It’s Tuesday morning, and a line outside has already formed. Inside the Polk County Center of Hope, there are plenty of happy faces, the sound of carts moving through the aisles, and folks yelling toward the back to ask about a certain product.
The volunteers roll up to 600 South Washington Avenue early to stock shelves and organize for what will be a busy day. Every Tuesday and Thursday turn out that way, as the Christian-based organization works to break the cycle of poverty, hunger and hopelessness.
The volunteers are many and easily spotted, dressed in blue polos. They can be found in every corner of the building. Each has a position that gets clients into the center, then out quickly with groceries and a smile.
“Other non-profits marvel at our volunteers, both the number and in their devotion and caring spirit,” Director of Operations Gloria Barber said. “We have about 50 regular volunteers filling many diverse roles. Center of Hope is an all-volunteer organization, there are no paid employees here. If the Lord is the heart of the Center of Hope, our wonderful volunteers are its lifeblood.”
Ken and Dawn Schmidt have both volunteered for over a decade. Dawn is at Center of Hope twice per week, while Ken can be there up to six days.
Dawn originally got involved when a family member was utilizing the food bank and living on the streets in another state.
"I saw how that could make or break somebody," she said. "I thought that maybe I could help the people in our community and give them a hand up."
She now interviews clients who are getting started. She is also the director of the cancer support ministry, which defrays the cost of getting to and from care by providing gas, parking and meals. They regularly host meals and discussion sessions with cancer patients, serving about 80 clients.
Ken oversees the warehouse activities, performs building and bus maintenance, and outside loading.
"These are my people and who I feel comfortable with. The people that we have, they have become family," Ken said. This is our circle of friends now. Heck, this is our recreation."
"It is our entertainment," added Dawn.
There are four to six people who put in six to eight hours each just to open Center of Hope.
"It is just like a grocery store," Ken said. "The pay is great, it's just not monetary."
Kevin and Glenda Seely met while volunteering.
A friend encouraged Glenda to volunteer at Center of Hope, and she began by filling boxes. Soon after, she met the man who would be her husband while loading the back of a bus. Conversations on a bench turned into fishing trips at his house on the lake.
They married just a year ago and now lead the Christmas of Hope ministry.
For two years, that program has set up a toy workshop where parents shop for their children. Volunteers then wrap four or five presents for each child. In 2022, the center provided gifts for 600 children. That number increased to 984 children last year.
Glenda is one of the shoppers that helps clients receive groceries.
"They come in after they are interviewed and she or one of them will pick up the paper, call them by name, bring them in, then walk down and get the food," Kevin explained of Glenda’s position. "By the time she starts up here and they walk down here, they will know personal stories of those people before they get to the end of that row. By the end, some of them are hugging, some aren't, some are praying, some aren't, but they walk out the door knowing that they were treated as a human being. Some of the people that come in here have not been treated that way in a long time."
Dave and Karen Goetz are New Yorkers who have been married 53 years and transplanted to East Texas. Dave runs the pantry, which is the largest in a multi-county area and has grown 15% annually for the last three years. They average over 100 families per day. Karen is the center's volunteer coordinator.
"It is kind of what is wrong with our country right now," Dave says about volunteering. "I think people don't have enough of the giving spirit. Everybody needs some help somewhere along the line, regardless of what lot you have been cast in life. There are just a lot of folks out there that need some help."
Karen said she feels it is important to volunteer because those receiving assistance can then be in a position to help others.
“One of the things that is unique about this place is that it isn't just a food pantry,” she said. “There are so many other ministries here, and every one of them is as good as the other.”
Dave mentions the Campaign 300 Ministry, that aids 20-25 families each month with unforeseen and crisis needs.
"There's just so many things that this place does," he said. "It is very unique and different from every other charity organization that I've ever seen."
"The trend, unfortunately, is increasing, and we need more volunteers," Karen said.
John and Meryl Morgan traveled a bit to reach Polk County. John hails from Oregon and Meryl was born in the African country of Zimbabwe.
"It has given us purpose," John said of spending time at Center of Hope. " Volunteering and contributing to the community are important."
"Another thing too is when you are going through struggles of your own in other personal areas. Giving to others, putting others before yourself, helps to center you," Meryl added. "It helps you be able to go through those areas of your life, because you see others who are going through worse things than you are. It is best to take your mind off of yourself, because (if you don’t), you just go through depression."
Lynn and Sandra Sasser are retired missionaries who lived in Mexico City for 25 years. They co-chair the emergency health ministry, which helps clients with their prescription costs, gas to doctor appointments, and medical supply costs. It assists approximately 20-30 clients per month.
Sandra also serves as an interviewer and interpreter.
"It has done so much for us,” Sandra said. "When I came back to the United States, I came back kicking and screaming. I did not want to come back. We needed to. When we came back here, this is a community, and this is our community. It has given us that sense of community."
"We have learned that Polk County helps people," Lynn said. "There are so many different agencies and groups to do that."
Some of those other means of help include Center of Hope's disaster response, that donated food, materials and money during the spring floods and Hurricane Beryl. The center also operates a bus that delivers food to the homebound and picks clients up to shop for food. Clothing is another area that Center of Hope covers when the need arises.
Eight ministries in all make the non-profit organized in 1985 one of the more unique.
“God provides for the Center of Hope in so many ways, but the volunteers are His most cherished provision,” Board President Mike Fortney said. “Our volunteers are like a family, and we welcome anyone to come and serve alongside us."
Those wishing to volunteer can call 936-327-7634 or visit 600 South Washington in Livingston any Tuesday or Thursday from 1-3:30 p.m. and ask for Gloria, Mike, or Karen. They are always ready to add more members to the family.
