Who knew how much our lives, finances, and communities would drastically

change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time of great worry and

uncertainty for us all, we sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are in

good health. Since HOPE formed in 1993, we've been here for our neighbors

struggling in poverty despite ever-changing economic conditions: through 9/11,

the 2008 economic crisis and now - an unprecedented global pandemic. Showing

up and buckling down during challenging times are no stranger to HOPE’s

mission and work.

We started changing things up around here at the beginning of March - taking

precautions, shifting our processes to maintain social distancing and making

sure our staff, volunteers and clients were safe.

We’ve shifted our housing work to involve the least amount of contact, such as:

a reduction of paperwork, meeting with clients over the phone, and suspending

office visits to emergency or appointment only.

Our Open Door Café quickly adapted its operations to a low – volunteer, to-go

only operation, and HOPE Packs has managed to turn out thousands of packs

despite a broken food supply chain and increased costs associated with grocery

store shelves found frequently empty.

Despite these challenges, we have continued to provide housing through shelter,

permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention to 60 households.

Since the beginning of March alone, we have served 2,360 meals at the Open

Door Café and sent over 5,000 HOPE Packs home with students at 18 schools in

Wythe and Bland counties to supplement school feeding programs.

We will continue to be here for our community’s most vulnerable, and we are

so glad you're on our team.

Inevitably, our efforts to keep up with changing needs mean unpredictable

strains on our resources, which is why now, more than ever, we are relying on

your support. Stay involved, volunteer if you're able, share information, and

support those in need during this time with a donation.

Andy Kegley, Executive Director

Jodie Huff, Deputy Director

Gail Hudler, Pre-Purchase Housing Counselor

Beth Horton, Lead Crisis Housing Counselor

Cris Shinault, Crisis Housing Counselor

Jordan Atwood, Housing Counselor /

Property Manager

Gary Slemp, Housing Solutions Coordinator

Kendall Bilbrey, Marketing and Outreach

Coordinator / Bookkeeping Assistant

Mike Pugh, Food Operations Lead

Jake Lewis, Café Manager

Rita Kelley, Assistant Café Manager

Ruphina Okeyo, Community Nutritionist

STAFF

NEWS WYTHE HOPEHOPE, Inc.'s Quarterly Newsletter: Spring 2020

Living HOPE Out Loud in the Times of COVID-19

Rachel Jones, Chair

Harvey Atkinson, Vice-chair

Jean Farley, Secretary

Misty Pack, Treasurer

Regina Alley, Carolyn Dankowski, Chris

DiYorio, Jody Fiorini, Carmen Gravely, Shane

Hiatt, Cindy Jarmul, Jeffrey Kyle, Krisin

Shumate, Cindy Stuart and Shelley Woods

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S

Helping Overcome Poverty's Existence, Inc. | 680 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 743 Wytheville, VA 24382

Phone: (276) 228-6280 | Fax: (276) 228-0508 | Email: hope@wythehope.org | Web: www.wythehope.org

HOPE serves the Counties of Wythe, Bland, Carroll,Grayson and Smyth and the City of Galax.

Photo courtesy of Susi Lawson

Food insecurity by definition is the state of being without

reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious

food.

More people now than ever are experiencing anxiety and

panic about whether they'll have enough food for their

families, or the risk of getting groceries to elderly loved ones;

all while facing job losses at rates never seen before in this

country. While many can still afford food, more and more are

facing immediate hunger in our community. Every day the

news changes about how COVID-19 has impacted our way of

living "normally".

Each day, HOPE Packs and the Open Door Caféhave worked diligently to say “Yes” to anyone

that has a need for food.

There have been tremendous challenges we have adapted to

along the way, thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers.

For example, HOPE Packs lost its main vendor used to fill

HOPE Packs, forcing our staff to search around the clock for

food at full retail to ensure that not one family would lack

what they needed. Despite this new challenge, HOPE Packs

numbers are steadily climbing as we're delivering each Friday

alongside the public school lunch deliveries.

The Café has faced its own set of shortages and challenges.

They have heroically fed every person in need with a small

powerhouse staff and volunteer group. This team has shifted

operations gracefully to to-go orders only, adapted to serve in

a way that protects our community, and still churning out

delicious food.

While the Open Door Café looks a lot like its predecessor, the

Community Food Kitchen for now, we know it won't be long

before we return to our core mission - building community

across a deliciously prepared, locally sourced meal.

To order a to-go meal, stop by or call (276) 227-0212.

