Giving the Gift of 'Hope' for 25 Years

Clergy leaders, elected officials, business owners and about 150 supporters celebrated a special milestone for Operation Hope this weekend – the silver anniversary of the Fairfield-based agency that helps our neighbors in need by providing food, shelter and, most importantly, hope.

Those in need of Operation Hope's services are indeed our neighbors, our friends, maybe even our own family. In Fairfield County, one of the wealthiest regions in the country, there are families that endure extremely difficult times, leave an abusive spouse and have nowhere to go, or temporarily need help getting back on their feet.

Rabbi Jim Pinit of Congregation B'Nai Israel addressed the crowd during dinner on Saturday at the Patterson Club, and provided a very hopeful wish that the non-profit wouldn't have cause to celebrate a 50th anniversary, 25 years from now.

But the numbers certainly don't lie. Last year alone, Operation Hope provided 137,000 meals to people in need. In addition to providing food and shelter, Operation Hope currently operates 46 units of scattered site affordable housing throughout Fairfield. Last year in Connecticut, 33,000 people were homeless -- nearly half of those were children.  We can hope the need will diminish over time.

Operation Hope was formed in 1986 when local residents became aware of individuals in the community unable to meet their own basic needs of food and shelter. Clergy and lay leaders worked together to provide food and emergency shelter. 

Rev. David Spollett, the pastor at First Church Congregational, detailed a broader history of Operation Hope. He explained that the agency actually began in December 1985, when the Old Post Road church started to leave its doors open overnight, giving those in a need a warm, dry place to sleep. Today, First Church volunteers provide meals for 50 shelter guests each week. 

Spollett, who served twice as president of the Operation Hope board and now is on the advisory council, recognized Operation Hope's three executive directors -- present director Carla Miklos, and past directors Pam Hyman and Meghan Lowney. 

Despite the generosity of people in and around Fairfield, Miklos tells About Town that Operation Hope is operating under a deficit. One small enough that if every family in Fairfield that was able to chipped in a nominal amount, that deficit would be erased.

The annual gala held by Operation Hope typically raises approximately $150,000, which goes toward operating expenses, according to one of the gala's chairs, Lisa Doocy. 

Before dinner and an auction kicked off, First Selectman Ken Flatto issued a proclamation at the event on Saturday, proclaiming April 9  “Operation Hope Day” in Fairfield.

Wondering what you can do to help?

In just over a month, Operation Hope will be the recipient of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collection.  Local postal carriers to participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. All you have to do is place non-perishable food items by your mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 14 for your postal worker. Each year, Operation Hope receives an average of 45,000 pounds of food.

If we all pitch in as a community, we can only hope to give more as long as Operation Hope needs our support.