Helping Oppressed People Everywhere

In South Africa, HOPE works through a local partner NGO to directly meet both short- and long-term needs of underserved and impoverished children, and families, in the Matiwane area of KwaZulu-Natal. In the summer of 2024, a new partnership was formed with another NGO and an agreement formalized for the purpose of overseeing and promoting HOPE services to 100 students attending Cewembe Primary School. Services include daily hot meals for students, help with schoolwork, social services to families of students, and care and distribution of food to families from a community garden started in 2022. Twice in 2024 HOPE staff traveled to South Africa observe and establish operating procedures and volunteers purchased and delivered groceries, hygiene items, and other household goods to families identified by the local partner NGO as having profound need.

Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024 devastated many people living in regions near the service area of HOPE in the Appalachian Mountains. Hope cooperated with churches in Texas and Tennessee to collect and deliver 44,000 pounds of supplies including generators, farm supplies, food and clothing to victims of numerous floods in the area. HOPE continues to monitor and help those recovering from floods.

In June of 2024, HOPE conducted a free weeklong Youth Sports Camp for at-risk middle school students in rural Wise County, Virginia. HOPE partnered with International Sports Federation, a fellow nonprofit organization, to conduct the camp. Experienced instructors taught students basic skills in archery, pickleball, basketball, flag football, track and field, robotics and art along with lessons on sportsmanship and character. There was no cost to the students to attend, and 100 students participated. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks were provided. HOPE expanded the youth sports camp to a nearby coal camp town that is isolated by poor phone service and transportation. Additionally, HOPE supported delivery of 100 Christmas food boxes to families of Union Elementary school students in the Big Stone Gap area.