We thank you, and invite you to stick with us,

because when #We’reInThisTogether,#EveryoneEatsWytheUs!

You may be wondering: how are these times different for our

clients? With corporations, small businesses and those with

moderate to high income taking massive economic hits, what

does that mean for those who have already been navigating

financial crises under "normal" circumstances? We know

that now, more than ever, it is extremely difficult for low-

income individuals to find and maintain work, secure safe

and habitable housing and provide food and healthcare to

their families.

As of mid-April, our housing programs provided shelter,

permanent supportive housing, rapid-rehousing and homeless

prevention services to 60 households with 6 households in

need of identifying rental units. Of these households, 12 are

in shelter thanks to our on-going shelter funds and a small

addition of new Federal CARES Act support that has already

been obligated. Our partners through the Wythe County

Ministerial Association have provided shelter for an

additional 8 households with their funds.

Additionally, our HUD certified housing counselors manage 4

rental properties, and have assisted 16 households in

homeownership, with one household utilizing a federal loan

program to finance repairs.

Additionally, all 33 of HOPE's rental units are occupied by

tenants on fixed income (receiving SSI or SSDI benefits) so

should not be impacted by the current economic crisis.

We'd like to give a special thanks to all of our Housing staff

who have sacrificed so much to continue to provide services

as an essential agency - especially to our Lead Crisis

Counselor Beth Horton who has sat at the front desk alone

re-routing clients and visitors, sanitizing public areas and

still balancing a full workload for the past several weeks.

If someone you know needs help, give us a call at

(276) 228-6280.

Fighting Viral HungerUpdates from HOPE Packs and the Open Door Café

THANKS FOR YOUR ESSENTIAL SUPPORTWhile HOPE is designated by the state as an essential agency, we know we wouldn't be able to continue to serve our clients without all the essential support our

donors and volunteers have given us now, and over the years. Whether you have received assistance from us during a hard time, donated it forward at the Open Door

Café, rode your bike in the Fast & Fiorini, or simply know someone that has - you have been a part of our story, and we thank you.

A Shelter in the StormUpdates from our Housing Programs

Call 276-228-6280 to speak with a Housing Counselor about available resources to meet your family's needs.

HOPE manages state and federal housing funds for those being evicted or experiencing homelessness.With most court activities

suspended until June, evictions are halted. As of mid-April, the Governor was seeking a longer extension of eviction suspensions

across the Commonwealth.

HOPE offers homeownership counseling and financing options with support from our HUD Certified Housing Counselors and

USDA Rural Development financing. For families on a fixed income, now is an opportune time to be thinking about

homeownership, with monthly payments more affordable than you may think.

Utilities Assistance

HOPE's Umbrella of Resources

Food

Housing

Stop by for a hot, healthy meal during the week between 11am and 2pm at the Open Door Café.

Check www.opendoorcafewytheville.org or our Facebook pages for the weekly to-go menu and updates on services.

If you have an elementary school student in Wythe or Bland County Public Schools, arrive at your child's assigned lunch pickup

/ bus stop and request your child's HOPE Pack.

Additionally, you can request a HOPE Pack at any time by calling or stopping by the Café.

Appalachian Power has temporarily suspended disconnects. According to their website, they have not determined when service

disconnects will resume.

Contact Mountain Community Action Program (Mt. CAP) if you need emergency assistance with utilities, help with filing your

taxes, or are in need of food assistance if you have children living in the home.

Mt. CAP's offices are temporarily closed and providing services by phone only at this time. For more information, please contact

the appropriate office or go to their website at: http://mountaincap.org/

o Smyth County: (276) 783-7337

o Wythe County: (276) 228-5231

o Bland County: (276) 688-3762

If you're uninsured or have Virginia Medicaid, call our friends at the Brock Hughes Medical Center in Wytheville for affordable

care at (276) 223 - 0558.

To learn more about their services and their latest updates regarding COVID-19, visit: https://brockhughesfreeclinic.org/

Feeling Unwell?

Like Us on Facebook/HOPEWythe

/opendoorcafewytheville

/HOPEPacksWytheBland

/HomesWytheHope

/FastandFioriniCentury

Follow Us onInstagram@wythehope

@opendoorcafe1

Support Us ThroughAmazon Smile

http://smile.amazon.com

/ch/54-1630342

Visit Us on the Webwww.wythehope.org

www.opendoorcafewytheville.org

www.bigwalkercharityride.com

Thank You for Your Generous First Quarter Donations : January - March, 20202020 Heroes of HOPE Donors

Individuals

Business / Corporate

Churches / Faith BasedOrganizations

Thank you to our recurring donorswho support HOPE’s sustainability

in our community.

