A Winter With H.O.P.E

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Created on Tuesday, 14 April 2015 18:15

Written by JJ Murphy

LYNDONVILLE - Many local businesses are still feeling the affects from one of the worst winters in recent memory. Helping Other People Everyday, also known as HOPE, is one of the local businesses still feeling the impact.

Sam Klepper, assistant manager of HOPE, said there was a higher population of families seeking help this year due to the harsh weather and high unemployment rates.

In 2014, HOPE's emergency foodbank provided food to 1,922 households, serving 5,246 individuals. Compared to 2013, where 967 households were served feeding 2,543 individuals.

In addition to serving food to these people, HOPE also provided clothing vouchers for adults and children.
Klepper described this year as "very hard" with a lot of "new faces" coming in for assitance. She attributes the rise in need to the higher then usual unemployment rate in Caledonia County. In 2013, Caledonia County had the third highest uneployment rate in Vermont behind Orleans and Essex Counties.