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Hop Into Spring with House of Hope!

General News ArticleCommunityPress Release

Dear Hopers,


Spring is on the way, bringing with it some of our most meaningful traditions and community-powered moments.


First up is our Annual Easter Holiday Drive. For just $20, you can sponsor an Easter basket for a child, helping create a joyful holiday memory. We’re also collecting items for holiday meals, and your donations can help ensure that local families gather around tables filled with both nourishment and hope.


Next comes one of the season’s most anticipated events: Top Chef Martin County. This friendly culinary showdown sells out quickly, so be sure to reserve your tickets now.


At the same time, the need in our community continues to grow. Many of the families we serve are facing difficult circumstances, yet their resilience inspires us every day. We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity of this community. Your donations of food, household essentials, financial support, and volunteer time make it possible for us to walk alongside our neighbors as they work to overcome hunger and hardship.


With heartfelt thanks,
House of Hope


P.S. Planning a spring cleanout? Items you no longer need may be the perfect treasures for our Thrift Store and pantries. Your gently used goods can make a meaningful difference.
House of Hope’s Annual Easter Holiday Drive is underway, with a goal of providing Easter baskets to 120 children and special holiday meals to families throughout our community.


Help us spread joy to neighbors in need and reach this important goal. There are many ways to get involved:


Easter Basket Donations: 
  • Sponsor an Easter basket for one child with a gift of just $20 by clicking HERE! 
  • Donate new items for children ages 2–10 to help us fill baskets with holiday cheer
​Please drop off basket donations at House of Hope’s Main Office and Service Center by March 18th, 2026.


Easter Meal Donations: 
  • Make a monetary gift by clicking HERE! 
  • Donate holiday meal ingredients such as stuffing, side dishes, canned goods, and other festive food items. Click HERE for our most-needed items list.
Please drop off meal donations at House of Hope’s Main Office and Service Center by March 20th, 2026.


Questions? Our Events Team is happy to help at (772)286-4673 ext. 1031 or events@hohmartin.org. 


Spring and Easter décor has arrived at our Thrift Store locations. Visit hohmartin.org/locations to find the store nearest you.
Our 8th Annual Top Chef Martin County: Community Edition will ignite at District Table & Bar on April 13 at 7 p.m., as six talented amateur chefs face off in a fiery culinary showdown for a great cause. 


Meet your 2026 Chefs 
🔥James W. Campo, CFP
🔥Dr. George Lee "GL" Drake 
🔥Rabbi Matthew Durbin 
🔥Andy Popky 
🔥Nannette Walsh 
🔥Linda Weiksnar 


Support your favorite chef by making a donation anytime up to the day of the event. Click here to contribute and help them climb the leaderboard.


Sponsors to date include District Table & Bar and HBKS Wealth Advisors. 


Last year’s champion, Amy Malaney of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church’s Souper Sunday, will return as a judge, and County Commissioner Ed Ciampi will once again serve as our emcee extraordinaire.


Every gift made through Top Chef directly supports House of Hope’s mission and helps ensure that vital services remain available at no cost to those who need them most.

For more details about Top Chef and other upcoming events, visit our website or contact our Events Team at events@hohmartin.org or 772.286.4673 x 1031. 
Last month, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners took a historic step by adopting changes to the Land Development Regulations that, among other things, allow for the construction and rental of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) at private residences. Whether it’s a converted garage, and addition to a home, or tiny home set apart on the property, ADUs provide safe, affordable, dignified spaces for our local workforce, seniors, and young families to call home without changing the character of our neighborhoods.
 
This policy change, championed by House of Hope's Housing Committee (HOME), is the perfect companion to House of Hope’s HOME Sharing program. As next steps, the HOME committee (Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone) will work with County staff to raise community awareness, develop a checklist to help homeowners determine if their property is suitable, and develop a plan to hold "housing open houses" for the public to learn more. 
Whether you have a spare room today or are considering building an ADU tomorrow, our Housing Coordinator is available to facilitate the background checks, credit checks, and compatibility matching, that make HOME Sharing a success. It’s more than just shelter - Home Providers gain extra income to offset rising costs and Home Seekers gain a bridge to economic stability.
 
If you are interested in participating in this program or would like more information, please visit our website or contact housing@hohmartin.org.
Together, we are turning backyards and spare bedrooms into the foundation of a stronger Martin County!
We are incredibly honored to be named Nonprofit of the Year by the Palm City Chamber of Commerce. This recognition came as a complete surprise and is a powerful reflection of the strength, compassion, and commitment of our entire community. 💚


This award belongs to every volunteer who gives their time, every donor who believes in our mission, every partner who stands beside us, and every staff member who works tirelessly to serve our neighbors. Together, you make it possible for House of Hope to empower individuals and families to overcome hunger and hardship.


We are deeply grateful to the Palm City Chamber for this meaningful recognition and for their continued support of nonprofit organizations making a difference in our community.
We recently gathered to honor the life and legacy of Jim Schuster, a former House of Hope board member whose dedication and heart for our mission left a lasting impact on our organization. Jim had a special love for our pantry, and in recognition of his commitment to serving our neighbors in need, we placed a commemorative plaque there in his honor. 


