Giving Hope is a New Orleans, Louisiana nonprofit dedicated to changing lives through love. Our mission is simple: To give glory to God and to promote human dignity. Through the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, and corporate partners, we feed, clothe, house, and provide fellowship to those in need, in our community and around the world.
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Our Impact
OUR IMPACT
As of June 2019
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Giving Hope is committed to coming to the aid of those in need. Our efforts reach people of all ages, in our communities and around the world. We believe that everyone deserves to live a healthy, happy life, and we work every day through a variety of endeavors to make this a reality for all.
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Stacey
June 15, 2014, is a day that has changed my life forever! It was the day that I started to believe in angel’s.
As I stepped off the bus in Hyderabad India for the first time I was overcome with 1,000 different emotions. The first few minutes was kind of a blur but I do remember hearing the sound of drums as we pulled up (at first I thought it was the sound of my own heart beating). We were greeted by a group of women dressed in beautiful bright colored clothing and a group of children with smiles so bright the sun must have been jealous. Within a matter of seconds, the children came running up to us and placed beautiful fresh flowers around our necks. I was immediately grabbed by two of the cutest little girls I’ve ever laid eyes on (Shahed and Jevtha). We began to walk hand and hand with our new friends to see Hope House for the first time the whole time we were showered with fresh flower petals. I could already feel the love and gratitude from these children. As we arrived at the steps of Hope House all of us were beyond excited. We could not wait to see the inside and to show the children to their rooms. It was like Christmas morning when Troy cut the ribbon to the bedroom door, and the kids were able to go to their very own bed, which some of them have never had.
As our day came to an end, I was already dreading the day in which I would have to say goodbye to these precious angels since I had managed to fall in love with them right away. When our last day finally came, and it was time to leave “my babies,” I tried so hard to be strong so they would not see me cry. I held Jevtha in my arms, I couldn’t help but begin to let the tears fill up in my eyes, and then Shahed came up and wrapped her arms around both of us. When I looked at her face I could see a single tear roll down Shahed’s cheek…. that was when I lost it. I truly felt like I was telling MY CHILDREN goodbye, but then I remembered, this wasn’t “GOODBYE” because goodbye means forever. so I chose to tell my babies “I’ll see you soon” because I do believe with all my heart and soul that God will bring me back to Hope House.
We spent every day that week playing, learning and most of all loving on all the children. It was funny how by the end of day 2 everyone in the group would already refer to certain children as “theirs” (I, of course had Shahed and Jevtha). We were told that we were helping to save 50 children…. the truth is those children saved me.
This trip has been an eye-opening experience for me in ways I don’t think I could even begin to describe with words. I have always been grateful for the love that I have from my family but to have unconditional love from total strangers is an amazing feeling. I am hoping that I can show other people in my life that same kind of love and gratitude that I learned from these precious children.
If you are ever given an opportunity to go on a mission trip I HIGHLY recommend you do it. I know I will be doing this again in the very near future and pray I can take my children with me so they can see that life is not just about your new smartphone or your new game system, but about love and faith.
In closing, I would like to first thank God for sending me on the journey of a lifetime. Secondly, I would like to thank Troy and Tracy Duhon for allowing me to join them on an amazing trip, and last but not least I would like to thank Craig Collins for picking my name out of that Wendy’s bag and changing my life forever.
Update 2017: I have been blessed with the opportunity to work for Giving HOPE full time now. I still receive updates on “my girls” from time to time. When someone says, a trip like this is the “trip of a lifetime” they are not kidding! My life has forever been changed my this gift I received.
Full Story
Ryan - I AM A Disciple
I am very thankful and grateful today for the love that Giving Hope showed to me on my journey...
Full Story
Melanie Pittmann
I did not have the opportunity that my sons have, but I am blessed to be able to give to my sons so that they can be better husbands and father to their children.
Full Story
Terrance Williams
When I was 17, I lost my mom to the streets, so that was a big tragedy that sparked a negative route for me. I was sentenced to 7 years.
Full Story
Stacey
June 15, 2014, is a day that has changed my life forever! It was the day that I started to believe in angel’s.
As I stepped off the bus in Hyderabad India for the first time I was overcome with 1,000 different emotions. The first few minutes was kind of a blur but I do remember hearing the sound of drums as we pulled up (at first I thought it was the sound of my own heart beating). We were greeted by a group of women dressed in beautiful bright colored clothing and a group of children with smiles so bright the sun must have been jealous. Within a matter of seconds, the children came running up to us and placed beautiful fresh flowers around our necks. I was immediately grabbed by two of the cutest little girls I’ve ever laid eyes on (Shahed and Jevtha). We began to walk hand and hand with our new friends to see Hope House for the first time the whole time we were showered with fresh flower petals. I could already feel the love and gratitude from these children. As we arrived at the steps of Hope House all of us were beyond excited. We could not wait to see the inside and to show the children to their rooms. It was like Christmas morning when Troy cut the ribbon to the bedroom door, and the kids were able to go to their very own bed, which some of them have never had.
As our day came to an end, I was already dreading the day in which I would have to say goodbye to these precious angels since I had managed to fall in love with them right away. When our last day finally came, and it was time to leave “my babies,” I tried so hard to be strong so they would not see me cry. I held Jevtha in my arms, I couldn’t help but begin to let the tears fill up in my eyes, and then Shahed came up and wrapped her arms around both of us. When I looked at her face I could see a single tear roll down Shahed’s cheek…. that was when I lost it. I truly felt like I was telling MY CHILDREN goodbye, but then I remembered, this wasn’t “GOODBYE” because goodbye means forever. so I chose to tell my babies “I’ll see you soon” because I do believe with all my heart and soul that God will bring me back to Hope House.
We spent every day that week playing, learning and most of all loving on all the children. It was funny how by the end of day 2 everyone in the group would already refer to certain children as “theirs” (I, of course had Shahed and Jevtha). We were told that we were helping to save 50 children…. the truth is those children saved me.
This trip has been an eye-opening experience for me in ways I don’t think I could even begin to describe with words. I have always been grateful for the love that I have from my family but to have unconditional love from total strangers is an amazing feeling. I am hoping that I can show other people in my life that same kind of love and gratitude that I learned from these precious children.
If you are ever given an opportunity to go on a mission trip I HIGHLY recommend you do it. I know I will be doing this again in the very near future and pray I can take my children with me so they can see that life is not just about your new smartphone or your new game system, but about love and faith.
In closing, I would like to first thank God for sending me on the journey of a lifetime. Secondly, I would like to thank Troy and Tracy Duhon for allowing me to join them on an amazing trip, and last but not least I would like to thank Craig Collins for picking my name out of that Wendy’s bag and changing my life forever.
Update 2017: I have been blessed with the opportunity to work for Giving HOPE full time now. I still receive updates on “my girls” from time to time. When someone says, a trip like this is the “trip of a lifetime” they are not kidding! My life has forever been changed my this gift I received.
Ryan - I AM A Disciple
I am very thankful and grateful today for the love that Giving Hope showed to me on my journey...
Melanie Pittmann
I did not have the opportunity that my sons have, but I am blessed to be able to give to my sons so that they can be better husbands and father to their children.