HOPES program stays busy helping families in Wright County

            Helping new mothers and families in need is a year-round commitment and the Wright County HOPES program is meeting that need. They have been very active throughout the summer and fall and look forward to continuing their mission this holiday season.

            For those unfamiliar with this program, HOPES (Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success) is a voluntary home visitation program for families living in Wright County. Moms and families in the area can apply to participate in HOPES if they are expecting a child or have a child between zero and three years of age and meet certain eligibility requirements.

            In addition to making home visits, the folks at HOPES get out and about to participate in various activities throughout the county.  This past June, they were at Festival in the Park in Clarion. They helped with the Kids Zone area, offering games and prizes to the children at the park. The HOPES ladies and friends also made an appearance in the Wright County Fair parade. They passed out marketing tools like magnets, pens and more to parade-goers.

            HOPES typically has a booth at the Back to School Bash in Eagle Grove. They did again this year, but added something new to it. Gayleen Rutherford, HOPES Program Manager, explained that before the event, they held a sock drive. They put out donation boxes for socks at their office in Clarion and the Wright County Courthouse.

For the full story, see this week's Monitor.