Hope Arrives at Stafford Park

National Ministry of Convoy of Hope in partnership with Hope Over Heroin partnered with Greater Cleveland to help unite and reach out with love to serve thousands from our communities! Communities are the lifeblood of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with those who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness. The organization is part of the missions’ arm of the Assemblies of God USA. In a recent trip to the Cleveland area, this caravan of caring people blessed homes and hearts from near and far. Mayor Annette M. Blackwell, Mayor of Maple Heights was on hand to lend a hand and to express her gratitude for the care and the kindness of people who are under no obligation to help, other than their own hearts to reach out beyond them.

Over 130 area Churches, businesses, organizations and agencies gave tangible and spiritual hope to individuals and families, some living in situations of desperate human need. Individuals received FREE groceries, shoes, haircuts, family portraits, health services, job and career services, addiction recovery services, (as there was a mural of pictures of those who died from heroin overdoses to reflect upon), hot lunches, fun at the Kids Zone, live entertainment, prayer and the good news of the Gospel for those that were open to receive! Friday began with the Volunteer Rally and on that sunny, beautiful Saturday morning, thousands took shuttles from Southgate to the grounds of Stafford Park in Maple Hts. Indeed, September 7 is the day that with the gracious support of government leaders, churches, civic leaders, volunteers, and other community stake holders that we all united to make a difference. The atmosphere at Stafford Park was filled with love, caring, kindness and compassion with over 5,450 participants from throughout Greater Cleveland, giving and receiving! Over 4,300 attendees were treated as Guests of Honor and over 1,150 volunteers! Pastors and Churches have made the commitment that Beyond The Event they will continue to reach out and connect with Guests of Honor that attended, to continue to offer services and resources, giving tangible and spiritual hope to help meet their needs!

The Convoy of Hope is definitely a ministry that should encourage all of us to go further than conversing about the problem of poverty, but to actually become contributors to the solution. In the scriptures, we know that the poor will always be with us. It is therefore of utmost importance that we as a people respond in kind to be kind to our brothers and sisters in need. We salute Mayor Annette Blackwell, Hal Donaldson and Steve Pulius of Convoy of Hope, Hope Over Heroin, Hope Addicts, Min Gail Reese, Church Connections Leader, Host Pastor Dr. Ronald Morrison, Hope Alliance Bible Church and other churches and civic organizations for taking the time to be a part of this help ministry in a time when help is most needed.

Contributing: Min. Gail Reese Danelle Edwards

Some in the Community Services tent were: Call and Post, Salvation Army, WCRF Radio, Western Reserve Area Agency On Aging, Tri-C Women in Transition, Recalibrate Addictions Ministry, Abigail Ministries, Urban League Of Greater Cleveland, Teen Challenge of Greater Cleveland, project DAWN of Metrohealth, and AFH After School Program were a few. Also Cleveland Kids Book Bank donated several hundred books for kids and adults that were distributed FREE.