We are very sympathetic to the situations seniors find themselves in given the state of the economy. Because planned gifts do not impact everyday cash flow, it allows donors to feel good about pledging their support now while helping us plan for the future. Bottom line, contributions in estate planning can be a game changer for Matthew’s Hope and its mission

I have never been one to shy away from controversy, especially when it comes to the broken, the disenfranchised and "those" people... whatever that may mean at any given point in time. Recently, I was challenged by a far right wing and self proclaimed “Christian” organization to not serve the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, they were seeking for me to denounce those individuals and to share our ministry’s statement of faith so all could know what we stand for. My response was

I started with Matthew’s Hope in March 2025, and it has been a blessing ever since. Before starting here, I never really gave much thought to seeing a homeless person on the street. I thought most were either drug users or panhandlers that just didn’t want to work. After seeing some of these souls I now know that this is just not true and my eyes are opened to so much more. I go out into the community with our Mobile Teams to feed any homeless people that we find. We find new

When people think about serving our homeless neighbors, they often picture handing out meals or providing clothing. While those moments are incredibly important, some of the moments I’ll never forget happen quietly, sitting across a desk from someone who simply needs a chance. One of my roles at Matthew’s Hope is providing office services. Every week, I help guests obtain identification cards, apply for government assistance like SNAP benefits, create resumes, search for jobs

Dear Volunteers, Every week, a beautiful transformation happens within the walls of Matthews Hope Ministries. It does not begin with logistics, budgets, or strategic planning. It begins the moment our volunteers walk through the door. To be completely honest, we simply could not do this work without you. You are, quite literally, the heartbeat of our ministry. Seeing your familiar, smiling faces arrive each week brings an overwhelming sense of joy and relief to my heart. You

Being an advocate and truly listening to our guests’ stories about how they became homeless has been an eye-opening experience for me. The stigma that all homeless people are addicts is simply not true—although addiction is still a factor for some. Many people become homeless because of the death of a loved one, major health issues, untreated mental health conditions, loss of a job, family issues, leaving an abusive relationship, or moving somewhere else in hopes that life wi

As 2026 comes to an end, I want to thank each of you who has supported us for the last 16 years. The time has passed quickly, and we would not still be open and operating without your support. Since I always strive for full transparency, I want to share with you some data on where our financial support comes from and how it is used. It is important to me that we share this information openly with our thousands of supporters. Matthew's Hope provides a comprehensive range of se

My reason for serving doesn't come from a position of authority; it comes from a place of lived truth. I am not just leading this mission. I am living proof of it, because I walked through the doors of Matthew’s Hope as a guest long before I ever became Director. My journey taught me early on that there is no rhyme or reason as to when a person is finally ready to reach out, accept help, and start over. Real transformation rarely follows a neat schedule or happens when anyone

If you ask Don, “Donnie” Salmon what his official role is at Matthew’s Hope, you’ll quickly realize that no single job title can quite hold him. A true jack-of-all-trades, Donnie can be found doing whatever needs to be done on any given day—fixing, building, guiding, and listening. But if you ask him why he does it, his answer goes much deeper than a job description. For Donnie, service isn’t just a responsibility; it’s a lifelong calling. Donnie’s heart for serving others wa

When I first started at Matthews Hope Ministries two years ago, I had no idea what being homeless meant. Don’t get me wrong, I saw homeless people everywhere just like all of us do, but I never really looked at what it really meant to be homeless. Being at Matthews Hope has taught me love, compassion, and not to judge my fellow man. Each week our staff and volunteers goes out into the community to collect dirty laundry or deliver fresh laundry. Our Mobile team provides nonper

Matthew 25:34-40 NKJV “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed Y

When I first started my job at Matthew’s Hope as a 16-year-old, it was just a job to make some money. HOWEVER, over my 6 years here it become something else entirely to me. Certain experiences can have a tremendous impact, one of those experiences was while I was just getting started at Matthew’s Hope. I met one of our homeless guests named Clarence while we were labeling cans in the back. While we were marking cans, Clarence and I would just talk, and he would tell me just a

I serve homeless populations because I understand, in my own way, what it means to experience adversity, struggle, and the feeling of being lost. My childhood included sexual abuse, and as a teenager I experienced the pain of my parents’ divorce. At 25, my own struggles with substance abuse led me to rehabilitation and ultimately this became a turning point in my life. These experiences have given me a deep sense of empathy and sympathy for individuals who are navigating home

I didn’t set out to become an advocate for people experiencing homelessness. My connection to Matthew’s Hope began in a much simpler way. In 2015, I was the Kiwanis Centennial Playground Co-Chair and had a playground that needed a home. I knew a little about Matthew’s Hope and the work they were doing, and as I learned more about the ministry, I realized it was the perfect place for that playground. What I didn’t know then was how much that connection would change me. The mor

Planned giving provides a remarkable opportunity to make a lasting impact for your community and Matthew's Hope. By incorporating charitable donations into your estate plan, you can help ensure Matthew’s Hope’s future while leaving behind a meaningful legacy of support. In this article, we'll discuss the various types and benefits of planned giving and how your contributions can help support the critical work of Matthew's Hope in Orange and Brevard County. A Gift That Keeps o

Please stop and take a moment to read this poem that was shared with us from Angela, one of our Matthew’s Hope supporters. She said,...

According to The Wallstreet Journal , the Trump Administration has cancelled the USDA's Annual Hunger Survey. The government has been...

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One of the things I love about our Community is it's generosity. However, I'm concerned that your generosity might not be seeing the...