H O P E elping thers ursue Enrichment
doors open, have staff here and continue to provide the services that we provide,” Mandujano said.“ It is very essential to our operational costs.”
As a previous gala attendee, Carter said she was excited to see the fundraiser return.
“ We used to go and we had so much fun. They always raised a ton of money. The entertainment was awesome,” she said.“ I didn’ t know what all HOPE did, even going to the galas. Now that I’ ve been with Priscilla and know kind of what all they’ re doing, I’ m excited to help raise money for them.”
Some of the many services HOPE provides include a food pantry, produce program, food kitchen, weekend packs and senior box program.
The pantry allows people to visit once a month for non-perishable items and the produce program provides fresh produce once a week.
“ We’ re not trying to meet all their needs, we’ re trying to sustain them,” Mandujano said.“ We’ re trying to supplement what they already have.”
The kitchen of HOPE, open from 11:30 a. m. to 12:15 pm. Monday through Thursday, feeds about 50 to 60 people on a regular basis.
Mandujano said the number coming through the kitchen increases to 80 to 100 people during the summer.
The weekend pack, formerly the backpack program, provides nutritional meals and snacks for students who normally get most of their food from their school cafeteria.
“ When I started, we were just doing the elementary schools,” Mandujano said.“ Since I’ ve been here, we’ ve added Nichols Intermediate and the middle school.”
A Christmas basket is also provided to those in the weekend pack program during Christmas breaks. These include items essential for a Christmas dinner.
The senior box program provides senior citizens a monthly box of essential food items. There are currently 80 enrolled in the program, with more than 60 on the waiting list.
“ That program is through the East Texas Food Bank, it’ s a federally funded program,” Mandujano said.
Carter said that there are a lot of people who still don’ t know that the program is available in Jacksonville.
Mandujano said she would also like to add a mentoring program to H. O. P. E.’ s services.
“ People need a sense of community, people need a sense of direction,” she said.
Mandujano invites the community to attend the gala, learn about H. O. P. E., fall in love with the mission, have a good time and support a good cause.
“ I really feel like this event is going to be like your neighborhood get-together with Jacksonville people who already do so many great things for this town,” Mandujano said.“ I think it’ s going to have a hometown celebration feel.”
Only 200 tickets are available for‘ Seeds of H. O. P. E.,’ with at least 70 already accounted for.
For more information about H. O. P. E. or to purchase tickets, visit hopecenter. info.
Holiday 2025 | Jacksonville Progress 9