“For I was hungry and you fed me. For I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. For I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. For I was naked and you clothed me. For I was sick and you cared for me. For I was in prison and you visited me.”
- MATTHEW 25:35-36
Dear Friend:
It was a year for records in 2024 as the food pantries distributed 7.7 million pounds of food for a value close to $15 million. We are now feeding over 6,000 households a month including hot meals, which the food bank cooked close to 335,000 hot meals. So many people are in need for food and the demand continues to grow.
In 2024, we opened our 9th Hope House in Manila, Philippines. This was a special project as instead of an orphanage, we purchased a 3-story building to create an adoption center so we can find parents who have a heart for adoption and we placed them with children who otherwise would never get adopted. In 2025 we will be opening the new Giving Hope Food Bank in Escondido, California. The homeless population, with lack of food, is one of the biggest numbers in the U.S. This warehouse will house food so that thousands of people can be fed weekly. This is a special project because the need is so massive.
In 2024, the Giving Hope Retreat Center had over 300 men and women join the discipleship program which David Bottner and his team are doing an amazing job. They are saving lives as this facility is one of the top heroin programs in the U.S. Lives are being saved, and souls are being reached for God.
In January 2025, Giving Hope was honored by the Louisiana Right to Life top award, the Robert E. Winn award. This was a special award and a huge honor we received. In February 2025, the NOLA Walk of Fame honored over 50 New Orleans people for the accomplishments they had. Giving Hope received one of the Walk of Fame stars for the years of work we have been doing in the New Orleans area.
Every year I challenge people to make this year the greatest of your life by becoming a dream maker. When you make dreams come true for others, God will make your dreams come true. God is not looking for the most qualified, He is looking for the willing. This year, volunteer your time and watch your world change for the better. Make 2025 the greatest year of your life.
We thank you for your support and we are praying for you.
Dear Friends,
This past year has been remarkable in the breadth and depth of impact we have achieved together. As we reflect on our efforts and accomplishments, it is clear that the heart of our mission to change lives through love and promote human dignity is as strong as ever.
Our programs have reached record heights, with the Giving Hope Food Pantry distributing 7.5 million pounds of groceries, valued at $14 million, and serving hot meals to over 335,000 individuals. Our Compassion Outreach program touched the lives of 21,353 adults and children, distributing $477,265.65 in additional clothing and essential items to families in need. We’ve also enjoyed an increase in church and public partners to serve families, the homeless, and other vulnerable groups throughout the community, understanding that we are better and stronger when we work together.
The support we've received has helped us exceed our goals in many areas. Through the dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors, and the strength of our community partnerships, we are expanding our reach and deepening our impact.
The upcoming year promises new initiatives, including the grand opening of the Gayle and Tom Benson Good Shepherd School - Giving Hope Campus in the Desire-Florida Neighborhood and the launch of our Escondido Food Pantry in San Diego, California. We are also excited about our vision to connect the dots between the nearly 40,000 people we serve to service providers and essential community resource .
I am grateful for every volunteer, donor, and partner who has joined us on this journey. Your commitment fuels our work and amplifies our impact. This year, we invite you - through your God-given gifts, able bodies, resources, and brilliance - to give our community a hand-up. Together, we will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for your ongoing support and belief in our mission. Let us continue to give hope and spread love, making every effort count towards building a more compassionate world.
Warm regards,
Alphonse Smith Executive Director
Stacey Martin Administrator & Events Manager
Jasmine Beard
Social Media Manager
Elendra Fields
Daquisha Lewis
Celestine Turner
Donnie Joseph
Anthony Johnson
Tonja Demery
Jessica Costa
Lester Smith
Ella Buggage
Nuvia Carson
Maria Phillips
Laurie Berry
Patricia Kuykendall
Shawn Ratliff
Herman Trammell
Betty Thomas Chief of Operations Director
Lan Hoang Volunteer & Outreach Manager
Donald Martin Warehouse Manager, Compassion Outreach
Barbara Womack
Markisha Frazier
Odessa Robinson
Jeremiah Byrd
Paula Nguyen
Freddie Davis
Kenneth Darby
Dawn Joseph
Karla Paramo
Robert Bookman
Kim Jones
Kurtrell Kuyendall
Perry Thomas
Timothy Shelton
*Note: restricted funds raised for future Giving Hope headquarters, food pantry, and kitchen are reflected in net assets
Our food pantries play a crucial role in fighting food insecurity in several communities nationwide-wide. We collaborate with food providers, corporate partners, and dedicated volunteers to supply food to individuals and families facing hunger. We also seek to build pathways from food crisis to sustainability, ultimately reducing reliance on food assistance
2 0 2 4 I M P A C T
7.7M
total pounds of groceries distributed
$14M+
total value of food distributed
35k+ people reached
335k+ hot meals served
In the 11 years God has been ordering our steps it’s amazing to see the miracles He provides, allowing us to continue to meet the forever growing demand.
