Volunteer Highlights

31 May - Liberty Mutual Gives Back to New Hope

This May, New Hope was proud to host 20 volunteers from Liberty Mutual through the Serve Liberty program. These volunteers spent their day sprucing up the outdoor spaces at five New Hope homes to beautify the yards and gardens for the individuals who live there. They pulled weeds, cleared brush, put down fresh mulch and even planted some flowers for our clients to enjoy this spring and summer. They also helped with a painting project for our Silver Cup Celebration in August. Thanks to Liberty Mutual for spending a day in service to our mission! If you are interested in joining...

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12 Apr - Volunteer Appreciation at New Hope

April is National Volunteer Month!   In 2021, New Hope's volunteers provided nearly 1,000 hours of service to our mission despite the continued challenges of a global pandemic. From Board members and committee volunteers to corporate partners and friends of New Hope, our volunteers enrich the lives of the individuals and families that we serve. This month, we want to say a special thank you to a few of these dedicated volunteers. Kathe Rae Not only did Kathe Rae devote her nearly 40-year career to New Hope, she continues to serve our mission even in her retirement, coming nearly every week to work in...

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28 Dec - Holiday Volunteers Bring Cheer to New Hope

This holiday season, New Hope has been fortunate to have the support of dozens of volunteers to bring some holiday cheer to the individuals we serve. In our Day Services program, nearly 20 volunteers made the holidays bright with seasonal crafts, holiday bingo, sing-alongs and visits from Santa and his elves. Special thanks to New Hope's Maintenance team for their creativity and caring which made these holiday parties so extra special! Check out the photos on Facebook. Continuing a decades-long tradition, our partners at Ascension St. Vincent came together through the Hope for the Holidays program to deliver holiday gifts to...

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27 Sep - Fall Festival Volunteers Needed

We are so excited to bring back one of New Hope's favorite traditions - the annual Fall Festival! After trying our hand at a virtual party last year, we are really looking forward to returning to an in-person event full of music, games and some great costumes! To make it really successful, though, we need some extra help. The easiest way to help is to make a donation or to shop our Amazon Wishlist for games, party favors and other supplies to help make the party a spooooky fun time! But if you're looking for something a little more meaningful,...

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27 Apr - Volunteer Appreciation

New Hope of Indiana knows the importance of volunteers and honors the significant contributions volunteers make by generously donating their time and talents to worthy causes. Volunteers support our mission in so many different ways. From our dedicated Board of Directors and the committees that support them to our friends from Kiwanis and College Park Church, volunteers are helping the individuals we serve live their best lives. Volunteers help with the day-to-day administrative tasks that support our business. They provide their professional expertise and guidance on our Human Rights Committee and our Finance Committee. Volunteers provide interactive and engaging social events...

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27 Apr - Voices of New Hope: Volunteer Leaders

There are so many ways to give back to our community and to make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. At New Hope of Indiana, we are especially grateful for the volunteers that choose to support our mission with their time and talent. Their voices are an important part of our story. Loraine Brown is a New Hope Board member with a long history of supporting our mission. She chooses to serve as a volunteer leader with New Hope because she shares our organization's Core Values of Dedication, Service, Reverence, Wisdom, Integrity, Inclusivity and Creativity. "To be...

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15 Oct - Mission Minute: Connections of Hope

Many of the individuals served by New Hope have strong spiritual and religious beliefs, but in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were no longer able to go to church or spend time with their friends from their congregations. This disconnect between them and their church took a toll on their mental health. Thankfully, New Hope has many friends including some dedicated volunteers from College Park Church. With their partnership, New Hope has been able to offer online Bible study each week during which the individuals we serve can find connection and share their faith with friends. Thanks...

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28 Sep - Virtual Volunteering

Volunteers have always been an integral part of New Hope's mission. From leading classes and activities in the original residential facility to helping coordinate fundraising events, to serving our clients in the Day Services program, volunteers have always helped move our mission forward and helped to provide a really enriching social experience for the individuals we serve. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our usual volunteer opportunities have changed in significant ways. Thankfully, everyone at New Hope is well-versed in flexibility. We quickly learned that virtual and online opportunities were going to be the new way to do things, including engaging...

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17 Aug - Mission Minute: Connections of Hope

Kindness and Consideration Are the Only Skills Necessary By Lauren Palmer I didn’t know much about my friend and neighbor Amanda Boyd’s job, but I knew she worked with individuals who have special needs. I also knew she was extremely passionate about it. So when Amanda invited me to a community engagement event at New Hope a few years ago, I gladly accepted. I’m ashamed to admit I have not spent much time interacting with people who have special needs, and that I have sometimes felt like I didn’t know quite what to say or how to engage with someone whose abilities and...

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28 Jul - Volunteers Needed

While COVID-19 has changed the way New Hope is able to utilize our generous and dedicated volunteers, we are still in need of your help! Volunteer opportunities are available for both individuals and groups and can be either virtual from the comfort of your own home or in-person at our Payne Road offices. Volunteering at New Hope can be especially rewarding as volunteers bring their own interests, passions and talents to the individuals we serve. The list of opportunities below is by no means exhaustive - we want you to bring your ideas to us as well! Special thanks to...

