HOPE FAMILY SERVICES ANNOUNCES GENEROUS GIFT FROM BISHOP-PARKER FOUNDATION
BRADENTON, FL, December 20, 2024 – HOPE Family Services (HOPE), is pleased to announce receipt of a very generous grant from Bishop-Parker Foundation to assist with feeding victims and survivors of domestic violence who are staying in HOPE’s Emergency Safe Shelter.
HOPE is Manatee County’s State-certified domestic violence service agency and operates a continuum of programs including the Emergency Safe Shelter where survivors may stay for up to 8 weeks. HOPE’s Emergency Safe Shelter is a 35-bed shelter.
“The Bishop-Parker grant couldn’t be timelier,” said CEO Char Young. “The double digit increase in the cost of food in concert with the additional bed nights has made feeding individuals a challenge. Can you imagine how discouraging it would be to limit meals for our residents and their children?”
Given the current economic stressors on HOPE’s already stressed families, individuals are staying in the Emergency Safe Shelter longer. HOPE’s ‘head count’ has increased some over the past two fiscal years (ending June 2024) but the length of stay increased 9% which translates to an additional 546 bed nights. It takes people more time to find an affordable residence, gather more savings to have enough to move, and more time to craft a strong safety plan for starting over when their abusive person is trying to locate them.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to Bishop-Parker Foundation.
About HOPE Family Services
HOPE has been assisting survivors of domestic violence in Manatee County’s since 1979 and each year serves an average of 2,000 local individuals affected by domestic violence. All of HOPE’s services are confidential and offered to those who need help at no charge.
About Bishop-Parker Foundation
Bishop-Parker Foundation strengthens the Manatee County Community by providing financial support to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of individuals and animals. For additional information, please contact Wendy Deming at [email protected].