Allegany Hope Mentoring

Contact: Patty Stalker

Address: P.O. Box 26, Houghton NY 14744

Phone: (585) 466-7913 (evenings)

Allegany Hope trains people in churches to mentor people in their church or people in their community who are in need. Allegany Hope has developed a lending library for local churches that includes Crown Financial Bible studies and workshops, DVD sessions with testimonies on Prayer by Jim Cymbala, and a series by Erwin McManus on Soulcravings. In response to literacy deficits in our area, several mentors have added literacy training to their skills in helping people enhance employability.

Allegany Hope has begun partnering with Literacy Volunteers and the National Cristina Foundation. Local employers require both math and reading literacy on a 9^th or 11^th grade level (Friendship Dairy & Dresser Rand). Eight volunteers have been tutoring for tests and other literacy goals using TABE workbooks. One student went up two math grade levels in six weeks. The National Cristina Foundation recycles computers that are donated for redistribution and targeted training; Allegany Hope has received a desktop and laptop for the learn-and-earn program. They have also added to the DVD library for use by local churches and community groups.

Since February 2000, Allegany Hope has developed under the values of World Hope International (1) to equip churches to develop relationships with those in need as they rebuild their lives and (2) provide emotional and spiritual support to those in need within our community. Over the past eight years Allegany Hope has trained mentors from 16 churches. Mentors and mentees begin working with Rebuilding the Walls of Hope handbook, a Bible study of Nehemiah, and go on to technology training or life skills development while continuing in a mentor relationship.

On January 27, 2005, Allegany Hope's incorporation was finalized by the State of New York. On February 22, the Board of Directors was elected in the organizational meeting. In November the IRS granted Allegany Hope 501(c)(3) status. The Lausanne Covenant defines our statement of faith.

Allegany Hope Directors include Rev. Mac and Rhoda Bradshaw, Mary Carey, Vicki Grant, Dr. Mark LaCelle-Peterson, Ernie and Lynn Rositzke, Pastor Bob and Karen Schooley and Patty Stalker.

Allegany Hope and Dr. Laurie Smalley offered Crown Financial's Budgeting Class to twenty families. Many families in poverty lack the planning skills to achieve economic stability.

Bob Schooley began a class in Anger Management based on the Minirth Meyer Clinic workbook.