Rita's Hope Foundation

What is Rita's Hope Foundation, Inc. ? Blessed are you who are poor for the kingdom of God is yours. Rita Gaw was a Registered Nurse for 40 years, a truly caring woman with a huge and wonderful heart. Beginning her career in Owensboro, Kentucky, she and her husband moved to the Indianapolis, IN area in 1998. In the Indy area it is very common to se... e men and women standing on the corner with signs stating that they are homeless and asking for money. However, there have been many stories written and broadcast on TV about how sometimes the money is used for alcohol and drugs rather than shelter. Rita still felt the need to help them somehow and had a place in her heart for them, especially the women. As Rita was going through treatment for ovarian cancer she continued to feel the need to help others. One day she mentioned to her husband, Tom, the idea of providing sleeping bags for the homeless. When she uttered those words to Tom, little did she know that a seed had taken root and the dream had begun. Rita thought about those less fortunate than most in the streets sleeping anywhere they could lay their heads down. Many existed without blankets or any type of comfort. Her feelings were that no matter a person's story, everyone should have a warm place to sleep. A couple of weeks later three of Rita sisters came to visit and Rita mentioned the idea to them. Shortly thereafter, the sisters returned to Indianapolis to visit but this time they had fabric, sewing equipment and toiletries ready to begin her project. After making a handful of them Tom, Rita and their grandson, Eli delivered them to Wheeler Mission Homeless Shelter for Women and Children. This shelter allows the homeless to stay indoors from 5pm until 8am during the coldest of months but they still reside under bridges, in alleys and near the river for the rest of the year. The shelter assured Rita that the sleeping bags would be distributed to those people and a partnership was formed. Rita, Tom and Eil were told that these sleeping bags would ...Read More