In times of hardship, Mission of Hope has the next meal and much more
A gift of food to those who need it is often the beginning of Mission of Hope's contact with the people in its community, but its impact on people's lives goes deeper than that, says Director Lori Abercrombie. (Alabama Power Foundation)
Editor’s note: Each Monday, Alabama NewsCenter is highlighting stories from the Alabama Power Foundation‘s annual report. Each story spotlights an organization or initiative the foundation supported in 2019.
Mission of Hope, which lives its name to the fullest, runs on determination and caring – and with volunteers from groups like the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) and resources from the Alabama Power Foundation.
Twice a month the nonprofit in Dora opens its doors to provide bags of food, inspirational and informational speakers, clothes and all manner of support to people who are living below the poverty line. Between the food giveaway days, Director Lori Abercrombie, her staff and the volunteers respond to many needs in a community where needs arise constantly.
“Every day is a new day of need, especially in Walker County, where many people have no idea where to find their next meal,” said Abercrombie. “Extend that over the Jefferson County line into Graysville and Adamsville and the need grows even stronger.”
Alabama, ranked as the second-highest food hardship state in the nation, sees an acute need. Mission of Hope responds.
Abercrombie explains with a story. “You’re sitting at the breakfast table, sipping your coffee, and the phone rings,” she said. “You’re told your daughter has made a bad choice and because of that bad choice, you must take her children because she’s going to prison for a long time. You were just going about your day and now you’re getting grandchildren to put in school, to clothe and to feed.
“You need help. And you’ve never asked for help before.”
That’s just one scenario in Mission of Hope’s outreach to the sick, the temporarily unemployed, the lost-in-system people and the well-meaning grandparents and great-grandparents.
[vimeo 446464841 w=640 h=337]Alabama Power Foundation, APSO volunteers get behind Walker County’s Mission of Hope from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Two times each month, qualified clients come to receive food bags and choose garments in the Clothes Closet. But before each food and clothing giveaway, the Mission of Hope ensures clients receive tools they need to create better outcomes in their lives.
Perhaps a puppet show for the kids. Someone from the Housing Authority talking about housing options. Or a speaker helping hone job-finding skills. Meanwhile, volunteers deliver food to clients’ cars, or tend to the Clothes Closet where donations have been carefully cultivated to suit all needs, from everyday life to job interviews.
Mission of Hope’s volunteers are a crucial part of the services the nonprofit provides to people in need in its community. (Alabama Power Foundation)
“I got emotional the first time I volunteered,” said Kevin Chappell, president of APSO’s Plant Miller Chapter. “I didn’t realize the poverty level was so high close to the plant where we work. Alabama Power takes care of all of us employees so well, then seeing the need in the community is shocking. We need to help, and so many of us do.
“When I was growing up, we had people helping my family, though I didn’t know it at the time,” Chappell said. “Now I’ve got the opportunity to do the same for others, and that’s a driving force.”
APSO volunteers often head to Mission of Hope on their off days to fulfill other client needs, like preparing for the Christmas Giveaway (that provides a new coat, shoes, toys and a Santa chat). They may stock the mobile library, which Miller APSO provided.
“APSO volunteers have so much management support, which allows us to be available. If there’s a need, we will volunteer even when we’re on the clock. Our managers tell us, ‘Take the time, go help,’ because Alabama Power feels so strongly about serving the community,” Chappell said.
All 10 APSO chapters around the state, made up of Alabama Power employees, spouses and children, have a heart for service. “When Lori calls us and says they’re running low on food, we can respond,” said Chappell.
Sometimes life doesn’t fit into a twice-a-month schedule. The Alabama Power Foundation funding is also there if a house burns, leaving a family without shelter; or if, as happened just last year, a couple unexpectedly inherits grandchildren on Christmas Eve and has no toys or children’s clothes. Another pressing need arose when a Mission client, having worked her way through nursing school, couldn’t afford the uniform for her first job. Or the man whose broken car prevented him from getting to work. Thanks to Mission contacts, a uniform was provided and the car was quickly repaired.
“Those people had jobs,” said Abercrombie, “but so many young people have no idea how to fill out a job application or what to say at an interview, so we counsel those needs, too.”
The Alabama Power Foundation recently awarded Mission of Hope an Elevate grant, which is known to many organizations as a “game-changer.” In the Mission’s case, the grant supports an unimaginable need – how to quickly and effectively prepare for the possibility of an active shooter on the premises. Touching on all foundation focus areas, the Elevate grant enables Mission of Hope to stand strong and ready.
“Through this powerful grant, which was created to address pressing needs, we are able to train volunteers, install monitors on the parking lot and throughout our facility, and buy radios so we can all communicate if we lock down the building,” Abercrombie said. “In this day and time, we must think about that scenario. We are extremely grateful for this necessary assistance to face today’s world.”
Taking care of people – feeding, clothing, befriending and protecting them – is what the Mission of Hope is about. “We are treating a community that’s suffering,” Abercrombie said. “And we tell our volunteers that we never know when one of us might stand on the other side of the door.”
Thanks to the determination of the Mission of Hope and APSO volunteers, that door will be open.
