AKA’s Bring H.O.P.E. to the Mid Hudson Valley

BEACON – On Thursday and Friday, November 17th and 18th members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated – Iota Alpha Omega Chapter, in conjunction with the National Honor Society Chapter at Beacon High School, participated for the 7thAnnualProject H.O.P.E. (Help Other People Excel) – Operation H.E.A.R.T. (Helping to Empower Area Residents Together). Project H.O.P.E. is an annual, community service endeavor in which the group gives H.O.P.E. to the communities they serve.  Project H.O.P.E. allowed the AKA’s to work together to address hunger in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties. The two day event was held at Downstate Correctional Facilities Q.W.L. (Quality Work Life) building on Red Schoolhouse Road.  The Q.W.L. was generously donated by the facility with the approval of Superintendent Ada Perez.

During these two days, over 80 volunteers from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Arlington High School, Beacon High School – National Honor Society, Newburgh Free Academy R.O.T.C., and individuals from the local community assisted with making Project H.O.P.E. a huge success! Through Project H.O.P.E., donations consisting of over 6,700 non perishable food items, over 750 personal hygiene items, over 210 reusable bags, and over 165 boxes and 10 rolls of tape were received. This year, seventeen area food pantries were replenished with over four hundred fifty (450) nonperishable food and personal hygiene items each.  Over 180 boxes were packed.

The AKA’s were proud to announce the following recipients of the donated food and personal hygiene items: Dutchess Outreach, Incorporated (Poughkeepsie), Dutchess County Community Action Partnership Center (Beacon and Poughkeepsie locations), House of Refuge International Ministries (Newburgh), Solid Rock Church of God (New Windsor), Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church (Beacon), Full Gospel Center (LaGrangeville), Trinity United Methodist Church (LaGrangeville), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (Beacon), St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Middletown), St. George’s Episcopal Church (Newburgh), Beulah Baptist Church (Poughkeepsie), Zion Episcopal Church (Wappingers Falls), Family of Woodstock (Woodstock), Salvation Army (Middletown), Rosendale Food Pantry (Rosendale), Castle Point VA – Food Pantry (Wappingers Falls, NY).

Special thanks were given to the following sponsors:

Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, Dr. Melville Hughes (Dermatologist), Mike Arteaga, Central Hudson Electric and Gas, BMW of the Hudson Valley, Dragon’s Den, Super Stop and Shops (Burnett Blvd & South Road), TOPS (Route 9 Wappingers Falls), Target, Extra Space Storage, Guardian Self Storage (Hyde Park), McCollister United Van Lines, UPS Store, Cigna-Kroboth Orthodontics, Greenbaum Optometry, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Adrian Anderson), Arlington HS, Arthur S. May School PTA, Beacon HS- NHS, Beacon City School District:Rombout Middle School, Glenham Elementary, School,Sargent Elementary School, South Avenue Elementary School, JV Forrestal Elementary School, Hudson Valley Renegades, Iota Alpha Omega Chapter members, Newburgh Free Academy ROTC, Boy Scout Troop 275, Cub Scout Pack 122, Downstate Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Eastern Correctional Facility, Greenhaven Correctional Facility, Wallkill Correctional Facility and Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Glory to God Outreach Ministry.

“We realize that the weeks before Thanksgiving are crucial weeks as many food banks and pantries are overwhelmed with providing food for men, women, children and families in need while keeping their shelves stocked.  A wonderful job was done by all of those who assisted us with our day of H.O.P.E. when we Helped to Empower Area Residents Together!”