The latest from Hope for Kids!

So much is happening here at Hope for Kids! Between finalizing plans for summer ministry, finishing out our six-week teens and kids programs, and moving our office from Hampden to our new building in Indian Orchard, our days have been packed. We are so excited to see all that God has planned for these next few months. Please keep our team in your prayers as we wait on Him! 

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Volunteer Shoutout: Hannah

This week's #HFKvolunteers shoutout goes to Hannah Person, one of our Impact Clubs Training graduates! At this month's Club Hope event last Saturday, she stepped up and did a great job keeping track of the kids in her group throughout the day. It's been awesome getting to see her growing as a leader and building relationships with these kids. Thank you for all you do, Hannah! The Hope for Kids family would not be the same without you.

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Get involved!

One of the best ways to connect with kids in Springfield is bringing them to a HFK church service or after school event. Once you bring the kids to an event, you will have an awesome opportunity to spend time with them and build relationships as they participate in our planned programming. Please let us know if you are interested in being a part of our transportation team and a Hope for Kids staff member will help you schedule pick up and drop off with a family.

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#HFKmoments

"I want to be a teacher when I grow up. Teachers help you know what to do. I like my teachers."

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"No word from God will ever fail." - Luke 1:37

The Hope for Kids Den

Hope for Kids has been given an incredible gift. Although we have been dreaming that God would make it possible for us to open a building a few years down the road, He has opened the door for Hope for Kids to have our very own building this year. 

A few weeks ago, The Lion's Den, a ministry based out of Indian Orchard in Springfield, contacted Pastor Matt and asked for a meeting. This seemed completely out of the blue, but God had a plan! The Lion's Den has had a presence in the Springfield area for almost twenty years, accomplishing a mission similar to ours as they reached children with the Gospel and built relationships with the kids who were a part of their programs. Now, many of their kids have "aged out" of the Lion's Den's target age group and a lot of their volunteers have moved on. They were ready to pass on their mission, building, supporters, and community connections to a ministry that could pick up where they left off: and they called Hope for Kids.

This new building in the Indian Orchard area brings so many new opportunities for our ministry. God opened this door in His perfect timing and we cannot wait to flood this building with kids who are ready to hear about Him! Please be praying for our team as we begin renovating this building and work through the details of exactly how God would have us use this space. We are so grateful for this incredible gift. 

An incredible opportunity!

Dear Hope for Kids partners,

Some of you may have heard a radio spot announcing that a Springfield Pride gas station will be donating a $50,000 gift to a children's charity as a result of the earnings acquired from selling the winning lottery ticket! This has potential to be an incredible opportunity for Hope for Kids.

Not only is our ministry a perfect fit for this gift as a children's charity serving the city, but Hope for Kids actually began at the Econo Lodge hotel that once existed in Chicopee, directly next door to the Pride Gas Station on Burnett Road! In December of 2013, the discovery at this Econo Lodge that there were families who were homeless and living in hotels across Greater Springfield was what moved Matt's heart to take action. Needless to say, the city of Springfield, and especially this specific area, has a special place in our hearts as we work to bring help and hope to these families and their children.

The Pride Station has been accepting applications from charities, and Pastor Matt has already written the "official" letter. He was even privileged to speak on the phone with the CEO's assistant and explained the story of Hope for Kids. Pride will be announcing the winner(s) of this gift in just two weeks!

We desire your help! If you have a heart for the work of Hope for Kids, will you recommend our charity? Click here to visit the Pride website and submit a brief write-up about why Hope for Kids should receive this gift!

Stay tuned for a live broadcast tomorrow morning on our Facebook page! We will be announcing this need for recommendations--please like and share this video, and pray for God's will to be done! Thank you!