Hope Children's Home Thrives Through Community Donations

Established in 1968, Hope Children's Home ( hopechildrenshome.org ) is a faith-based organization that provides temporary or permanent housing and a Christian education to as many as 80 children at a time, ranging from infants to teen-agers. The organization’s Tampa, Florida, headquarters encompasses the Cottages of Hope that provide siblings and babies with a home-like family environment. With a commitment to breaking generational cycles of abuse and neglect, Hope Children's Home subsists on private donations rather than federal or state funding.

Community donations are essential to the home’s future. Among the basic needs of the organization are food items such as cheese, butter, and eggs, as well as practical materials ranging from disposable cups to baby wipes.

In a 2019 interview with the Tampa Bay Times during the holiday season, the executive director, Dr. Mike Higgins, highlighted the importance of donations that go beyond toys, including furniture that can be sold at the organization’s thrift stores in Tampa and Clearwater to raise funds to help the children.

During the 2020 Christmas season, one of the most requested types of contributions was gift cards for food and other essentials. These allow children to buy things they need throughout the year and enable the staff to reward them on special occasions. Popular gift cards include those for JCPenney, Walmart, and Target, as well as for restaurants ranging from Chick-fil-A to Dairy Queen.