Hope Unlimited Block Party Connects Community

On Wednesday, the Hope Unlimited Family Care Center hosted a neighborhood block party at their Paducah location.

The center located at 1101 Jefferson Street offered free hot dogs, face painting, and a bouncy house. Paducah Bank's Wow Wagon handed out free ice cream and Julia Waddell provided balloon animals for the kids.

Hope Unlimited Development Director Anne Bidwell said they had been discussing the idea for a block party for a while. "We have a big open backyard, and it's been a dream for a long time for us to open that up and just have a block party for all of our neighbors." Bidwell said.  Bidwell noted that the party was a great way for the community to get connected.

Nicole Farley is the Executive Director of  Hope Unlimited and says Wednesday's event is exactly what they had imagined. "I think it was exactly what our prayer was and that was just to show our community and our neighborhood that we really love them," Farley said. Farley said they want to be known as a family care center. She said they will help families with any need they may have. "Our purpose is to really help families to move from just surviving to truly thriving." She added.

Bidwell mentioned that the center has several services including pregnancy tests, and a clinic offering medical services. They also provide parenting classes.

It's not only women's services that are offered at the Hope Unlimited Family Care center, said Family Resource Director Derek Waddell. Waddell said, "Anything that really has to do with the mens' side of what Hope Unlimited does that falls under my category." some of those programs include fatherhood programs, and Jobs for life programs. Hope Unlimited also offers a pornography addiction recovery program.

Hope Unlimited Family Care is a non-profit organization that serves families with children under 18, offering many services for all. All services are funded by donations from the community.

They also operate a store offering clothing and other items at thrift store prices. All proceeds are put back into the Hope Unlimited Center. 

Hope Family Center is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There is a 24 hour drop box at the location, For more info call 270-442-1166.

Hope Unlimited thanks the partners that helped with the block party. They are Parker's Drive in, Coca-Cola, First Baptist Church, and Broadway United Methodist Church.