HOPE Inc. steps up during winter storm

SALISBURY, Md. – While many of us were fortunate enough to be in the comfort of our home during Sunday’s Blizzard, there was a population that was less fortunate.

Hope and Outreach Point of Entry, or HOPE, is the go-to for many experiencing homelessness. While the small building that houses the organization doesn’t have any beds, Mark Cotter said during severe weather events, people in need use them for temporary shelter out of the elements.

“They don’t have a safe place to sleep at night; some of them have to sleep with one eye open during the night, so they come here, and at least be safe during the day,” Mark said.

But just like the blizzard hit Delmarva, HOPE also took a tremendous hit with uptick in walk-ins. Mark said volunteers worked around the clock to ensure their clients had what they needed to be comfortable.

“A lot of these folks, all that they have is in a bag, and if it gets wet, they’re stuck,” Mark said. “It doesn’t work really well when it’s wet, so we hand out a lot of dry clothing.”

With all the help HOPE offered up, Mark said they could also use some themselves. He called on the community to find it in their pockets, and their closets, to give back to the organization.

“We could always use money, of course. We can use that if we have to house people in hotels and such– but warm socks, shoes, boots; they’re always needing hats, any clothing of any kind,” Mark said.

You can drop off those donations right in the basement of the Wicomico Presbyterian Church.