New Hope For Kids

Cotton Candy and fun awaited those who took part at “Kids Hope Depot” on Saturday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Making a difference many times only takes a little time and a big heart.

Irvin DeBruin was helping to coordinate one of those efforts at New Hope Community Center on Saturday. The group was hoping to reach out to the younger population of Oskaloosa in much the same way New Hope has served entire families during outreach missions there in the past.

The “Kids Hope Depot” was offering underprivileged kids clothing, food, haircuts and opportunities to sign up for vacation bible school. Also on hand was a camp representative to further their opportunities.

The “Hope Depot” has been done twice in the past for families, the first nearly two years ago, and once again this past fall. With the success of those two outreaches, “we decided this winter we ought to do something for the kids” said DeBruin.

After talking with the teachers at the schools, DeBruin said, “sometimes the kids need just a little more clothes and opportunities”. The hope was to “fill out that need”.

The First Christian Reformed Church along with Fellowship Bible Church were the two organizing partners of the project. They then reached out to other local churches to join in to promote their vacation bible schools. “It would put some opportunities out there to get the chance to get next to Christ and see if maybe it would make an impact”, added DeBruin.

The hope was to be able to serve 150 to 200 kids during the day, but a busy day may have kept that number down.

DeBruin thanked the nearly 40 volunteers “who have stepped up and helped out” and also to New Hope Community for the use of their facility. “They do a lot for the community” said DeBruin.