VOLUNTEER

“People think that all homeless people are drug addicts and that all drug addicts are violent and dangerous, but neither of these things is true. Women are much more likely to be frightened than frightening. They’re afraid for their own safety, afraid for their children’s safety, afraid that their children are going to be taken away if they can’t figure out where to stay.

They just need someone to treat them like they are human. Hope House provides an opportunity for women to experience an oasis of calm in a time of panic and stress. We can make sure that she’s safe tonight, and then worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”

-Angie Nace, Hostess

The biggest need that Hope House faces is for hostesses: volunteers who can join us overnight. We know it’s a big ask, but we also know that women who serve as hostesses find themselves blessed in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

Most of our volunteers serve once a week, but some can only do every other week or even once a month. All of those options are helpful! Regular hostesses help us establish a full schedule, and occasional hostesses provide support so that regular hostesses can take a break.

We always have two volunteer hostesses working together. That’s one experienced hostess who knows the nightly routine, and one support hostess who is newer to our work. Overnight volunteers arrive at 8 pm and stay until 8 am. We sleep in shifts, so you can anticipate getting 3 hours of sleep on an average night.

Could you commit to joining us? We'd love to have you come in for a couple of hours one evening (7:30-9:30 pm) to be part of the welcoming process and see if you would be a good fit for a Hope House hostess. Fill out this Google Form for more information https://forms.gle/ZNnF3j8o86nWLSj56, or call us at (937) 366-1123.

“Giving someone else safety for nine or ten hours, when you have a bed that you can sleep in every night… I think that’s what Jesus would want us to do. We’re welcoming women as Jesus would welcome them.”

-Tracy Scalf, Former Hope House Director

“Serving on the Hope House Board since opened my eyes to a need in the community that is not being met by other organizations. I attended my first meeting on the same night - October 15th, 2014 - that Hope House hosted its first guests. When I came to the meeting, I had very little knowledge about the mission of the group.

My continued involvement and my excitement about the way this ministry continues to grow stems from seeing a practical need - providing a safe place to sleep for women and children - met by passionate and genuinely loving hostesses that meet the guests where they are in their life and support them in any way possible.

-Duane Earley, Board Member 2014-2021

We are always in need of Hope House Ambassadors. Ambassadors carry the story of Hope House into community groups, helping us to be better known in the community. We’re working on compiling resource packets for charitable gatherings, Sunday School classes, and more. If you’d be interested in hosting a Hope House representative at your upcoming gathering, or if you’d like to help us spread the word, let us know!

 In less than two hours, a half dozen dedicated college students can turn a jumble of overflowing boxes and bags of donated clothes into orderly rows of tops and pants, arranged by size on the basement shelves, ready to be handed out to grateful guests.

-Patricia Thomas, Hostess

Our main volunteer need is always for hostesses: women who are willing to stay overnight at Hope House. Without hostesses, we can’t keep our doors open.

If hostessing isn’t for you, though, we have lots of other options! We are grateful for our building, but it occasionally needs some TLC. If you have a skill in carpentry, plumbing, or other skilled trades that you’d be willing to share with us, we’d be happy to put you to work. We also have occasional needs for groups to help us paint, sort donations, and so forth. Please calls us at (937) 366-1123 or email us at hopehouse45177@gmail.com to volunteer! 

“When I think about why this work matters to me, I remember the teaching of Jesus. Jesus identified with those in need, saying that when we give a drink to one who is thirsty, it’s like giving it to him. When we give clothing to those who are need, it’s like clothing Jesus.

So, when these women don’t have beds, it’s as though Jesus doesn’t have a bed. So when we make a bed for them, it’s like making one for Jesus.”

-Board Member, Nancy McCormick