Hope Village raises $13k so far toward $50k goal
MINOT – With one week remaining in the fund-raiser, Hope Village has received $13,032 in its campaign to raise $100,000 for flood recovery.
The campaign started when Kent Busek of Stonebridge Development Corporation, challenged flood supporters to raise $50,000 for flood recovery. Busek will match the amount, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000.
Initially, donations arrived from the Minot area, but as word has spread, Hope Village has received checks from as far away as Oregon, Washington and Arizona.
Many of the out-of-town donations have come from some of the over 2,000 volunteers who have traveled to Minot to help rebuild homes through Hope Village.
“Be blessed,” read a note from Fargo that accompanied a $100 check.
On Wednesday, a Minot homeowner who was not flooded stopped by Our Savior Lutheran Church, where Hope Village sits, and left a check for $250, saying it was his way of giving thanks that the flood had not directly affected him.
According to FEMA, there are still 904 families and individuals living in its temporary housing units, and many of those families cannot get back into their homes without assistance.
Since it’s opening in April, Hope Village’s over 246 volunteer teams have contributed over 83,000 hours to flood relief. In financial terms, the website IndependentSector.org values a volunteer hour at just under $17.50, making Hope Village volunteers’ contribution worth over $1.4 million.
Hope Village plans for the funds raised to go directly to organizations that support flood recovery, such as Unmet Needs and the Recovery Warehouse.
Checks may be mailed to Hope Village, 3705 11th St. SW, Minot ND 58701. Credit card contributions may be made by phone: 701-240-1495.
The fund-raiser runs through the end of November.
