Hope Ministries Provides Tools for Teaching Compassion to Children & Students of All Ages

IN HER OWN WORDS “Hi I'm Sarah Dean.  I am a 7th grade student at Des Moines Christian School.  As part of my accelerated Program at DMC, I had the privilege of organizing a service project.  I chose Hope Ministries’ Family Center because I wanted to do something that would benefit children in the Des Moines Area.  I chose to have a book and movie drive, as I feel that all children deserve an opportunity to excel academically.  I was able to collect 190 books and 54 movies. I would like to present these books and movies to Hope Family Center. Thank you Hope Family Center for all you do for the children of Des Moines and the surrounding area.  We appreciate your ministry.”

HER PRESENTATION AT THE 4TH ANNUAL HEARTS FOR HOPE WOMEN’S TEA, MAY 2007 – PICTURED WITH SARAH IS ELIZABETH SPRAGG – DIRECTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRIES.

THIS YOUTH GROUP PARTICIPATED ON A SERVICE & MISSION TEAM IN MAY 2007.  THEY WORKED FOR TWO HOURS AT OUR HOPE BARGAIN CENTER ON A SATURDAY, EAT AT HOPE CAFÉ, HEARD A PRESENTATION ON HOMELESSNESS, TOURED OUR BETHEL MISSION FACILITY AND DELIVERED FOOD AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEVERAL HOMELESS TENT CAMPS.  HER THEY ARE STANDING IN THE CENTER OF ONE OF THE CAMPS.

Hope Ministries encourages parents and educators to teach children of all ages compassion for the poor and homeless.

There’s no better time than now to begin incorporating lessons of compassion for the homeless into curriculums.  Many students must complete community service requirements and school-aged children who volunteer and learn effective and compassionate responses to homelessness today often continue their involvement as adults.

For instance, we invite classes and service groups to coordinate Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat in October where kids can trick or treat for nonperishable food items or collect food at school for our shelter and community meal programs, which serve an average 300 meals each day.

Members of the youth group from New Life Church in Pleasant Hill sponsored a donation drive called TREASURES FOR HOPE—a scavenger hunt, going door to door collecting items for Hope Bargain Center.

Other activities include: a Scavenger Hunt for healthcare items; Undie Sunday/Undie Monday, a collection of kids underwear and socks; and Together We Can, a collection cans and bottles where the funds can go toward our meal programs.

When they schedule a time to bring in their collection, they can take a tour and see how a homeless shelter operates or have us come to the school to discuss homelessness in the classroom or at an assembly.

St. Theresa School toured Hope Ministries’ Bethel Mission facility.  Each student brought a package of toilet paper for Hope Family Center.  A total of 336 rolls were collected.  We thank God for their generous spirit!

• Sponsor one of our several Donation Drives

We Care Kits
Have a Heart for the Homeless
Used Bible Collection
Rise and Shine
Hope Box
Giving Hope Garage Sale
T.P. Drive!
Great Scrub Up
Together We Can!
Suits for Soup
Medicine Chest
Undie Sunday or Monday
Hope Totes
H.U.G.S. (hats, underwear, gloves, socks)
The Great Coverup
Harvest of Hope
TOTSOCE (Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat)
Thanks for Giving – Holiday Food Drive
Head to Toe
Turkey Drive
Scan Away Hunger
Ham It Up

• Schedule a tour of our facilities.

• Schedule an assembly speaker from Hope Ministries.

• Become a part of HOPES HELPERS and receive our e-mail urgent needs list monthly.

For additional information, CLICK HERE or contact our office at info@hopeiowa.org or call (515) 265-7272.

A Teachable Moment
Parents can teach their children how to reach out to those in need.  Picture here is Tonya (mom) and Sierra (age 8).  Mom suggested the idea of forgoing presents for Sierra’s 8th birthday.  Instead, Sierra invited her friends to bring money to support Hope Ministries. They collected over $200 and purchased items needed at Hope Family Center including 10 WE CARE KITS complete with a variety of hygiene items, 3 mega boxes of laundry detergent and 4 Veggie Tales movies.  Tonya and Sierra made arrangements with the Community Relations Office to bring their donations to Hope Family Center.

Sierra (age 9) repeated her act of kindness for her 2008 birthday.  This year she once again asked friends and family to contribute money instead of gifts. Then she and her mom (Tonya) called to ask what our Family Center needed. They purchased and delivered 756 diapers, 2,304 baby wipes and three Desitin containers. Here pictured (left to right) Elizabeth-director of family ministries, Chrissy, case manager, Sierra and Tonya..

The youth group from Asbury United Methodist Church in Webster City conducted a paper drive for Hope Family Center.  Their donation helps us to stretch our operating budget and enables us to direct dollars to other areas of need.  This group also volunteered for 3 hours at our Community Outreach Center located in the Hope Bargain Center.

Two youth groups combine on a SERVICE AND MISSION DAY delivering bags of food.


Zion Lutheran Church youth and adult sponsors volunteer at our Hope Bargain Center on a Wednesday night sorting donations.


Local youth group volunteering at our Hope Bargain Center and SERVICE AND MISSION DAY.