Christ Church, said “I want to
help. I’ve seen so many people who are homeless and just need to have someone help them
and care for them.”
THE SEED OF AN IDEA IS PLANTED
Hope Central grew from an idea by Pastor Aaron Franz of Living Hope Community
Church.
Franz was inspired by a Florida church that
offered a free clinic.
“I saw a great need here,” he said. “We began to pray about ways to make it happen.”
Six years ago, a local businessman offered
the fledgling group a building on the west side
of Boonville. As the economy worsened, it
was quickly apparent more space was needed
because of growing demand for services.
“We learned about this building right as the
school corporation was getting ready to shut
it down,” Franz said. “They were just about
to take out the plumbing.”
E VA N SV I L L E C O U R I E R & P R E S S
«
WARRICK
Above: Canned meats and fish, including salmon,
were available for families in January at Manna
Market at Hope Central in Boonville.
Left: Christopher Broshears volunteers regularly
at Manna Market and sees it as a part of his faith
life.
« Friday, January 31, 2014
& PRESS
By Amy Abbott
11
we are operating with about 30 or
40,” she said.
Hope Central is always looking
for individuals who can donate a
few hours each week. With many
programs, many skills are needed.
Three-year-old Kyla Skelton enjoyed a shopping day at the market with her family.
Like Franz, who is the administrator of the Warrick County
Health Office, Black has a full-time
job at Straeffer Pump Supply. Both
volunteer at the center during their
personal time.
“It takes approximately 62 volunteers per week to do what we do, but
LIKE FOOD FROM HEAVEN:
MANNA MARKET
Manna Market is one of five programs offered at Hope Central. Set
up like a grocery store, individuals
and families shop for food, toiletries
and household items with a volunteer shopper. Families are limited by
what is available at Manna Market.
Sheila Stevens, who is a member
of the Embassy of Christ Church,
has been the director of the Manna
Market program for two years.
Working here is a personal mission for Stevens.
“When I was younger, my dad and
I lived on the streets in San Diego.
COURIER & PRESS
Within four weeks the Manna
Market was open, thanks to highly
motivated volunteers. Other services were fully operational within
three months, said Franz.
Now five active programs serve
400 to 500 families per month, said
Connie Black, volunteer director.
Unlike similar programs, there are
no income restrictions on use of
services. She added that November
2013 was a record month with more
than 600 families served.
Franz said more than 50 organizations have contributed to Hope
Central, and it is financed through
individual, church, business and
grant contributions.
Black said volunteers put in about
8,000 hours a year. Food donations
run at a value of about $120,000 per
year. She added that out-of-pocket
expenses for utilities, supplies, etc.,
are approximately $60,000.
WARRICK
» E VA N SV I L L E
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Friday, January 31, 2014 »
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Kyle Skelton helps her family choose lettuce from the refrigerator at Manna Market. On that shopping day, families had no limits on the amount of fresh lettuce they could take.
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He lost his job when I was
12 years old. My mom had
already died. We were on
the streets in the San Diego area for two months
in 1980. I earned money
by washing the tires of
trailers as they came into a
truck stop for $5. We slept
in our van.”
Stevens said it was a
street minister in San
Diego who changed her
life. She remembers him
as a generous man whose
ministry provided meals
for her and her father every night.
Her family moved back
to Indiana. Stevens never
forgot the generosity she
experienced more than
30 years ago during a difficult family time. She volunteers at Hope Central
because she understands
what being hungry means.
Stevens introduced
Sam Tackett, a member of
Freedom General Baptist
Church, who has volunteered at Hope Central for
two years.
Tackett was shopping
with the Hartwell family.
Cody and Kelcee Hartwell
brought their two toddlers,
Kyla and Addisyn, who enjoyed riding on the grocery
cart pushed by Tackett.
Kelcee Hartwell said
her husband’s work had
been slow.
“It’s really helpful to
our family to come here.
Without it, we wouldn’t
have enough food.”
Tackett volunteers with
Hope Central because he
wants to give back to the
community.
Stevens said it is amazing how many people have
good jobs and lose them.
“When people in that
situation come to Hope
Central, they are sometimes surprised that we
will help with no strings
attached,” Stevens said,
“One woman hugged me
and thanked me and said
now her kids won’t have to
go to bed hungry tonight.”
MOM’S HEALTH,
NUTRITION, FITNESS
FOR ALL
For children and adults,
Grace Garments offers
free clothing in a large
room filled with racks of
things,” said Hannon, a
Boonville resident, who
was thrilled to find many
pairs of slim jeans in the
rack.
Penny Howard is the director of the Abba Clinic: a
service Hope Central provides to pregnant women
and young mothers. Supporting healthy pregnancies and teaching healthy
infant and child development are the primary missions of the clinic.
Editor’s note: This puzzle is designed to be done as a partnership between children and an adult. Children answer clues that have a (K) before them; adults answer the rest.
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riddle within the solved puzzle?
Chinese giant?
© 2014 Universal Uclick www.universaluclick.com
The answer to today’s puzzle can be found on Page 14.
« Friday, January 31, 2014
9 DLC
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WARRICK
(&# (K) Engine lubricant
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and justice for ___”
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clothing. Hope Central has
also been the beneficiary
of coats from the annual
Don’s Cleaners Coat-A-Kid
program.
Julie Hannon’s household has six people.
Her 10-year-old son
needed some jeans, sized
slim, often hard to find.
“We have a big family
and coming here helps so
much, especially after the
holidays and in the winter when my kids need
her husband, Scott. The
Days attend the Living
Hope Church, and Franz
asked them to get involved
with Hope Central about
seven months ago.
Jana Day is excited
about the classes offered.
“Chad Schmitt is a
fourth-degree black belt
who teaches on Thursday
nights. While the class is
primarily for teens, it is
open to all.”
Franz summed up the
whys of Hope Central,
“There are many people
who are in an impoverished situation for possibly
the first time in their lives.
“We want Hope Central
to be a place that instills
dignity in all who are
served — in the Manna
Market individuals and
families can pick up what
they need. Our volunteers
are here to make people
feel comfortable.
“We want to get to the
point where we are helping
beyond the basic needs,
and with programs like the
Journey Fitness Center we
are starting to do that,” he
said.
E VA N SV I L L E C O U R I E R & P R E S S
Edited by Timothy E. Parker
Families shopping at Hope Central’s Manna Market choose
from a variety of food items, including staples such as rice
and other grains.
Howard talked about
one class that has been
very effective. Safe Sleep
classes for young mothers is funded with a state
grant After completion of
the course, each mother is
given a folding playpen.
Howard said many women
don’t have infant beds. The
playpen is portable, so it
can be moved, but it is also
safe as a primary baby bed.
Abba Clinic also offers
classes in sewing, parenting, cooking and child and
adult crafts.
For young mothers
who need supplies, Bibs
and Bottle Boutique provides diapers and wipes
to clients monthly. In 2012,
Hope Central distributed
52,000 diapers. While
baby formula isn’t always
available, it is in high demand and always is on the
“items needed” list.
Hunger, clothing and
physical health aren’t the
only missions of Hope
Central. The Journey Fitness room offers exercise
equipment plus classes,
said Jana Day, who manages the fitness center with
13