Helping Others Prepare For Eternity

Since 1997, the H.O.P.E. Family Support Center has been a one stop safety net provider in Orange County, offering a myriad of support services to women and children regardless of race, creed, or religion. H.O.P.E.’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, violence, and substance abuse found in many of the families it serves. H.O.P.E. is the culmination of founder Gayle Knight’s personal mission to help women and children, especially single parent families, since 1991. The Buena Clinton neighborhood in the City of Garden Grove was her first stop as she witnessed women with young children who were living in fear of their abusers in precarious environments without the knowledge or ability to escape to safety. Working from the trunk of her car, Gayle offered food, clothing, and rental assistance with the goal of turning despair into hope. She realized that they needed more than handouts. They needed the tools to change their lives. She envisioned a place where women and children could find hope, find training and support to build a bridge to a brighter future. As a result, H.O.P.E. began offering services, first, from a small office and then 21 years ago, expanded into its current location on the corner of historic Main Street and Acacia Parkway in Garden Grove. Today, with the help of community volunteers and a small staff, H.O.P.E. is serving over 7,000 individuals a year, many of whom are at-risk women and youth throughout Orange County, and the demand is growing.