The Giving Hope Community Center, a collaboration between Giving Hope and Thrive New Orleans' Thrive 9th Ward (T9) initiative, serves as a secure safe haven for families and youth in the Desire-Florida area. T9 offers opportunities for personal growth, indigenous leadership development, mentorship, specialized job training, and various activities, including summer camps, vacation bible school, and sports and recreation programs
2 0 2 4 I M P A C T
1,500+ people reached though programming and community outreaches
110 workforce training graduates
18
300+ youth reached through sports, recreation and holistic mentorship
14 community church outreaches
200
It’s not about starting the walk alongside someone, it’s about being there when the path isn’t as smooth and being that person to say I got you. 2024 was a year of reminding folk that we got them. We are in this with you for the complete walk of surviving to thriving. O
Watch our video!
In August 2025, Giving Hope and Generations-Home established the Thomas and Geraldine Joseph Giving Hope Family Center in Manila, Philippines. This center, our ninth Hope House, directly addresses the crisis of 1.8 million orphans and millions of vulnerable, abandoned, or trafficked children in the region As both an Adoption Agency and a Crisis Center, it provides a holistic approach to adoption, foster care, and family reunification, plus essential services such as daycare and livelihood training. This initiative is a pivotal part of our mission to ensure that every child can thrive in a loving, stable home. We are proud to support Generations-Home and its many public, private, and church partners in its mission to end the orphan crisis - one family at a time.
For more information about Generations-Home, please visit www generationshome org
Our goal is to see more and more Filipino families embracing the beauty of adoption and foster care. While not everyone will be called to adopt, we all have a part to play.
In 2024, Giving Hope's Compassion Outreach program expanded Giving Hope’s impact by equipping local churches and aligned community-based organizations with the necessary resources to address critical needs within vulnerable populations. By focusing on tailored initiatives such as food distributions, household necessities, and support services, we've strengthened our network and enhanced our capacity to deliver aid beyond our facilities This approach ensures help reaches those in need through anchor community institutions, empowering stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility.
2 0 2 4 I M P A C T
$447k value of good donated to families in need
21,353 people impacted
65 churches onboarded
621 pallets
Women of Hope Unite (WOHU) is a network of women committed to making a lasting impact on women and children through their time, talent, and financial contributions. The success of WOHU in 2024 and their ongoing work in 2024 is attributed to The Hope for Children Fund, a signature campaign, and the dedicated efforts of the women within the network
2 0 2 4 I M P A C T
$24k+ distributed through the Hope for Children Fund
Honored for their generosity, community leadership, volunteer effort, or longstanding commitment to Giving Hope.
Honored for their generosity, community leadership, volunteer effort, or longstanding commitment to Giving Hope.
