Morning coffee at HOPE

Yarmouth organization launching new daily program for adults

People with free time on weekday mornings who are interested in a new social opportunity are invited to check out a new program at the HOPE Centre in Yarmouth.

Scheduled to start Sept. 17, the initiative is an effort by HOPE – Handicapped Organization Promoting Equality – to share its new facility with people by offering them a chance to come in and have a cup of coffee or tea with friends, socialize a bit, maybe play cards or a board game.

Doug Thistle, chairman of HOPE’s games and activities committee, gives an example of how the program would work.

“Like a group of four will come here and if they want to play crib, if they want to play whist, or whatever kind of game they want to play ... the place is open,” he said. “There’s tea and coffee (and muffins).”

The plan is to have the program Monday through Friday mornings between 9 and 11. Shelly Goodwin, a HOPE staff member, will be the program’s host.

There is no charge, although if anyone wants to make a donation, HOPE will graciously accept it, Thistle said.

“The gist of the whole thing is to make the place available for the public to come in and enjoy the facility,” he said.

HOPE moved into its new building in Yarmouth’s south end last year. Prior to that, the organization had been housed From left, Linda Vickery, Doug Thistle and Shelly Goodwin. Vickery is co-ordinator of HOPE in Yarmouth. Thistle is chairman of HOPE’s games and activities committee. Goodwin – a member of the HOPE staff – will be the host for a new weekday morning program HOPE is launching. The program will offer participants coffee/tea, muffins, games and a chance to socialize. in temporary quarters after their longtime location was damaged by flooding.

Linda Vickery, HOPE’s coordinator, says their Dial-a-Ride transportation service is well-established and pretty well-known, but they would like to raise the profile of their building.

“Dial-a-Ride everybody knows about,” she said. “The HOPE Centre is starting to get in the background and now we want to bring it back out. We’ve got this beautiful facility. There’s no reason why we can’t (share it and promote it).”

She also notes the building can be rented by individuals or groups.

As for the new program that’s about to start, it will be geared for adults.

“We’d sort of like a quiet atmosphere type of thing,” Vickery said.

She said people may have ideas as to things to do during that two-hour period and HOPE will be glad to hear their suggestions.