Last Saturday, the Martinsville Walk, conducted by the Henry County Baptist Association, was a big success raising nearly $12,000!
This year, for the first time, the walk was held at the Horne Home; the HopeTree DDM home in Martinsville for persons with intellectual disabilities. Supporters met at the Home and walked in the surrounding neighborhood. Afterwards they toured the Horne Home and were given a first-hand experience of the vital mission that they are supporting.
Some passers-by even stopped to inquire about the event and make a donation.
HopeTree would like to thank the Henry County Baptist Association and everyone that supported the walk. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Big Weekend!
Last Friday was the opening ceremony of the new HopeTree Academy. A large crowd gathered around as Dr. Richerson welcomed everyone and asked for a moment of silence to remember the victims of 9/11.
Keynote speaker Rev. George Fletcher III spoke about the history of HopeTree and the powerful impact it has had on so many children's lives since its opening in 1890. Afterwards, Dr. Ector Hamrick lead a dedication prayer for the new school.
Education Director Dr. Tommy Barber introduced two residents of HopeTree Academy, Thor and Shaleigh, who helped to cut the ribbon, thus marking the official opening of the HopeTree Academy. For pictures, visit our facebook page.
On Saturday, HopeTree supporters came out to Stockton Memorial Baptist Church for the Chester-area Walk-A-Thon. We couldn't have asked for better weather and a good time was had by all. Our area residents and at least four churches participated in pick 'em ducks, guessing how many M&M's were in a jar, and getting their faces painted.
HopeTree was represented by President and Executive Director Dr. Richerson, Board Members Ron Eason and John Mizell, and many staff and residents. Area Churches that were represented included Stockton Memorial Baptist Church, Tomahawk Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, and Elkhardt Baptist Church. Together we raised over $2,000 with our biggest rundraiser being one of our own DDM residents.
Stockton memorial has recently become active with HopeTree and were wonderful hosts. Discussions have already begun about doing our walk at their church again next year. Look for pictures to be posted on our facebook page in the near future.
Keynote speaker Rev. George Fletcher III spoke about the history of HopeTree and the powerful impact it has had on so many children's lives since its opening in 1890. Afterwards, Dr. Ector Hamrick lead a dedication prayer for the new school.
Education Director Dr. Tommy Barber introduced two residents of HopeTree Academy, Thor and Shaleigh, who helped to cut the ribbon, thus marking the official opening of the HopeTree Academy. For pictures, visit our facebook page.
On Saturday, HopeTree supporters came out to Stockton Memorial Baptist Church for the Chester-area Walk-A-Thon. We couldn't have asked for better weather and a good time was had by all. Our area residents and at least four churches participated in pick 'em ducks, guessing how many M&M's were in a jar, and getting their faces painted.
HopeTree was represented by President and Executive Director Dr. Richerson, Board Members Ron Eason and John Mizell, and many staff and residents. Area Churches that were represented included Stockton Memorial Baptist Church, Tomahawk Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, and Elkhardt Baptist Church. Together we raised over $2,000 with our biggest rundraiser being one of our own DDM residents.
Stockton memorial has recently become active with HopeTree and were wonderful hosts. Discussions have already begun about doing our walk at their church again next year. Look for pictures to be posted on our facebook page in the near future.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
This is who we are. This is what we do.
Imagine for a moment that everything you depend on for your sense of security, for your identity as a person, is gone. You no longer have a home. You no longer have access to your family. You have no clear idea where your next meal is coming from.
Now imagine you are twelve years old.
That's a terrifying situation to be in. For all too many young people today, this is not an exercise in imagination. It's their reality. Whether they have been emotionally exiled by their parents, removed from their home due to their own misbehavior or their parents' illegal acts, at heart, they remain youngsters who need shelter, food, love, and guidance.
We give them those things, and so much more. We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
Picture yourself as your child is being born. Indescribable joy streams from your heart as you hear that first gasp of breath and heralding cry as your newborn boy or girl comes forth into a new existence. In a timeless moment, you celebrate the patient waiting of nine months and you anticipate all the glorious achievements you know your child will experience and accomplish in their long, full, rich life.
Then you discover your child has an intellectual disability. Sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually, the nature of those glorious achievements change. Some may be reached, but in a far longer time frame than you imagined. Some may never be accomplished. In virtually all of them, you will need help.
