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The HOPE Center of Edmond
Christmastime is often thought of as a season of giving, and in 2020, giving is needed more than ever.
There are many ways to give to those in need this time of year. One such way is by donating through the Samaritan Drive.
The Samaritan Drive is the HOPE Center of Edmond’s annual fundraiser, running from after Thanksgiving through New Year’s. The HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies) Center has conducted it since 1989.
Executive director Chris Sperry said the drive funds the HOPE Center’s various programs.
“We provide rent (and) utilities,” she said. “We have a food pantry. We help people with clothing. We have a clinic that provides prenatal care, and we have a WIC clinic. This fund drive will help support all of those programs.”
People who need the HOPE Center’s services can apply online at hopecenterofedmond.com or call (405) 348-1340. Those wishing to contribute can do so online or by mail.
With the challenges 2020 has provided, Sperry said this year has been an interesting one.
“I think people have been surprised at how long they have been without work,” Sperry said. “We depend on volunteers, and unfortunately this year, we have been without volunteers. So, we’ve had some difficulties this year trying to learn how to do things without our volunteers that we depend on, so we’ve missed our volunteers tremendously.”
Without the volunteers, the cashflow from the Samaritan Drive is more important than ever to keep the HOPE Center’s various services operating, which is important to many Edmond residents in need.