Healthy Food Retailer’s Letter

Earlier this year, your support enabled HOPE to finance a grocery store in a small town in rural Mississippi. The owner and operator recently sent HOPE the following note, which we wanted to share with you. Together, we can bridge even more gaps in opportunity deserts.

Dear HOPE team,

I would like to take a few moments to let you know how HOPE played a part in something bigger than opening a grocery store.

The response has been tremendous. I am especially proud of the impact we’re having on people’s lives not only in Gloster, but in the county of Amite as well.

The residents of Gloster and surrounding areas were having to drive nearly an hour away to achieve what we have now given them–fresh foods at an affordable price. I have been hugged, prayed over, thanked, and cried on for the last several weeks as residents rejoice their new local supermarket. I cannot express to you how moved and humbled I have been. While I understood the need here, I had no idea just how great it was. One moment that stands out more than any other is when a customer came to me and said “Bless you. We haven’t felt like human beings here for years, and now we do.”

I say that to say this – I understand it is always a bank’s risk to lend money, and there has to be a rate of return, as in any business. The reason I chose to go through HOPE was because you are a lender with the bigger picture in mind. You align yourselves to help people and to bridge gaps. This is the reason I was led to you.

We have truly, truly made an impact in the lives of many people in Gloster, MS and Amite County. Thank you for helping me bring hope to this community.

Sincerely,
Jason
Owner and Operator
Piggly Wiggly in Gloster, MS

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