H.O.P.E. Center Expands to New Location to Better Serve Community

11 Apr 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dickinson County Non-Profit Fittingly Celebrates National Month of Hope

April 11, 2025 (ABILENE, Kan.)—The H.O.P.E. Center, Inc., which serves Dickinson County, Kansas, is pleased to announce its relocation to 300 North Cedar, Suite 104, in Abilene, Kan. The larger space allows the non-profit organization to have a more visible and accessible presence to better meet current services and future needs of the community.

“This was a great opportunity to increase our public awareness, as our new location is conveniently located on ground level off Cedar Street in Abilene. This move ensures we can best serve our visitors and families’ needs,” said Glen Shank, H.O.P.E. Center Board Chairman. The new location is also located next to several other non-profit resources.

The H.O.P.E. Center, which stands for Helping Our People in Emergencies, has assisted Dickinson County households for more than thirty years as the resource clearing house to meet the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. It is open 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The larger H.O.P.E. Center location reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community, and to accommodate our families, create an inviting environment to connect, deliver hope, and foster support,” said H.O.P.E. Center Executive Director Cindy Whittington. “We are growing to serve you better, and it will be our pleasure to serve you at our new location with the quality and level of care you have come to expect from us.”

To celebrate this significant milestone, the H.O.P.E. Center will host a Grand Opening event for the public on Monday, April 28, 2025. The event will start at 9:00 a.m. with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Dickinson County Partnership and continue with coffee and breakfast pastries from Amanda’s Bakery & Bistro. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet the staff and board of directors.

“We are grateful for the support we have received from our Dickinson County communities,” added Whittington. “This expansion is a testament to the collective effort to uplift families and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive.”

The expansion and relocation conveniently occur in April, recognized as the National Month of Hope, a time to focus on spreading positivity, encourage others, and celebrate resilience with events and initiatives to foster hope and connection within communities. The H.O.P.E. Center will appropriately celebrate the last week of April with various activities throughout Dickinson County—including a variety of meals, hygiene kits, gas cards, and giveaways—all while spreading hope, connection, and strength across local communities.

“This is the best you can do for yourself and others; to always choose hope over hopelessness,” said Whittington.

The H.O.P.E. Center was previously located at 409 NW 3rd Street, Suite G, Abilene, Kan., inside the Sunflower Building. The new space was previously occupied by Miss Emily’s Music School.

The mission of H.O.P.E. Center, Inc. is to be a clearing house to meet the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs of the people in Dickinson County. It provides referral services in the HOPE Center networks with other social services agencies and makes referrals to other community resources, other area assistance agencies, and churches when appropriate. It also assists Dickinson County residents, who have established residency for at least three months, with emergency financial aid for utilities, rent, gasoline, prescriptions, diapers, etc. In addition, the program operates a transitional house, called the HOPE House, for local families who are homeless or unable to remain in their current housing. Families live in the house expense-free and are required to participate in life skills training and prepare for financial and housing stability.

DKEDC’s mission is to promote economic development throughout Dickinson County by serving as a resource and partner: attracting new industries; enhancing and improving the quality of life for businesses, residences and visitors; while forming strong relationships with everyone involved. Through the Driving Dickinson County Partnership, a county-wide chamber of commerce, DKEDC partners with like-minded individuals and organizations that desire to make Dickinson County a desired place to do business in Kansas.

Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation
& the Dickinson County Partnership
203 NW 15th Street, Abilene, KS 67410
Telephone: (785) 200-3518
www.dkedc.com