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15 Jun - Mission Minute: Connections of Hope

While we continue to celebrate and recognize the many Connections of Hope that bring our New Hope community together each and every day, the word "connection" has taken on a much more specific meaning. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hope has continued to provide meaningful and engaging activities for the individuals we serve including telehealth services, movie screening parties, Bible Study and bingo. We are so grateful to the associates and volunteers who have made these virtual connections possible while the world has felt a bit disconnected. We have been especially thankful to our friends at College Park Church and...

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15 Nov - Mission Minute: Appreciating our Friends

by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers Every November we often have a heightened awareness of thankfulness, even if we feel and express gratitude throughout the year. The Thanksgiving season is a perfect time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. At New Hope, we have so much to be thankful for: a strong mission, the individuals and families served, dedicated associates, caring volunteers, a vibrant board, an exciting future and so many “friends.” How important are friends in your life? Do they support you through thick and thin? Do they love you unconditionally?...

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29 Jul - New Hope Welcomes New Board Members

New Hope would like to welcome two new members, Pam Evans and Charity Stowe, to its Board of Directors. Pam Evans comes to New Hope with nearly 30 years of experience in a variety of roles in the healthcare industry. Pam has a unique understanding of how important Healthcare Financial Management is in today’s environment and currently serves as the President of Star Benefit Associates. Having spent time as a benefits consultant, educator, and public speaker, Pam has interacted with numerous professional and business organizations providing consult and advice on healthcare topics such as Medicare. Pam learned about...

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15 Jul - Mission Minute: Volunteering is Always a Win-Win

by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers Thinking back to my childhood, we struggled financially like many families. However, the importance of giving back and helping persons in need was instilled in me by my parents, and volunteering was not a choice. It was expected of me. One of my favorite volunteer memories was when we hosted a neighborhood fun frolic with silly games and donated trinket prizes in our little backyard. Such fun we had and for a good cause as the proceeds went to Riley Children’s Hospital where a young neighbor had...

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21 Jun - Volunteering on New Hope’s Board of Directors is Inspiring

by Loraine Brown, NHI Board Member There is something special about New Hope of Indiana. Serving on the Board of Directors, every time I participate in our board meetings, assist in planning or attend a celebratory event like the Silver Cup Celebration, I am inspired! The leadership and staff exemplify a spirit of truly caring for those who receive services, their families and one another. To be inspired is to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Creativity is what New Hope does best, tapping in to the creative part of...

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28 May - Another Great May in Indy

We are so glad to be a part of the Indianapolis community, especially this time of the year. For over twenty years, New Hope clients have been able to take part in the Indy 500 festivities through another initiative, Friends of the Fox. Started by Indy car driver Stan Fox and race car driver Jack Kerwin after sustaining traumatic brain injuries while racing, Friends of the Fox seeks to give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the traditions of May in Indy. Today, New Hope volunteers, Bill Ray and Ron Kucer, continue the legacy of Stan Fox and...

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30 Apr - Seeking Volunteers!

The NHI Day Services Program is looking for volunteers to help with several interesting and fun activities. Do you garden or know someone who does? We have a garden club, which enjoys growing vegetables and reaping the harvest to make fresh and healthy recipes, and could use some gardening assistance. Perhaps you enjoy crafts and could share your talents with some fun, simple craft activities. The individuals who attend day services love crafts of all types, especially holiday related. Also popular is a weekly bible study and the importance of faith in every day...

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26 Feb - Free Legal Aid for New Hope’s Clients

Do you know Nick Parker? His name may sound familiar, but how is he connected to New Hope? Nick is an attorney from Indiana Legal Services who provides free legal services to New Hope’s clients particularly in areas of decision-making supports such as the preparation of wills, healthcare representative designees, and guardianships; benefit appeals; landlord-tenant issues; and expungement of conviction records. In 2016, through a generous grant by the Lilly Endowment and the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, Indiana Legal Services and New Hope began the PLAID (Providing Legal Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities) Partnership. Nick is...

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25 Feb - Bingo is Back!

For over twenty years, Kiwanis has sponsored a monthly Bingo night for individuals served by New Hope of Indiana. The North Central Kiwanis Club started and coordinated Bingo for most of those years, and New Hope is so appreciative of their dedication. Thankfully, when that club decided to dissolve their chapter, another club, Northwest Indy Kiwanis graciously offered to sponsor Bingo night so that this favorite New Hope monthly activity could continue. This club also has long-time involvement with New Hope and provided an annual cookout for the group home program for many years. Club member...

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21 Jan - NHI Welcomes Mizzou Volunteers

Last week, New Hope was fortunate to host nine students from the University of Missouri who chose to volunteer a week of their time on winter break as part of the school's Alternative Breaks program. These students came to us from all backgrounds and with varied interests, but they all left feeling a similar sense of service and gratitude. Mizzou junior, Alexia Diamond, wrote: To be able to serve is a wonderful feeling. A very humbling experience for most. The people that I’ve met at New Hope of Indiana taught me a lot about myself and will have an impact on...

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