We can give you that help. We can help your son or daughter with intellectual disabilities achieve everything they are capable of achieving. We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
HopeTree Family Services has provided aid to children and youth since 1890. We began our mission as an orphanage. As the years passed and societies needs changed, we adjusted our programs and adapted our facilities and continued meeting the needs of those who came to us for care. We now offer residential services, academic and vocational programs, counseling, and foster care. Our main campus is located in Salem, VA, with other facilities located in Craig County, Henry County, and Chester, VA.
In 1992, we began a new ministry to a segment of Virginia's population that had long been under-served; adults with intellectual disabilities. We started a state-wide ministry to these adults and their families and it has grown steadily ever since. We have 16 group homes for adults spanning Virginia from Abingdon to Virginia Beach. Each home houses 4-6 individuals. Many provide respite or in-home care for others in the surrounding community.
There many facts and figures we can provide about the quantity of people we care for each year. We can offer numerical guides summarizing the total cost of our programs and the impact they have. But those are merely cold numbers that utterly fail to communicate the actual power our ministry has to transform lives.
Children and youth come here angry, lost, sullen, and hopeless. With time and care, we sooth their anger, help them find themselves and a proper path in life, and show them they do have hope for the future. Our academic and vocational offerings are second to none. Our personalized levels of care treat each person as a person, not a number or statistic or just another case.
What we offer most of all is quality. Our quality of care is unmatched, regardless of the program or facility. HopeTree Family Services sees our work as a true mission. We care for each person in our care as thought they were our own, whether a foster child in Richmond, an adult with Down Syndrome in Abingdon, or a teenager enrolled in our day school in Salem. We care for each and every person who crosses our threshold from the challenges of their homelife to the hope we offer them for a better future.
We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
Now imagine you are twelve years old.
That's a terrifying situation to be in. For all too many young people today, this is not an exercise in imagination. It's their reality. Whether they have been emotionally exiled by their parents, removed from their home due to their own misbehavior or their parents' illegal acts, at heart, they remain youngsters who need shelter, food, love, and guidance.
We give them those things, and so much more. We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
Picture yourself as your child is being born. Indescribable joy streams from your heart as you hear that first gasp of breath and heralding cry as your newborn boy or girl comes forth into a new existence. In a timeless moment, you celebrate the patient waiting of nine months and you anticipate all the glorious achievements you know your child will experience and accomplish in their long, full, rich life.
Then you discover your child has an intellectual disability. Sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually, the nature of those glorious achievements change. Some may be reached, but in a far longer time frame than you imagined. Some may never be accomplished. In virtually all of them, you will need help.
We can give you that help. We can help your son or daughter with intellectual disabilities achieve everything they are capable of achieving. We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
HopeTree Family Services has provided aid to children and youth since 1890. We began our mission as an orphanage. As the years passed and societies needs changed, we adjusted our programs and adapted our facilities and continued meeting the needs of those who came to us for care. We now offer residential services, academic and vocational programs, counseling, and foster care. Our main campus is located in Salem, VA, with other facilities located in Craig County, Henry County, and Chester, VA.
In 1992, we began a new ministry to a segment of Virginia's population that had long been under-served; adults with intellectual disabilities. We started a state-wide ministry to these adults and their families and it has grown steadily ever since. We have 16 group homes for adults spanning Virginia from Abingdon to Virginia Beach. Each home houses 4-6 individuals. Many provide respite or in-home care for others in the surrounding community.
There many facts and figures we can provide about the quantity of people we care for each year. We can offer numerical guides summarizing the total cost of our programs and the impact they have. But those are merely cold numbers that utterly fail to communicate the actual power our ministry has to transform lives.
Children and youth come here angry, lost, sullen, and hopeless. With time and care, we sooth their anger, help them find themselves and a proper path in life, and show them they do have hope for the future. Our academic and vocational offerings are second to none. Our personalized levels of care treat each person as a person, not a number or statistic or just another case.
What we offer most of all is quality. Our quality of care is unmatched, regardless of the program or facility. HopeTree Family Services sees our work as a true mission. We care for each person in our care as thought they were our own, whether a foster child in Richmond, an adult with Down Syndrome in Abingdon, or a teenager enrolled in our day school in Salem. We care for each and every person who crosses our threshold from the challenges of their homelife to the hope we offer them for a better future.
We are HopeTree Family Services. This is what we do.
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