Partners for HOPE Sets Annual Chili Supper for November

HOPE Neighborhood Garden

Members of the HOPE Coalition decided on Friday, November 18^th as the date for their 5^th Annual Chili Supper, now an yearly fund-raising tradition at the HOPE Center Lincoln School.  There was considerable discussion to find a non-conflicting date with other local activities and the November date is the best available on the calendar.  Although this has been a fundraising effort through admission and a silent auction, members decided to provide no-cost invitations to the students and for their families and accept donations at the door from all who attend.  Lori Hammer, HOPE Executive Director, said there may be a type of potluck for desserts to accompany the meal and those details will be ironed out in the near future.  The supper begins at 5:30pm at Lincoln School and the silent auction will take place at the same time as the meal.

Anita Zavala said 40 students from the Young HOPE group were given the opportunity to write out their career choices and what led them to make those decisions. She said there were a lot of selections among the boys to become a professional athlete, but other professionals included nursing and architecture.  She said the goal was to allow them to aim high and speak to people in positions of trust about the means to realize their goals.  Zavala said the One Step Up students had the opportunity to enjoy several tours of the region with the visit to John Martin Dam as a recent highlight.  “Jill Smith, a former teacher at McClave School, iscussed the best way to photograph wildlife and view nature through their interests in photography,” she explained.  Other visits have included the birding viewpoints behind Lamar Community College, the hiking trail at Bent’s Old Fort as well as trips to North Gateway Park and Northside Park.

Both Hammer and Zavala offered praised for the commitment made to Partners for HOPE by the LCC Softball team. Hammer said the young women have found the time so far this season to take part in some of the Center’s activities as well as volunteer their time at the Helping Hands clothing distribution center at Lincoln School.  Some HOPE student also took advantage of the free shoes donation last Friday, October 14^th at J & N Shoes, sponsored through the fundraising efforts of Share the Spirit, directed by Karen Voepel.

By Russ Baldwin