Many people think of Hope Outreach as the thrift store at 215 S. Van Buren, but there is much more to it than that.

The 17,000-square-foot store provides support for all of the Hope Outreach programs.

Hope Outreach is a group of local charities that deal specifically with Enid needs. The group includes:

• Community Care, which enables those in need to provide for themselves by working in exchange for clothing, furniture, gasoline, medicine and other needs.

• Angel Food Ministry, offers $60 worth of groceries for $25 each month and is aimed at helping feed the hungry in Enid.

• Family Resource Center for young parents who earn Mommy or Daddy dollars that can be spent in the specially created Mommy Store. They also offer customized sessions that teach parenting skills and how to manage a family. Mentoring sessions are confidential. They also offer free confidential pregnancy tests.

• VIP Youth teaches value, integrity and purpose to students at junior high and high school levels at a number of local schools.

• Project ABC is an abstinence curriculum helping teens make healthy choices. Part of the course is a six-week period from a goal oriented, character-based, “abstinence until marriage” curriculum.

Those programs are funded by the thrift store.

Hope Outreach was begun in 1991 by a group of Enid families who wanted to make a difference in the community. That group formed the first board, according to David Burleigh, director of development at Hope Outreach.

“They funded it from their own pocket,” he said.

The group started helping unwed mothers with clothing needs and it grew from there.

Hope Outreach is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

A new project on the Hope Outreach burner is Refuge Of Our Fathers, a homeless shelter to address the estimated 300 homeless people in Enid.

Burleigh said there are 300 to 500 homeless people in Enid every day. They sleep in cars, abandoned buildings and the couch of a friend or relative. After all the agencies are closed, or after the overnight facilities clear everyone out, they have nowhere to go.

Hope Outreach recently purchased an option on a building at 815 W. Broadway where they planned to establish the shelter. Since obtaining the option, Burleigh said there have been other offers of property and Hope Outreach is weighing those options for a shelter.

“We have talked about the homeless for years, but no one stepped out and did anything about it. We took the initiative to provide a place, he said.

Although the 17,000-square-foot thrift store has been the primary support of the other ministries, it will not be enough to maintain the homeless shelter. Burleigh said a community effort will be needed.

“We are faith-based. We were founded because the churches can’t do some things. They don’t have programs to teach healthy choices, or distribute clothing,” he said.

Hope Outreach partners with 30-35 local churches who all make contributions in some form.

“We represent the Christian gospel. We don’t push it, but we help anyone, anytime,” he said. “We are purpose driven, we are driven by the gospel.”