HOPE CENTER FOUNDERS ARE LEAVING OROVILLE

OROVILLE >> Founders of the Hope Center, Stephanie and Larry Hayden, are transitioning the management and operations of the nonprofit over to Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Alpern and Operations Director Josh Jamison.

The Haydens are leaving Oroville to be near Stephanie Hayden’s family, particularly her mother and stepfather who are both “valiantly fighting cancer,” said Stephanie Hayden.

“After months of prayer and debating, we made the difficult decision to close our chapter here in Oroville and move to Arkansas. We don’t have an estimate on when the move will happen because we are working towards selling our home. But it will be soon,” she said.

In the meantime, Hayden, who serves as the center’s chief executive officer is working with Alpern and Jamison to make the transition to new management as smooth as possible

“Hope Center is doing great and growing in amazing ways, far beyond anything we ever envisioned. We are so grateful to God and the many friends, people, churches, ministries, businesses and organizations that have partnered with us to help create a vibrant hub that blesses Oroville. We feel confident and blessed to have people like Josh and Jennifer, our board of directors, staff and volunteers take over operations and continue to carry the vision forward,” said Hayden.

Alpern moved to Oroville from the Bay Area in 1996. She served as a supervisor for Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services for 12 years before retiring in 2008. She joined the Hope Center’s team of volunteers in 2010 before going on staff as the CFO.

“I’m looking forward to taking on more responsibility and expanding and enhancing community outreach. The Hope Center is an amazing service organization. That’s really what we’re all about — serving people. That was Larry and Stephanie’s vision and I’m thrilled to be a part of continuing that vision,” said Alpern.

Jamison and his wife Melissa both grew up in Butte County. They and their sons Joshua Jr. and Caleb have been in outreach ministries in California, Texas and St. Louis since 1990, serving hundreds of people through shelter programs and street ministry with meals, spiritual guidance and support. They returned to Butte County in 2019 and joined the Hope Center team later that year. Jamison first served the nonprofit as the pastor for spiritual activity but the job soon evolved into operations director, a position that oversees all services and programs offered through the center.

“I’m excited about future of the Hope Center. There’s a lot to do, a lot of lives to touch. I’m looking forward to meeting needs, overcoming obstacles and continuing with the value and vision that the Hayden’s established of seeing a need and filling it,” said Jamison.

Hayden said she knows that Alpern and Jamison are the “perfect people” to assume the management and leadership of the nonprofit.

“Both Josh and Jennifer have embraced the mission,

vision and values we have worked hard to maintain. We believe that with Jenifer, the Jamison’s, the staff, volunteers, board and our supportive community, the Hope Center will not only continue to grow, but to thrive beyond where it has ever been before,” said Hayden.

When the Hope Center opened in 2006 it provided food, clothing, commodities and other support services to 1,590 people in need. The nonprofit later became a designated disaster relief organization though a contract with the Office of Emergency Services and works in collaborative partnership with other organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Jesus Center, Oroville Rescue Mission, the Camp Fire Collaborative, Community Action Agency, North Valley Community Foundation and “nearly all north and south county organizations that provide relief for our in-need population, “said Hayden.

In 2018 the Hope Center served 42,184 clients including Camp Fire survivors. In 2020 43,294 people in need took advantage of the center’s services. This year to date, the center has served 16,017 clients.

The annual cost of the center’s operation is approximately $1.1 million.

PHOTOS BY KYRA GOTTESMAN/MERCURY-REGISTER Hope Center CFO Jennifer Alpern, left, works with office manager Haley Kingery at the nonprofit’s downtown business office Wednesday in Oroville.

California Hope Program Manager for Northern Valley Catholic Social Services Jake Fender, left, and Hope Center Operations Manager Josh Jamison, right, test the sound system Wednesday at the Long Term Bear Fire Recovery Group Resource Center in Oroville.

KYRA GOTTESMAN/MERCURY-REGISTER Hope Center CFO Stephanie Hayden, seen Tuesday in Oroville, who co-founded the nonprofit with her husband Larry Hayden in 2006, announced they are leaving Oroville and the center to move closer to ill family members in Arkansas.