from left to right:
360 DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS
3DHQ
ABC TITLE
ALL STAR FOUNDATION, INC & TODD TROSCLAIR
ALLY FINANCIAL, INC
ALWAYS BIKES
ASSURANT INSURANCE COMPANY
AUL CORP
AUSTIN’S RESTAURANT
AZURA CREDIT UNION
BAPTIST COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
BMO
CARNOW
CAPITAL ONE
CARFAX
CARGURUS
CDK GLOBAL
COX AUTOMOTIVE
COX FAMILY FOUNDATION
CRESCENT RIVER PORT PILOTS’ FOUNDATION
CROSS GATES FAMILY FITNESS
CRS AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIERS
DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA
DPRB ENTERPRISES LLC
DRIVECENTRIC
DURR HEAVY CONSTRUCTION
E L CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION
E*TRADE SECURITIES LLC
EPIC INSURANCE BROKERS & CONSULTANTS
FIDELITY CHARITABLE
FIRST CHOICE COFFEE SERVICES
FORT KNOX INDOOR OUTDOOR STORAGE LLC
GM FINANCIAL
HANCOCK WHITNEY
IHEART MEDIA
JANIKING
JOHN H SCHNATTER FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC
KINGDOM CONNECTION
LKQ CORPORATION
ADVOCATES OF LOVE
ANGEL HOUSE
CITYSERVE INTERNATIONAL
GOD IZ LOVE - CAMERON JORDAN FOUNDATION
IMPACT AFRICA
INSTITUTO AQUAVIVA
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
LOUISIANA SEAFOOD
MANHEIM NEW ORLEANS
MESSINA’S CATERING & EVENTS
METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION, INC
MONTELEONE FAMILY FOUNDATION
NATIONAL AUTO CARE
PETRA AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS
PMAT REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
PREMIER AUTO OUTLET
PREMIER CHEVROLET OF BUENA PARK
PREMIER CHEVROLET OF CARLSBAD
PREMIER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM
PREMIER DOCUMENT IMAGING SOLUTIONS
PREMIER HONDA
PREMIER KIA OF KENNER
PREMIER NISSAN OF METAIRIE
QUIKTRIP
RIBOLI FAMILY
RINGSTREET
SALUTAER DEUM FOUNDATION
SAUERS LOPEZ CONSTRUCTION
SEDGWICK DELEGATED AUTHORITY
SK SECURITY
SLIPSTREAM CREATIVE
SOUTHERN AUTO DEALER RESOURCE
STABILITY FINANCIAL
STRANGE MUSIC
SUNFLOWER AUTO AUCTION
TASCO AUTO COLOR
THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOUNDATION
TOYOTA
TOYOTA OF NEW ORLEANS
UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
VICTORY CHEVROLET GMC OF PAOLA
VICTORY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM
VICTORY FORD KANSAS CITY
VICTORY FORD OF GARNETT
VICTORY GMC OF ST JOSEPH
WAS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
THE FOUNDRY COMMUNITY CHURCH
THE GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL
THE NEW ORLEANS MISSION
THRIVE NEW ORLEANS
TREE OF LIFE MINISTRIES
ALLEN CHURCH
ASHLAND AVENUE BC
AUSTIN STONE
BASIC/NEW LIFE
BELDEN BAPTIST
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
CAMELLIA BAPTIST CHURCH
CAPSTONE CHURCH
CARSON NEWMAN BCM
CENTRAL BAPTIST
CHAPEL HILL BC
CHILTON BAPTIST
CHURCH AT AVENUE SOUTH
CHURCH AT STATION HILL
COLLIERVILLE FBC
COUNTRY BIBLE
EAGLE'S LANDING
EAST BOONEVILLE
EDEN WESTSIDE
FAITH CHURCH
FBC ATHENS
FBC GONZALES
FBC JONESBORO
FBC LINDSAY
FBC MARION
FBC PINSON
FBC SALINA
FBC STIGLER
FBC SWARTZ
ARGENT TRUST COMPANY
ARMY RESERVE
BAKERMAID
BCM (HOPE DAY)
BIOMEDICAL
BROOMFIELD
CELEBRATION CHURCH
COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
FSBC BRYANT
GRACE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
HEARTLAND STUDENTS
HUNTER ST BAPTIST CHURCH
IMMANUEL BAPTIST
MARBLE HILL
MERIDIAN BAPTIST
MOUNTAIN VIEW
MT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
MURRAY STATE BCM
NETTLETON BC
NEW VISION SCHOOL
NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
OAK GROVE BC
OAK RIDGE
PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
PINELAKE CHURCH
RAYMOND ROAD BC
SAGEMONT CHURCH
SHOAL CREEK BAPTIST
SPRINGDALE BAPTIST CHURCH
TATE SPRINGS
THE CHURCH AT BROOKHILLS
THE FOUNDRY COMMUNITY CHURCH
THOMASVILLE ROAD
TRI-CITIES BAPTIST
VERTICAL LIFE
WILLIAMS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
DILLARD UNIVERSITY
ED WU- RISE TOGETHER
ENTERGY (HOPE DAY)
INTRALOX
TULANE UNIVERSITY
UNO UNIVERSITY
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
YOUNG LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Food Pantry Fish Fry
April 11
Give NOLA Day
May 6
Giving Hope Gala - Kansas City
September 13
Community Center Luncheon
October 2025
Giving Hope Gala - New Orleans
November 15
Turkey Drive
November 24
Giving Tuesday
December 2
Christmas Toy Drive
December 13
*Dates subject to change
