Author: gatewaytohope

Our volunteers buzzed with purpose last Saturday, working together to serve families with food, kindness, and faith in action.

Let’s face it…  nobody’s heart does a happy dance at the thought of “giving” just because they’re supposed to!   It takes more than that.   Depending on the weather, it can sometimes feel like you power through with a forced smile (good for you), but actually about as exciting as a plate of plain raw… Continue reading An exciting plate of raw spinach?

Gateway To Hope Ministries is announcing a change to our TEFAP food distribution schedule. Beginning this month, we are returning to a once-a-month distribution model. Going forward, our TEFAP giveaway days will be held only on the first Thursday of each month. NOTE: TEFAP is NOT part of our separate Saturday morning distribution. TEFAP, Saturday… Continue reading Update: TEFAP Food Distribution Returns to Monthly Schedule

We have a serious case of squash-tastic excitement at Gateway to Hope Ministries! Move over, pumpkins! Step aside, sweet potatoes! There’s a new star in the produce department, and it’s wearing a tan outfit with a very curvy figure. Please welcome… BUTTERNUT SQUASH! 🎉 Now, this humble vegetable might look a little unusual, but don’t… Continue reading You can’t squash God’s blessings! 💛

Quite unexpectedly, I received two large cotton balls from our dear volunteer, and my friend, Ms. Laura. For the laundry? No. Oh, for my hands? No. So, what are they for? Laura knows my history. As a T-shirt my son gave me comically proclaims, as it depicts a figure with his arm in a sling,… Continue reading A Gentle Reminder: Cotton Balls, Healing, and the Hands of God

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” — Psalm 28:7 If you’ve spent more than five minutes at Gateway To Hope, you know Alvin. He’s the one with the smile that could power a small city, the voice that bellows “HALLELUJAH!” like he just got front-row… Continue reading The Biceps of Belief: Meet Alvin!

What is a rose? The dictionary says it’s a flowering plant known for colorful blossoms, pleasant fragrance, and thorns that remind you beauty comes with conditions. That’s the dictionary’s definition. I’ve got another one. So — what is a rose? Depends who you ask. Ask that botanist, you get Latin. Botanists classify roses by color… Continue reading What Is a Rose? A Flower, a Fighter, and a Friend to Her Neighbors

Serving with joy, even when the Florida sun turns every volunteer into a temporary sprinkler system. Powered by People, Not Batteries There’s a little secret about the people at Gateway to Hope: we aren’t actually powered by batteries. We know—it’s a shock! But as it turns out, our backs are not made of industrial-grade steel,… Continue reading Gateway to Hope: Where the Spirit is Willing, but the Shirt is Soaked.

Some people reach their eighties and decide they have earned the right to slow down. Connie never got that memo! Here she is, in her 80s, only eight months removed from triple-bypass surgery, and what is she doing? Serving others. Three cardio-vascular bypasses are not enough to keep this Dutch lady from finding her way… Continue reading The Dutch Lady Who Just Keeps Going!

A jalapeño demands to be noticed. It’s bright. It’s bold. It leaves a mark. Can you blame a jalapeño for being a little full of itself? A Jalapeño walked into a produce bin… there it sat at Gateway to Hope, surrounded by carrots scared stiff, potatoes that were couch-like and didn’t say much, and cool… Continue reading A Jalapeño walked into a produce bin…

No, Metallica isn’t involved, At Gateway to Hope, Glenn and Jeff are the headbangers and headliners of our aluminum recycling ministry and they rock! They may not have platinum records, but they’re turning aluminum into something even better, support for God’s work in our community. People ask how they can help Gateway to Hope. Here’s… Continue reading We’ve got your heavy metal right here!

Let’s be honest—”duty” isn’t exactly a word that makes people leap out of bed with excitement. It ranks somewhere between folding laundry and cleaning out the garage. Necessary? Yes. Glamorous? Not even close. And then there’s spinach. No one has ever walked into a restaurant and exclaimed, “You know what I’m craving today? A giant… Continue reading “Not Your Average Spinach”

Every church has special people who make the world a little brighter. Some do it with a kind word, some with a warm hug, some with a perfectly timed joke… and then there is Mary! Long ago, Mary discovered an ancient spiritual truth; sometimes the fastest way to open a heart is through chocolate! The… Continue reading “Minister of Sweet Salvation & Sudden Smiles”

It’s been a while, and before anything else, I just want to say thank you. To everyone who is part of this Gateway To Hope family, whether you volunteer with us, support us, or you’re one of the families we’re honored to walk alongside, this message is for you. For those who don’t know, I… Continue reading Grateful to Be Back — And Ready to Move Forward

While walking through the Gateway To Hope parking lot today, a volunteer spotted something rather unusual: a set of upper dentures lying there like they had just finished an argument and walked out on somebody!   These weren’t just ordinary dentures. Oh no. One tooth proudly sported a gold crown that sparkled in the Florida sunshine… Continue reading Holy Smiles and Missing Teeth… The Parking Lot Parable of the Golden Tooth

A little rough on the outside. Guarded. Hard to read. Not always easy to approach. Sometimes life has a way of building that outer layer—through hurt, disappointment, or just the need to protect what’s inside. And if we’re honest, we’ve all had moments where we’ve felt a bit… spiky. But here’s what’s easy to forget:… Continue reading People can be a lot like pineapples.

At Gateway to Hope, Saturday mornings are sacred in their own way. Before the sun is fully up, cars begin to line up. Men and women—many elderly, some struggling with illness, some who have gone without a proper meal—wait patiently for hours. They wait with dignity. They wait with hope. And they wait their turn.… Continue reading Order, Respect, and Serving One Another in Love…

Before the lines form and before a single bag is handed out on Saturday, something quietly extraordinary is already taking place at Gateway to Hope Ministries. Each Friday morning, a devoted team of volunteers gathers—not for recognition, but to serve. Boxes of fresh vegetables arrive in bulk, each one carefully inspected. What may seem like… Continue reading Preparing the Harvest: Faith in Action on Friday Mornings

We’re convinced Isaiah has a twin. Or a jet pack. How else could one man be in five places at once, each time cheerful and efficient? He’s not just fast; he’s friendly‑fast. Whether he’s sorting through crates of fresh produce or loading up boxes for local families, Isaiah moves with a “What’s next?” energy that… Continue reading Spotlight on Isaiah: The Joyful Dynamo of Dedication

Ever notice how a single red pepper can brighten up an entire tray of veggies? It’s not trying to be the star. It just shows up, brings its color, and suddenly the carrots look happier, the celery stands a little taller, and even the broccoli (let’s be honest, broccoli needs all the help it can… Continue reading The Sweet Pepper Principle