Mid-Year 2024
So far this year, from our warehouse, we have moved over 100 households into new homes. As with last year, we've seen many more families escaping homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking than in previous years. For example, our work with My Sister's House, a domestic violence halfway house, has more than tripled.
Thank you to our volunteers and donors for your generosity and for your ongoing support! It is having a significant impact here in Charleston.
For the first half of 2024, we delivered furniture and other household goods, valued at just over $83,000 to over 100 families and individuals. We have turned empty and often depressing places, where people were sleeping on the floor, into comfortable, safe “homes” of new beginnings. We delivered: 116 beds and frames, 71 dressers, 37 kitchen tables, 124 kitchen chairs, 18 microwaves, 52 sofas , 49 stuffed chairs, 40 coffee tables, 67 end tables, 97 table & floor lamps, 92 Linen Kits, 40 Kitchen Kits and over 130 adult and children's Bibles, as we worked, laughed and prayed together with those we served.
Most of all, we delivered Hope. It's hard to describe the joy in both those we serve and in our volunteers when furniture arrives for those so much in need of comfort and encouragement.
Here are just a few examples of the blessings Hope to Home had this past quarter:
The photo on the bottom left is a group of Academic Magnet High School students that handmade welcome cards for those we serve, complete with Bible verses and encouraging messages. Citadel Cadets (center) volunteer with us on a regular basis. The couple on the bottom right makes all our floral arrangements (flags for veterans), which are really treasured by those we serve.
One woman we moved in suddenly stopped everyone and reached into the basket with the flowers and picked out the Bible, which we give to all we serve and cried, "This is all I need. I left mine in a shelter on accident and I've missed it so much! This is wonderful. Now, I can go forward." A house full of new furniture and what she prized most was the Bible.
And, as one volunteer put it, "The best part of the deliveries today were the kids we served. One of women we served will be able to have full custody of her children now that she is in a furnished apartment! She sat on the porch next to her walker as we brought in the furniture and had tears of joy streaming down her face as we all thanked God for this blessing!"
These are the new beginnings we see every week. The warehouse has become a very special place for so many volunteers who have found purpose and a special blessing because of your generous support. We now have groups from around the country signed up to volunteer all the way into September.
We continue to partner with the Charleston Police Department and we are now partnered with 21 other local social services agencies.
Please stay in touch with our "goings-on" at:
www.Instagram.com/hopetohomesc OR www.facebook.com/hopetohomesc