Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Saint Anne Hope Ministries has been able to support those in need thanks to its cadre of supportive volunteers.
Saint Anne Hope Ministries provides food, housing, medical, transportation and/or utility support to Barrington-area neighbors in need. Funded by its House of Hope Resale Shop located in Lake Zurich, the ministry succeeds because of the hundreds of volunteers willing to commit their time and talent at the store and at the Project Hope food pantry.
In the first six months of the Saint Anne Hope Ministriesʹ fiscal year (July-Dec.), nearly 15,000 people were assisted by the Project Hope ministry. While the number represents duplicated individuals served month over month, there is still a nearly 60% increase over people served last year at the same time. And the pandemic has a lot to do with the increase in numbers and added assistance.
In addition to its Project Hope Food Pantry located at 320 Franklin St, Barrington, the ministry also supports a mobile food pantry for families living within School Districts 220 and 300 in Carpentersville. Because there were so many impacted by the pandemic, the criteria for people able to access the mobile food pantry was relaxed. Typically, clients go through an intake process. But because so many of the people are hourly employees, if they came and said they needed food, they were served. We saw a 36% increase in people needing assistance since last year at the same time.
The ministry also learned that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the Palatine’s Little Sisters of the Poor’s St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly. Food supplies were limited at the home since weeks prior to the state shutdown, but once Chicago closed down, food availability was practically nonexistent. That left the home scrambling to feed their 90 elderly clients and 20 resident nuns. Saint Anne Hope Ministries began supporting the home with dinners from local restaurants, and to date, the ministry has supported the home for more than year with weekly Wednesday night dinners. (see Sr. Margaret Charles letter)
Covid-19 also had an impact at the House of Hope Resale Shop, the funding arm of the ministry. Between July-December, the store was able to open at only 25% capacity. State regulation and Archdiocese rules have allowed the store to be reopened at 50% capacity and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to reopen soon at full capacity.
While the ministry has been operating at a deficit, it has been able to cover expenses and still support those in need. This is only because of the dedication of the ministry’s incredible volunteer base. Without our volunteer commitment, Saint Anne Hope Ministries would not have been as successful as it has been throughout this pandemic.
Thank you all for your on-going support.