Hope House Closer To Construction Goal With Monetary Gift

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A monetary gift from Hannaford's Supermarkets will help further the mission of The Hope House. The $5,000 donation presented to the organization that feeds about 8,000 people a month in Utica, puts it closer to its goal of building a new facility to better serve the needy. Today, according to Caitlin Merrill, Public Relations Specialist for Ed Lewi Associates, the donation puts the group at the financial half way point for the construction project projected to cost close to $1 million.

District Manager for Hannaford's, Vic Peteani said the new facility will be built behind the current one on Eagle street. "Hope House is expanding, unfortunately they're expanding for reasons that we would rather not be contributing to and that's because of the economy and dire straights that families are in these days," he said. Peteani says the group has gotten to a point that its current facility can not adequately handle the large number of people being served.

Hope House Executive Director, Margaret Ward said, "All of us at Hope House greatly appreciate the continued support of the Hannaford Charitable Foundation. This contribution will have a large impact on the people we serve. It is this type of partnership and Hannaford's dedication and commitment to fighting hunger that allows our organization to accomplish its goals."

Peteani said in addition to the monetary donation today,  Hannaford's donates food products to Hope House twice every week. "It's very, very important for us because we also live in the area and we have associates in the area and we certainly can not thrive unless the communities thrive. Part of our strategy is to stave off hunger in all the communities that we operate. So, through our cash donations and through our product donations, every where we operate, we try to assist where we can in our local communities," he said.

Hope House Board Member and Chair of the fundraising committee, Pastor Kirk A. Hudson says the donation is another big push towards the organizations goal. He said, "Look at what our local people and businesses are doing--to me it's a big boosts and I know it will pay benefits. Their gift of $5,000 is wonderful. We're going to have a building that people my age are going to be able to get around in."

Pastor Hudson says the organization is always looking for food donations to help feed those in need. He says any food items including paper plates and plastic utensils are always welcomed and needed. For more information about the Hope House and ways to donate go to www.hopehouseutica.com

or contact them at (315) 793-3723.