New Co-Directors Named to Hope Emergency Program

Mrs. Mariah Kroger has been hired by Hope Emergency Program as their new Co-Director.  She will fill the vacancy left by the untimely passing of Dianne Vollman last September.   Mariah is a graduate of the College of Mount St. Joseph in Delhi, Ohio in Special Education and has a partially completed Master of Divinity in the UMC Candidacy program.  She and her family are part of St. Columbkille Parish in Wilmington, Ohio.  After extensive teaching and volunteer experience, Mariah paused to be a full-time homemaker while homeschooling her three children. She has the passion, skill, and experience of working with under-resourced and overlooked persons.

Presently, as the Acting Co-Director since 2021, Kathy Hutchens has been promoted to the permanent position of Co-Director.  Kathy is a graduate of St. Ursula Academy and Xavier University.  Mrs. Hutchens has been on Hope Emergency staff since 2017 and started with Hope as a volunteer in 2001.

Sr. Lucia Castellini, OSU will remain on the staff to smooth the transition and to help wherever needed. She will now become a member of the HEP Board of Trustees to ensure the continuity of the Ursuline Heritage. In 2001 Sr. Lucia along with Sr. Sandy Bates, OSU took on the leadership of Hope Emergency after the outreach program moved to its present buildings on Kernan Rd., Lynchburg, OH 45142.

Hope Emergency Food Pantry serves the counties of Adam, Brown, Clinton, and Highland. They are open for distribution on Wednesdays 10 am – 1:30 pm.  Donations are accepted on Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 am – 2:00 pm. For more information about Hope Emergency and its programs call 937-364-1055 or email them at hopeemergency@hotmail.com. Website: www.hopeemergency.org.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 214, Fayetteville, OH 45118.