Hope in Action helps needy

HOPE – Hope in Action #1, located at 606 W. Third in Hope.  Mae Dulaney, is the Hope in Action director. Support for Hope-In-Action is wide-spread throughout the community, with local churches sponsoring food drives several times a year to help stock the food pantry as well as helping monetarily with funds from special offerings throughout the year

Dulaney has worked tirelessly at Hope in Action for more than 18 years full time.  Prior to that she worked with Mary Lou Downs who was the director.  Wife of a pastor, Dulaney brings her quiet, but considerable faith, to her work at Hope in Action. 

            Proverbs 19:17 ESV Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Dulaney, with only one volunteer who is with her one day a week, provides food for an average of 275 families a month totaling more than 600 people.  This is not an easy task, as she separates donated food, stocks the pantry, and makes up grocery bags that will be given to single persons as well as families, of 2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and more than 8.  When food gets low, she also goes to the grocery store to purchase food on an emergency basis, and calls people who have told her that if Hope in Action needs any food to give them a call.  Without United Way funding, keeping the food pantry well-stocked would be a much harder task. 

This year, through a grant from Blue and You, a walk-in refrigerator has been installed at Hope in Action which enables the pantry to give more perishable foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables as well as milk and eggs to the clients.

In addition to the food pantry which is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am until 4 pm, pictured above are four apartments at Hope-in-Action that are managed by Dulaney.  These apartments are not temporary but permanent supportive housing intended to help residents become completely independent.  Apartment residents pay rent according to their income, and the rent is very reasonable.  Residents must be employed or have a verifiable income.  In addition, residents agree to comply with a set of rules which include: no alcohol or drug use, no smoking in apartments, no animals nor any visitors.

Dulaney’s work at Hope in Action is truly a labor of love.  Civic, service and educational organizations are welcome to contact Dulaney to schedule a food drive for Hope in Action.  Dulaney is grateful for United Way as it keeps the money that people in Hempstead County donated within the county to help with programs like that offered at Hope in Action.  With everyone’s help, Hope in Action will continue to provide for the hungry in Hempstead County.