Atkinson, Harvey and Barbara (HOPE)

Clyburn, Ed and Kelly (HOPE Packs)

Cox, Shirley (HOPE)

Faraci, Angelo and Brenda (HOPE

Packs)

French, Mary Ratliff (HOPE)

Haesler, Edna (ODC)

Herbert, Morgan (HOPE)

Kegley, Calder and Megan (HOPE in

Honor of Finley and Sawyer Kegley)

Kegley, Grace (HOPE)

Knack, Fredrick and Shirley (ODC)

Mount Mitchell United Methodist

Women (HOPE Packs)

New Bethel United Methodist Church

(HOPE Packs)

Pioneer Baptist Church (HOPE)

Robinette, Daniel and Betty (ODC)

Rogers, Linda (HOPE)

Romano, Samantha (ODC in Honor of

Mary Boenke)

Rural Retreat Pentecostal Holiness

Church Men’s Ministry (HOPE)

St. Mary's Catholic Church (HOPE

Packs)

Tobelmann, Jr., Philip (HOPE) *

West End United Methodist Church

(HOPE Packs)

Wright, Nathan and Jennifer (ODC)

Wytheville First Church of God (HOPE

Packs)

We are now able to set up recurring

donations straight from donor bank

accounts. If interested, give us a call and

we can send along the paperwork.

Allison, Gary (ODC)

Anders, Mitch and Mary (ODC)

Anonymous (HOPE, ODC)

Austin, Gerlinde (HOPE)

Barter Theater Senior Staff (F&F in Memory

of Ruth Bryant)

Brinkley, James and Wanda (ODC, HOPE

Packs)

Brogden, Bill and Linda (HOPE)

Brown, Chris and Norma (HOPE Packs in

Memory of Joyce DeWilde, F&F in

Memory of Ruth Bryant)

Bush, Gail (HOPE Packs in Memory of

David Bush)

Bybee, Carole (HOPE)

Campbell, Jackie (HOPE Packs in Honor of

Mike and Cheryl Pugh)

Cannella, Donna (HOPE)

Cantamessa, Mark and Nancy (HOPE)

Carroll, Dave and Robin (ODC)

Chapman, Eric and Aliya (HOPE, ODC)

Collins, Christopher and Hanna (HOPE

Packs)

Copenhaver, Alfred and Mary (HOPE

Packs in Memory of Joyce DeWilde)

Country Club Residents (ODC)

Dellinger, Paul and Maxine (ODC)

Deskins, Heather (F&F in Memory of

Ruth Bryant)

Dillon, Mark and Zella (HOPE)*

Early, James and Kay (HOPE Packs)

Elvetici, Nancy (HOPE Packs)

Evans, Tess (HOPE)

Farley, Jean (HOPE)

Ford, Bruce and Genie (HOPE in

Honor of Friends and Family)

Ford, Jim and Jackie (HOPE in

Memory of Doug Ford)

Gabbard, Christy (ODC)

Gordon-Lundy, Shirley (HOPE in

Memory of Ruth Bryant)

Hale, Joe and Patsy (HOPE)

Hartlage, James and Barbara (HOPE

Packs)

Hedrick, David and Regena (HOPE in

Memory of Josephine Hedrick)

Heldreth, Mimi (ODC)

Ireland, Ron (ODC)

Jarmul, Jack and Cindy (HOPE)

Johnson, John (HOPE, ODC)

Johnson, Lee (HOPE)

Johnson, Walter (HOPE)

Kegley, George (HOPE)

Kincer, Faye (ODC)

Kincer, J.B. (HOPE Packs)

King, Deb (ODC in Memory of Geneva

Poston)

Kyle, Jeffrey (HOPE)

Lawson, Sandra (HOPE)

Loope, David and Cynthia (HOPE in

Memory of Frisby Smith)

Mabry, Heather (ODC)

Martin, Nancy (F&F)

McCann, Erin (HOPE in Honor of

Carol Wolfe)

Melo, Tina (F&F in Memory of Ruth

Bryant)

Miley, Darryl (F&F)

Miller, Janice (HOPE Packs)

Mills, Peggy (HOPE)

Mitchell, Donald and Melinda (ODC)

Morris, Sharon (HOPE Packs in

Memory of Maude Cox)

