Brad Butler, vice president of Center of Hope, presented a program for the Rotary Club of Livingston Thursday, highlighting some of the ministries offered through Center of Hope.
Campaign 300 operates under the Center of Hope umbrella and helps clients out when they are experiencing a financial crisis, helping 15-25 families per month.
The Cancer Support Ministry came about following Relay for Life. It serves about 80 clients, helping them get access to care by assisting with the cost of gas, parking and meals.
The Emergency Health Ministry serves about 20-30 people per month with the cost of prescriptions and medical supplies.
Center of Hope has a bus that takes those without transportation to the center for food and it averages 30 passengers per month and often delivers food to shut-ins.
“Two Christmases ago, Walmart contacted us and gave us 27 pallets of new clothes, so we were able to give away 2,100 pair of new garments and 1,000 new shoes,” Butler said.
“Our food pantry is kind of where Center of Hope started. We were seeing 60 people a day, but now 100 people a day is a small day. We see about 900 families per month.
“Disaster response is another organization we offer, and it is a seven-day-a-week service that provides a transition point for after people have gone through disaster.
“Christmas of Hope began in 2022 when the Empty Stocking Program asked us to help. In 2023, we served about 1,000 people and we’re expecting 1,200 this year. It allows the parents to shop for their children with dignity and wrap their presents,” he said.
“I urge you to come by and wrap gifts or help load cars. We’ll be wrapping and loading every Friday and Saturday in December.
“We have some very real challenges. We need more volunteers, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we need more operating funds because things are more expensive and there is a greater demand,” Butler said.
“I think in our town a lot of the time we see people involved in a lot of things and things separate us, but we come together on Friday nights for football. This is a central hub open to everyone where needs can be met.
“It’s very rewarding to see people’s lives change. It’s the idea of helping people help themselves,” Butler said.
There are several ways to provide support for Center of Hope as individuals, organizations or businesses. If you want to hold a toy drive, they will supply the collection boxes. Toy donations may be dropped off at the center or you may call to have them picked up.
As an organization, you may want to adopt a day to wrap and load cars.
If you want to make a financial donation, simply write a check to Center of Hope and put ‘Christmas of Hope’ in the memo line. Mail it to Center of Hope at P.O. Box 1973, Livingston, TX 77351 or drop it off at 600 S. Washington.
Center of Hope is a Christian ministry and registered 501(c)3. It operates with an all-volunteer force. If you need help, reach out. If you’d like to help (volunteer or donate), call or stop by. Center of Hope can be reached at 600 S. Washington Ave. in Livingston or at 936-327-7634.
In other club news, Rotarian Blair McDonald reminded everyone that Thursday was World Polio Day, which was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a polio vaccine.
“It is slowly but surely being eradicated. It is primarily in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a pocket on both sides of the border. However, it has been reported there are some new cases in Uganda,” McDonald said.
