Article and Photo by Liam Jaeb.
Place of Hope in St. Cloud, Minnesota has been a place of shelter and comfort for those in need, but many may not know the story behind it.
In Spring of 1997, Pastor Carol and Geary Smith felt it was their calling to start Place of Hope. Pastor Carol said they started up because, “God gave us a vision of helping people that were marginalized, people that are on the street, people that are outside society.”
Place of Hope helps in many ways, by sheltering people in need, feeding meals, and caring for those who can’t get it from anyone else. Pastor Carol’s goal was to fulfil these basic needs by giving them hope.
“When you’re on the street and you don’t have a place to eat, you don’t have a place to be, you’re cold, and you don’t know what the future holds, you feel pretty hopeless,” said Pastor Carol. “Our whole thing was concrete needs… food, place to be, connections to resources and other people that can help them.”
Place of Hope constantly is looking for people to serve and help those in need. They can’t do what they do without the help of the community around them.
No matter the circumstance, no matter the company kept, Place of Hope will be there to remind those in need that there is hope, and better days are ahead.
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