HOPE For All is a Christian ministry whose mission is to provide basic furniture, household items, and clothing to people in our community who are without the financial means to meet their basic needs. We strive to offer stability to their daily lives and hope for their future.
We are a unique resource in our area for those transitioning from homelessness, or just in need of a helping hand. We offer clients the essentials necessary to create a healthy home.
Through community donations, HOPE For All transforms an empty living space with furniture and household goods. We also provide shoes, clothing, and personal care items to offer our clients the confidence to meet the needs of daily life. Our Christian faith calls us to action as we try to stabilize the home environment and offer HOPE for the future.
We seek to bolster the dignity of disadvantaged families, without discrimination, by providing for their basic human needs. Great efforts are taken to promote responsibility, not dependency. We strive not to diminish the incentive of individuals and families to provide for themselves and find meaningful work.
HOPE For All is committed to accomplishing its mission primarily by engaging compassionate volunteers of all ages, from all walks of life, in meaningful and productive service. We seek not to compete with but to support and work with other non-profits, churches, and agencies to serve our community.
"HOPE For All 'gets it' when it comes to serving the community and working together as a team. We are blessed by our relationship with HOPE."
—Mandy Memmel, Director,
Drink at the Well
Our Beginnings
With more than 44 years of combined classroom experience in Anne Arundel County, Leo and Diane Zerhusen witnessed firsthand how children lacking basic necessities endure insecurity, embarrassment, and hopelessness. Compassion for these children and families in our community inspired Leo and Diane to found HOPE For All.
Our Signature Program Turning Houses Into Homes
432 Families Served
382 Families Served
363 Families Served
304 Families Served
382 Families Served
324 Families Served
303 Families Served
299 Families Served
292 Families Served
Moved to 14,000 sq. ft. warehouse
207 Families Served
Began Serving all AACPS Schools
176 Families Served
Occupied 4 Warehouses
135 Families Served
Moved into a Warehouse
95 Families Served
Worked out of Sea Containers
13 Families Served
Worked out of Home
Meet Our Staff
Connie Cooper
Leo Zerhusen
Robin Smith
Marla Sullivan
Stephanie Zerhusen
Barbara Willoughby
Diane Neighoff
Joyce Cavey
Brittney Allender
Kevin Morgan
Jonathan Davis
Leonard Eduvigan
Meet Our Board of Directors
-
David Chaffee, President
—Member since March 2022
—Retired United States Air Force -
Donna Robinson, Vice-President
—Member since August 2018
—Retired Paraeducator,
Anne Arundel County Public Schools -
Mike Gallina, Treasurer
—Member since 2019
—Retired, CFO, Carroll Community Bank -
Rebecca Stanley, Secretary
Member since 2023
Vice-President and Senior Branch Manager, M&T Bank -
Jennifer Barton
—Member since 2025
—Director of Strategic Mgmt.
Johns Hopkins U. Whiting School of Engineering -
Sean Dean
—Member since 2025
—Senior Network Engineer -
Matthew Evans
—Member since 2019
—CEO, MWE Partnership -
Sandy Hartzell
—Member since August 2018
—Engineer, RK&K -
Karen Maher
—Member since 2023
—Attorney
Meet Monica and her family
Meet Monica and her family
Eric and Brittney
Brittney had been a stay-at-home Mom for the past seven years, caring for the couple’s two young children, when her husband Eric lost his job. With little savings, they stayed in hotels and with family, including some nights leaving their children with relatives while they slept in their car.
She remembers clearly that on the same day she was on her knees praying “Please help me!”, they got a call that a space had opened up for them at Sarah’s House.
“God was with us,” she said.
Sarah’s House was both an answer to prayers and a struggle, where the family shared common areas with people who were often noisy and didn’t live in the same way Brittney and Eric were raising their children. Four months in, Brittney was feeling anxious to move forward with their lives when an apartment in a nearby area became available. After they moved in with furnishings they had kept in a storage unit, HOPE For All delivered a kitchen table and chairs, some odds and ends, and coats for the family.
“This is a blessing having a home,” said Eric, who is in school to become an electrician. He believes that this experience helped him get his spirit intact.
“The weight that God put on me was for my growth as a man,” he told us.
The family had a favorite Bible verse taped on their door at Sarah’s House, Jeremiah 29:11:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
“God always shows up, and he is so faithful,” Brittney said. More than ever, she and Eric are convinced that God keeps his promises.
After much struggle and uncertainty, Delivery Day dawned for Kerry! Adding to the few possessions that were donated by members of her church, our HOPE For All crew brought everything else needed to turn Kerry’s house into a home.
A troubled marriage, which included physical abuse, had finally driven Kerry to step out on her own. Her case worker at the YWCA helped Kerry obtain senior housing, and referred her to us.
Now Kerry’s life has begun anew, with her own space, and twice weekly volunteer duties at The Church at Severn Run, where she has community and feels much gratification in serving others. She’s been drafted for Vacation Bible School as well, and is looking forward to working with the children this summer.
“I’m very thankful for everything I received!” she said. We wish for Kerry all of God’s blessings.
Kerry
Niketta
Niketta’s severe domestic violence assaults don’t define her. Years ago, her husband became addicted to drugs, and in a violent rage, broke her left rotator cuff, and damaged her left knee, right arm and shoulder. It took three surgeries to repair her injuries.
Seven months later during a child visitation, her former husband struck her violently. Niketta was on life support, and required additional surgery fusing vertebrae in her neck. She is now totally disabled.
Throughout this turmoil, Niketta has never lost faith. “I’m thankful to God that I am here and alive and well,” she said.
Niketta was introduced to HOPE For All by chance, which she credits to God appearing in her life in the form of a woman who told her about how we serve people who need help.
For seven years, she has lived with her three children using hand-me-downs from her sister. Now she’ll be returning the borrowed furnishings back to her sister.
“They are blessing me and my children with furniture,” she said. “HOPE For All are an amazing set of people.”
Mr. George immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago in 2016 and works full-time as a custodian with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. He lost his wife six years ago, and lives in an apartment alone.
He was referred to HOPE For All by the Housing Commission of AACO, as he needed a new bed. When we visited Mr. George, our Intake Team went through our categories of things that he could request and Mr. George decided that he only needed a few additional items—some furniture, a vacuum cleaner, bedding, and some shirts.
Mr. George was very humble and gracious over our offer to serve him with these necessities.
“To God be the glory!” he told us. May God watch over him always.
Mr. George
Mary
Mary is one of the many people in our area who are disabled and with little income. When she needs to replace something, her options and resources are few.
“My furniture is literally falling apart,” she told us from her apartment where she has been living for four years.
Much of her furniture was passed down, and is in rough condition. She needed living room furniture and a kitchen table, as well as a few extras, including a tea kettle.
“The people from HOPE For All have been so helpful, reasonable, and delightful to work with,” she said.
Mary has asked for prayers for her health, and for her daughter and grandchildren.
Your gifts transform the lives of children and their families living in your community
Consider the impact your gift can make—
- $25 provides a week's worth of new socks, underpants, and undershirts for two children who only have the clothes that they wore to school today.
- $50 provides a new crib mattress or a dresser for a mom struggling to meet the needs of her newborn child.
- $120 provides a twin-size mattress, box spring, and bed frame for a child who has no bed to call their own.
Thank you!
HOPE for All is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. HOPE For All 990