Convoy of Hope began hosting Community Events 25 years ago. Since then, we’ve helped thousands of Guests of Honor — from New York to Hawaii, Washington to Florida, and everywhere in between — in more than 1,200 cities in the United States.
Guests of Honor are our neighbors, co-workers, the grocery check-out clerk, or the person asking for help on the corner. They are the families who need a hand-up during difficult times, individuals living on the fringes of poverty, and those who are barely making it paycheck to paycheck. They are people we all know and love and want to help.
They are people like Carly. It had already been a long day for Carly before she attended the Wichita Convoy of Hope Community Event with her family. She’d worked eight hours at one job; after the event, she would be going to her second job.
Carly and her family have attended the Community Event for four years in a row. She and her kids go to every area — haircuts, shoes, and the Kids’ Zone — and receive backpacks and groceries at the end. The haircuts are particularly of value. The only time Carly’s daughters receive haircuts are when they attend Community Events.
When asked why she keeps returning, she says, “Convoy is one of the most understanding and respectful organizations. They treat you like a person. Like you’re just another person that deserves something. They don’t look down on you. They don’t treat you different. They don’t talk to you like you’re a 5-year-old kid. You don’t get that. People in our situations don’t get that.”
Her entire family feels connected to the event. In fact, her oldest daughter decided to be a volunteer this year. “We’re hoping by next year, we won’t need the services, and then we can all come back and volunteer,” Carly says. “They’ve helped us, so we try to give back if we can.”
Carly and her family are striving to be like the Campos family — Guests of Honor who went to their first event several years ago when they were having a tough time. The flyer they received highlighted free services that they needed.
“When I came to the Convoy of Hope event, and every five or six meters is one person, smiling and saying, ‘Welcome. You’ve been welcome. God bless you.’ Wow. This is what I needed,” said Roberto Campos. “I believe the people received me and this changed my life.”
Since then, the entire Campos family has volunteered at their local Community Event for five consecutive years. They have come full circle, from receiving to giving back. They are showing other Guests of Honor in their community the same level of dignity and respect they were shown.
Since 1994, Convoy of Hope Community Events have served more than 2 million Guests of Honor around the U.S. — people like Carly and the Camposes — who simply need hope in a time of need. To learn more about Community Events, visit convoyofhope.org/events.