Last month, staff and friends came together for a plaque presentation to remember Jim, share stories of his service, and reflect on the difference he made. Over light refreshments and heartfelt conversation, we celebrated a life devoted to strengthening our community. Jim’s legacy will continue to inspire our work every day. 
As Hans VanDerlip, a member of our Board of Directors, shared during the remembrance, “The room was ALWAYS better with Jim in it. He elevated the intellect and the passion of all those in attendance.”
Learn more about Stamp Out Hunger on our website.
Learn more by clicking HERE!
House of Hope Volunteers are the best! We’re delighted to have a chance to introduce them to you. 


This month, Paul, a volunteer, shares what inspired him to get involved and what keeps him coming back: 


HOH: How did you first get involved as a House of Hope volunteer? 


Paul: My wife and I moved to Stuart from Atlanta in 2022. We were longtime volunteers at the Atlanta Community Food Bank and were looking for a place here that dealt with similar issues — food insecurity in Martin County. We had lived in Stuart many years ago and knew about House of Hope. Friends here mentioned that it was still active in the community. We did an online orientation and signed up to volunteer in the kitchen. 


HOH: What brings you the most joy or fulfillment when you're volunteering with us? 
 
Paul: The people on the team we volunteer with are a joy to work with, and we are all proud of the work we do. The staff members are friendly and truly dedicated to the mission. It is nice to walk into the pantry and see people getting fresh meals that we prepared in the kitchen, often that same day. 


HOH: For someone thinking about volunteering with House of Hope, what would you recommend as a first step or piece of advice? 


Paul: Volunteering at House of Hope is a rewarding experience every week. There are many paths to take and many different volunteer opportunities for people who want to help. Volunteer through the HOH website. Call the office. Visit the farm. Take a tour. Come visit us. Stop by the kitchen and say hello. 

There’s a place for everyone to make a difference with House of Hope. 
House of Hope has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. There's something for everyone! Your time and effort make a significant difference in our community.
 
See below for current volunteer needs (jobs in TEAL are where we need the most help!):
 
Stuart Thrift Store
Shifts: 
  • Mondays and Fridays: 9:00AM to 1:00PM or 1:00PM to 4:30PM
  • Wednesdays: 1:00PM to 4:30PM
  • Weekends: 12:00PM to 4:30PM
For more information, click here.


New volunteers should begin on Sundays for training. Once trained, volunteers may transition to Saturdays if preferred.
 
Hobe Sound Branch 
  • Thrift: Thursdays and Fridays: 9:00AM to 12:00PM and Saturdays: 10:00AM to 3:00PM
For more information, click here.
 
Indiantown Branch 
  • Pantry: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:00AM to 12:30PM or 1:00PM to 4:30PM
For more information, click here.
  • Thrift: Saturdays: 10:00AM to 3:00PM
For more information, click here.


Development Department Administrative Volunteer
  • Schedule: Flexible, Monday through Friday
We are seeking a detail oriented volunteer to assist with data cleanup and entry.
  • Commitment: Approximately 2–3 hours once per week to start. Weekly tasks are expected for the first two months, followed by a summer push to help clear a backlog.
Responsibilities
  • Enter food and thrift store receipts into our system
  • Clean up and organize donor records (merge duplicates, standardize entries)
  • Assist with donor mailers and printing materials


St. Joseph Food Drive
  • April 11th & 12th
Lend a hand at the St. Joseph food drive by helping collect food items that are donated by church members. Volunteers will help collect the bags and place them into the House of Hope bins. Please note that this requires some physical labor, such as standing, bending, and lifting. Sign up by clicking HERE.


Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
  • Saturday. May 9th
As the nation's largest single day food drive, this annual effort makes it easy for everyone to help fight hunger in our community. Simply fill a bag with nonperishable food and leave it by your mailbox. Your letter carrier will collect the donations as they deliver mail, and every item stays local to support families in need.


Want to get even more involved? You can volunteer with us to help collect and sort donations. Sign up by clicking HERE


For more information about volunteering, visit our website or contact Natasha at natasha@hohmartin.org.
House of Hope of Martin County
House of Hope is a nonprofit agency that provides food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, information & referral, life-changing case management, workforce development, housing assistance, enrichment and nutrition education services to area residents in need.
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DID YOU KNOW? 


If you donate appreciated stocks to House of Hope, you can bypass capital gains taxes and claim a charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock.

Please consider supporting our mission via bequests, gift annuities, qualified charitable distributions, estate planning, stock transfers and other planned giving opportunities.


Use this information to process your gift: 
Legal name: Jesus House of Hope, Inc. 
Tax ID: #59-2422998. 
Mailing address: 2484 SE Bonita St, Stuart, FL 34997. 


Or contact Amy Belisle at 772-286-4673 ext.1002 or amyb@hohmartin.org for more information.
Keep up to date on all of our events and activities by following us on social media or visiting our website at hohmartin.org.
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Hop Into Spring with House of Hope!
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