House of Hope Celebrates 25th Anniversary

(STUART) "The need has never been greater, over the past year`and a half--it has risen about 80%." said House of Hope's Diane Tomasik.

Children are no longer hungry.  Tummies here are full.

Stuart's House of Hope Pantry and Economic Assistance Program is celebrating thier 25th anniversary in what they call the worst economic time for Martin county since the mission began.

"It's never really been this dire." Tomasik said.

Fully relying on volunteers to stack shelves and fill orders, sort and sell goods--all to make it happen for more than 155,000 people in 25 years.

Even Congressman Tom Rooney is asking people to give organizations like this one what they can, time or money.

"In the end it takes a lot of private donations, a lot of volunteers, and this agency almost exclusively relies on the genrosity of others." Rooney said.

A tough time to say mission accomplished, but here they do.

"25 years is a long time and its a long time to maintain a mission." sai Tomasik, "It is very much a house of Hope, and we see the thanks from people everyday--tears of thanks from people who literally had been going hungry."

For help or to donate click here: http://www.hohmartin.org/