Nelson, David and Teresa (HOPE)

Pattison, Donald and Cathy (HOPE)

Patton, Emily (HOPE)

Perry, Richard and Sharon (HOPE)

Perry-Strickland, Claudia (ODC)

Phillips, John and Linda (ODC, HOPE

Packs)

Price, Mildred (ODC)

Robert, Kelsey (ODC)

Rook, Flora (HOPE in Honor of Zona

Jones)

Rooker, Greg and Fran (HOPE)

Seile, Mike (F&F)

Smith, William and Farron (ODC)

Stanley, Sue (HOPE)

Starke, Diane (HOPE Packs)

Stephens, Alfred and Dianne (HOPE in

Honor of Our Eight Grandkids)

Stitt, Ryland (ODC)

Stuart, James and Cindy (HOPE)

Szogi, Ariel and Kimberly (HOPE)

Tate, Jack and Sue (HOPE)

Taylor, David and Beth (ODC)

Tenney, Frances (ODC)

Terry, Thomas and Bonnie (HOPE)

Thayer, Scott and Regina (ODC)

Thomas, Lonnie and Deitra (HOPE)

Thornton, John and Linda (HOPE in

Honor of Andy Kegley)

Townsend, Bruce and Patricia

(HOPE)

Udell, Lori (HOPE in Memory of

Charles Davis, ODC in Memory

of Dennis Reynolds)

Umberger, Regena (F&F in Memory

of Ruth Bryant)

Wheat, Jim and Susan (HOPE)

Willis, Jerry and Judy (HOPE)

Wolcott, Judith (HOPE)

Anders Evolution Salon (ODC)

Bankers Insurance, LLC (ODC)

Camrett Logistics, Inc. (HOPE)

David Martin Insurance Agency,

Inc. (F&F)

Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA

(F&F in Memory of Ruth

Bryant)

S & W Fertilizer Seed & Chemical

Co, Inc. (HOPE Packs)

Sabika, Inc. (ODC)

Somic America, Inc. (F&F in

Memory of Ruth Bryant)

Southwest Podiatry P.C. (F&F)

Thrivent Choice (HOPE)

Wythe County Community

Hospital (HOPE, ODC)

Xterior Plus (F&F)

Crockett’s Chapel United

Methodist Church (HOPE

Packs)

Fairview Methodist Church

(HOPE Packs)

Mt. Pleasant United Methodist

Church (ODC)

Petunia Christian Church (ODC,

HOPE Packs)

St. Paul United Methodist Church

(ODC, HOPE Packs)

Sunny Hills Church (HOPE Packs

in Honor of Steve Lester)

Wytheville Presbyterian Church

(ODC)

Wythe County Ministerial

Association (HOPE)

FoundationsAmazon Smile Foundation

(HOPE)

Goldman, Sach's & Co. Matching

Gift Program (HOPE) *

Newberry Family Charitable Fund

(HOPE)

State Farm Foundation (ODC,

HOPE Packs) *

Wythe-Bland Foundation (HOPE

Packs, Bookkeeping Program)

Government

Non-ProfitOrganizations

Bland County Economic

Development Authority (F&F)

Local Initiatives Support

Corporation (HOPE)

Federal Emergency Management

Agency

United States Department of

Agriculture (ODC)

United States Department of

Housing and Urban

Development (HOPE)

Virginia Department of Housing

and Community Development

(HOPE)

Virginia Housing Development

Authority (HOPE)

Wythe County Commonwealth's

Attorney's Office (HOPE Packs

in Memory of Hayden Horney)

Alpha Delta Kappa (HOPE Packs)

Bland Industrial Employees

Benevolent Association (ODC

in Memory of Joyce De Wilde)

Girl Scouts (HOPE Packs)

United Way of Wythe County,

Inc. (HOPE)

Women of the Moose #2345

(HOPE Packs)

Wytheville Moose Lodge #394

(F&F)

Wytheville Rotary Club (ODC)

Starlight Custom Apparel (In-

Kind Sponsor)

Virginia Housing Development

Authority (Title Sponsor)

Wythe Sheet Metal, Inc.

Sponsors:Fast & Fiorini

Bike Ride

* = Corporate Match

HOPE = General Operating

/ Unrestricted Funds

ODC = Open Door Café

F&F = Donation to Fast and

Fiorini Memorial Bike

Ride (Sponsorships are

listed separately, not tax-

deductible)

HOPE providestools to buildcommunity

sustainabilityand

independence.

Key