New Hope’s Big Idea to Connect People to Employment

31 Oct New Hope’s Big Idea to Connect People to Employment

by Larry Messing, Manager of Development

When I joined the New Hope staff in the Spring of 2016, I was immediately struck by how innovative and empowering our programming is.

One of the first projects I heard about was an effort to create a food truck that will be staffed by people with disabilities and serve delicious food around Indianapolis.

This program will teach vital workforce skills to young adults coming out of high school, providing them with the tools needed to find a rewarding job. Participants will learn culinary, customer service and sales skills, which are so important as graduates enter the job market. Just as important, this program will provide additional opportunities for community interaction between those with and without disabilities.

New Hope will also be partnering with Helpings of Hope, an organization that creates community gardens in Indianapolis. Through this, healthy food will be distributed in the “food deserts” of our community. Food deserts are areas, especially with low-income residents, that have limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

Obviously, this program is not an easy undertaking and comes with significant start-up costs, but already we have raised more than $64,000 toward our $75,000 goal. A huge THANK YOU to Kroger, Pearson Automotive, Old National Bank Foundation and a generous anonymous donor who have invested in this program and the lives of those who will be participating. Once the project kicks off, it will be a self-sustaining enterprise that will provide key job skills, tell the New Hope story and provide more opportunities for New Hope clients to get involved in the community.

We are still seeking support from individuals, foundations and businesses that want to see this happen. Any gift would be helpful and there are great opportunities to include your name or business logo on the side of the truck.

I’d love to talk to you more about this program and how we can work together. Call me at (317) 338-9621 or send me an email at lmessing@newhopeofindiana.org.