Nonprofit Spotlight: Hart of Gold Care

BY COLIN HEFFINGER

When it comes to helping others, it doesn’t take a heart of gold to change a life forever. But for Sharon Harris, founder and director of Hart of Gold Care, that generosity has fueled her work for many years, even before registering as a nonprofit. With a dedicated team of leaders, volunteers, and community partners across Middletown, Del., and Pennsville, N.J., Hart of Gold Care provides support for individuals facing challenging times, helping them regain stability and self-sufficiency.

“We provide services such as transitional housing, supportive programs, and document recovery for veterans, the homeless, and those transitioning from incarceration,” Harris explains. “If someone has been homeless, how can we expect them to find a new home if they don’t have their IDs or Social Security card? We don’t send them elsewhere. Instead, we assist them in obtaining their necessary documents and provide the training, programs, and resources to empower individuals for reintegration into society.”

One of Hart of Gold Care’s most impactful programs is its entrepreneur program, which teaches individuals how to align building self-confidence and resilience with starting a business. “This has become more popular than I could have imagined,” Harris says. “Each year, new and returning volunteers are excited to teach someone else because they didn’t have access to this help themselves when they needed it. They’re determined and engaged, serving as meaningful role models for those now facing what they once went through.”

To expand its programs, Hart of Gold Care partners with other businesses and nonprofits. The organization is currently working with school districts to provide gang, suicide, and homelessness interventions in K–12 schools. They are also working directly with prisons to teach entrepreneur programs, supported by group leaders and resources that help those incarcerated get started on the right path. Harris is eager to explore even more opportunities to collaborate with other organizations.

Recently, Sharon has pursued a new initiative to create a community resource center on her New Jersey property. It began as a modest agricultural program with only seeds and a few residents. Today, participants produce more than enough squash, peppers, collard greens, beets, green beans, and carrots to give

back to their communities. Sharon is also collaborating with Rutgers’ agriculture program to build a robust curriculum, hoping the resource center will serve as a one-stop shop for the individuals served by Hart of Gold Care. The project is currently open for funding.

In reflection of her experience as a business owner in Delaware, Sharon states the indispensable value of “networking with other businesses as a tremendous opportunity” for her work. “It’s all about meeting people with similar passions who are also looking to make a real difference,” says Harris. “When I first started out, it was just me. Networking helped me see that there’s so many people who want to help and partner with you for a shared cause. A single person can help a family, but together we can help a village.”