Salvation
Army gives mission hope
The Florida Times-Union. AMELIA A. HART,
amelia.hart@jacksonville.com
Originally created 051607
FERNANDINA BEACH - There's new hope for a Nassau County mission that's had
its own share of hard times.
Officials with Hope House believe a new partnership with the Salvation Army
will re-energize the faith-based, volunteer social service agency, founded
in 1992 by Florence Carter.
Hope House Board of Directors Chairman Hugh L. Cullen said officials
approached the Salvation Army several months ago about taking over
operations. Hope House's services include a community food bank and clothes
closet.
Every Tuesday, Hope House conducts an 11 a.m. church service followed by a
free lunch. It also serves as a site for a number of church and prayer
services.
Cullen said Hope House officials were frustrated by increasing difficulties
in getting volunteers and donations.
"We just felt like that after a number of years, we had aspirations and we
couldn't make them happen because of the funding we were able to get," he
said.
Cullen said he's excited about the new partnership with the Salvation Army
not only because it will allow Hope House to expand its services, but
because the two organizations share a common purpose.
"Their goals and aspirations are a lot like ours, and everything they do has
a spiritual foundation," he said. "We're both trying to help people and
expose them to the Gospel."
Melanie Love, Salvation Army public relations coordinator for Northeast
Florida, said the Salvation Army will maintain Hope House's assistance
programs, but add others, including "Stuff the Bus," a school supply drive,
and its Red Kettle Campaign.
But the Salvation Army will tailor its services at Hope House to meet
Nassau's needs, Love said.
The organization's former directors now will serve on the Salvation Army
Hope House Advisory Council.
"Our options for Nassau County are wide open," Love said. "As the community
becomes more aware of the program, there will be more avenues for Nassau
County residents to be more active in volunteering and donations. It's
easier for people to support an organization that's making a difference in
their own backyard."
Yulee resident Lynne Peterson is the new manager of Salvation Army Hope
House.
A former Department of Children and Families employee in Nassau as well as a
intensive crisis counselor at the Child Guidance Center in Nassau County,
Peterson is bubbling with ideas for the newly rechristened Salvation Army
Hope House.
Those ideas include after-school programs for kids, services for senior
citizens and additional prayer services.
Peterson said despite the changes, the core mission of Hope House, whose
motto is "A place of encouragement," remains the same.
"It gives people hope and new opportunities," she said. "We want to give
people an opportunity for a second chance and new lives by giving them the
salvation message in Christ.
"It's them that make the changes, but, hopefully, through us, they'll get
the message."
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"A place of encouragement"
Salvation Army Hope House
321-0435
410 S. Ninth St.,
Fernandina Beach
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Lynne Peterson, manager of social services
Church and prayer services
7:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Pastor Carlos Serrano
2 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Thursday, Pastor Gerard Green
10 a.m. Sunday, Pastor Ed Coop
6 a.m. Friday, Men's Prayer Group