THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — When Fair Hope Children’s Ministry started 20 years ago, Pastor John Prather began taking clothing to those in need at Fair Oaks public housing complex.
The name of the children’s clothing ministry for the community derived from Fair Oaks to Fair Hope.
Now in its 20th year, being all volunteer-staffed and seeing clients by appointment, the ministry is celebrating with a 20th Anniversary Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. July 21 at its 1225 E. Voorhees St. location.
Director and board chairwoman Karel Volpert said, “Fair Hope Ministry is a faith-based ministry created with the special goal of giving assistance to children of Danville and the surrounding communities.”
“Our hope is that families will feel the love of Christ through our efforts; reaching out to our community one child at a time,” Volpert said.
She said they provide layettes for newborns and clothing for children through high school age, portable sleeping units, pack and plays, convertible car seats, booster car seats, strollers, backpacks and school supplies.
“We know that (school) District 118 and other schools are providing school supplies,” Volpert said. “We’re trying to broaden that a bit (such as maybe underwear and socks).”
The ministry initially occupied the Bowman Avenue United Methodist Church’s unoccupied parsonage. In 2020 it moved to the former George’s Buffet building which had been turned into a union hall on Voorhees Street.
“We are staffed entirely by volunteers,” Volpert said.
There are 14 board members, a collaboration of United Methodist and other churches in the area.
Board members encourage the public to attend the open house and learn more about their services.
“We have been around for such a long time, and we have helped so many families with their children. We are so excited to be able to share this opportunity with our community to come to see what we really are,” according to Paula Meece, board member and client scheduler.
Meece said it’s been a wonderful 20 years of service in the area.
She too said they want more of the public to see how they’ve grown into the new building.
Tours of the building will be given during the open house, and there will be refreshments.
The ministry also has a building on Griffin Street where they keep school supplies, backpacks, additional books, off-season clothing and different holiday items.
Appointments for clients at their Voorhees Street location are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays. Donations also are accepted during those times.
The clients are given a shopping list to check off items they can take for free.
For people needing emergency clothing, there is a Blessing Box outside the Voorhees Street building where people can drive by anytime and take what they can use.
The volunteers hope Fair Hope’s future includes serving the community for the next 20 years and more. They also serve Fountain, Warren and Vermillion counties in Indiana.
For more information, visit its Facebook page and website at fairhopedanville.org.
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