Organizations have a life cycle. Just like human life, organizations are conceived, grow and reach maturity. Hope Full Life Center just completed its third year in operation so we’re still a youngster with big plans for the future. Here are some highlights of our accomplishments in 2015:
What is Hope Full Life Center?
Hope Full Life Center (HFLC) assists the needy in Ravena, southern Albany County and around the world through aid programs and economic development initiatives.
HFLC is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit corporation founded in 2012.
HFLC oversees Helping Harvest, Gracefully Chic Boutique, Peace of Home, Cross Culture Market and the Linda Civill Community Garden.
Mission Statement: Hope Full Life Center empowers people. Activated by compassion, our multi-faceted outreach provides a helping hand, not a hand-out, to improve life for our neighbors.
2015 Program Achievements
Helping Harvest sent home approximately $170,000 worth of groceries with low-income families in the area.
The food assistance program served nearly 1,000 people in our community.
When we had an over abundance of food we shared it with the Ravena Senior Projects, Teen Challenge, the Capital City Rescue Mission and other area food programs.
The Linda Civill Community Garden produced more vegetables than 2014.
Gracefully Chic Boutique sold more than 12,000 articles of clothing.
We accepted more than 3,000 pounds of clothing, shoes and accessories.
We accepted the equivalent of 48 truck loads of donated furniture and housewares, keeping it out of landfills.
Together, Peace of Home and Gracefully Chic Boutique:
Assisted 25 area families with emergency needs.
Sowed into the Salvation Army, Capital City Rescue Mission, Grace United Methodist’s Book Nook, and Jezreel with its overflow.
Helped to support 21 ministry and humanitarian organization partners through the sale of handmade crafts in our Ravena shop in Faith Plaza, at fairs and festivals, and online.
crossculturemarket.org sales were four times larger in 2015 than the previous year.
Other 2015 Accomplishments
Events
HFLC hosted a charity fashion show. Contestant’s represented area charities. We raised nearly $650, which we forwarded on to the charities.
We sold produce for an area farmer at the Ravena Farmer’s Market in July, August and September. We kept the excess produce for Helping Harvest.
HLFC hosted our third Harvest Fest in October, which drew several hundred people.
Helped to organize a spring Fair Trade event featuring Cross Culture Market in Albany. Participated in five other Christian or Fair Trade events throughout the year.
Infrastructure
Invested in used store shelving and news signs (on the road, on an awning over the store and window graphics) for Gracefully Chic Boutique and Peace of Home, which resulted in sales growth.
Launched a new website for Cross Culture Market, www.crossculturemarket.org.
Thanks to the help of a generous donor, a new rollup door was installed so we could more easily receive food deliveries. We were lucky enough to have this area paved too.
Purchased used shopping carts for Helping Harvest.
Grants and donations
HFLC received grant money from The Bank of Greene County, Stewart’s and Walmart. We also received donations from SABIC, the Port of Coeymans and P&M Brick.
With the help of our e-commerce consultant we secured a large monthly grant for Cross Culture Market for free online advertising.
Impact
Hope Full Life Center is proud to serve our community and play a role in fighting poverty here and abroad. In return we receive thanks from the widow who shops at Helping Harvest for low-cost food. We get hugs from a fire victim when we provide clothing and housewares from Peace of Home. We see relief when a mom finds like-new $5 winter coats for her kids at Gracefully Chic Boutique. We know people in faraway countries keep their jobs thanks to Cross Culture Market’s orders. We are anxious to grow our programs in new and exciting ways in 2016. Stay tuned!