We are thrilled to announce we will be receiving $20,740 in a grant from Altria Companies Employee Community Fund to help us Reduce Food Instability for the 1,538+ households we currently serve in the City of Richmond and adjoining Henrico County. Granted funds will be used to purchase 45,500 canned goods and 9,100 boxes of pasta to be distributed through our Mo Hope Mobile Pantry at our weekly Saturday Servings community events for the remainder of 2019. Thank you ACECF! #ACECF Altria Group

We could not be more proud of our amazing pantry volunteers! They put their heart and soul into making our pantry guests feel loved and valued, and Hanover County acknowledged their efforts during their Spirit of Volunteerism Award celebration by presenting them with the Spirit of Team Award. Though the award says "team", they've truly become a family. We are truly grateful for the time and resources each our pantry volunteers contributes to our Mo Hope Pantry!

Thanks to our friends at New Day Mechanical for sponsoring our Mo Hope Mobile Pantry! 

www.newdaymechanical.com

HVAC + Plumbing + Water Quality + Well

When we use the term “budgeted”, we mean this is the minimum amount we expect God to provide through donations and grants, to accomplish what we discern Him calling us to accomplish. Being humbly transparent…In 2018, we budgeted $120,000, received $172,337, and spent $154,465. 

For 2019, we’ve budgeted $258,560; roughly $21,547 each month. That’s a lot of $25, $50, $100 & $1000 donations, and every dollar helps! We’ll gladly spend more to accomplish more, if we receive more.

Mo Hope has lots of great news & big changes in store for 2019! Without a doubt, the most exciting news is that Betty Jo (Betty Hayes) has joined us full-time as our Director of Pantry Operations! Her primary role will be to oversee & direct all operations for the Mo Hope Mobile Pantry at our Saturday Servings events, and the Mo Hope Pantry near the Hanover Courthouse. We are absolutely thrilled about this! 

This is a tremendous commitment made by someone who already does far more than most have any notion of. God sent Betty Jo to be Bob's right hand in running Mo Hope, and in doing so, freeing him up to do more of what he's called to do. And Bob, Mo Hope, and those we serve have benefited beyond measure. With all she's accomplished as a volunteer, We're looking forward to what Betty Jo will accomplish and inspire moving forward.

Beaverdam Baptist Church and Beca’s Auto Repair did a fantastic job serve lunch to 249 of our friends! Their delicious menu included sandwiches, a fresh fruit medley, garden salad, chips, and cake. Thanks to everyone who helped prepare and serve the meal!

The Bike Shop was hoppin’ as Bill & Archie were back! So many of our friends rely on bicycles to get to work and appointments, and they rely on Bill & Archie to fix flat tires, broken seats, and keep the bikes tuned. Thanks guys!

Chaplain Shean rejoined us serenaded us after months being away. Great to have her back!

Thomas pulled me aside to thank us for getting him a motel room for five nights last week. He said it was nice sleeping in a bed and being able to bathe after the last month living in his car. He starts a new job Monday, and humbly pleaded with me to pay for a few more nights so he could bathe before going to work. We paid for five more nights. He later shared with several of us that he had a testimony. He had asked David at the clothing table if he had a pair of black non-slip work shoes in his size…a very long shot. Earlier in the week, and unbeknownst to Thomas, a coworker of David’s had donated a brand new pair of black non-slip work shoes…in David’s size!

Disabled USMC veteran Tyrone has been sleeping in the car of someone he briefly met during this 72-hour stay at the Healing Place after not qualifying for shelter from the VA. The car broke down last week and was towed; leaving him with nowhere to sleep, so we paid for three nights in the Super 8 motel. This afternoon, Ty shared that he had nowhere to go and would likely walk across the street and sleep in the woods. We paid for another three nights and advised him to continue calling his VA caseworker daily until she got him sheltered while working to get him housed. We WILL NOT allow a disabled veteran to sleep in the woods! Perhaps the VA should consider the same? If we can pay for a motel room, surely they can!

Brandi & Reggie stopped by to thank us for paying for a week in the motel where they’re living. They’re both working, but can’t earn enough to save for a deposit on an apartment. They were about to become homeless again, until we stepped in.

Billy was excited to share that he’s been working for an electrical contractor for a month! About a year ago, he was homeless, broke, unemployed, and ready to give up. He said during the months that followed, we gave him Hope, and today he just wanted to thank us.

Bob told me he’d just had the best week of his life. He’d had a heart catheterization that showed he had no blockages, didn’t have to stay in the hospital, and returned to his apartment to find it was “beautiful!” after Chem-Dry of Henrico cleaned his disgustingly filthy carpet. If you knew Bob two years ago, you understand how monumental his attitude today was!

Each week, we purchase 50 bus passes at $3.50 each, and usually need many more. So this week, we bought 75 bus passes to ensure we had enough for everyone. We could have easily given out another 30+ today!

A special thanks goes out to Betty Jo. Every week, she purchases & picks up 1,500-1,800 cans of food for our Mo Hope Mobile Pantry to distribute at our Saturday Servings. The grocery store that promised to have the food ready for pickup today told her that it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow. Betty Jo quickly improvised and bought the food we needed from a competitor store, and returned with it in time to serve. Thanks for all you do!

Thank you to everyone who supports this ministry through donations of funds, their time, and prayers!

Thank you Lord for another awesome day of serving!

Bob