Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects

What Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects does

HOPE - Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects (legally Addison County Community Action Group) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 and headquartered in Middlebury, Vermont. The organization serves low-income individuals and families in Addison County through three interconnected program areas: a food shelf serving over 3,000 people annually with non-perishable foods, dairy, produce, and baked items; Marion's Place, a resale store selling donated clothing, household items, books, and other goods at affordable prices; and Client Services encompassing financial assistance with housing and utilities, homelessness support (camping gear, emergency hotel rooms, laundry vouchers), budget counseling, medical/dental assistance, and job-related support including tools, uniforms, and test fees.

The organization's service model is intentionally non-prescriptive, with staff sitting down with clients to identify specific needs rather than offering fixed programs. HOPE supplements its service delivery with a gleaning program that partners with local farmers to salvage tens of thousands of pounds of produce annually, reducing food waste while expanding the food shelf's inventory. The organization does not operate proprietary technology platforms, mobile applications, or AI-enabled systems; its core technology footprint is limited to a Squarespace-hosted public website (hope-vt.org) used for awareness and donations.

HOPE is funded primarily through individual and corporate donations, with supplementary revenue from Marion's Place resale operations, planned giving programs (bequests, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs, gifts of stock and property), and community food drives. Distribution occurs through direct in-person service at 282 Boardman Street, home delivery for clients unable to visit, food donation drop-off boxes at three local retailers (Hare and the Hound, Shaw's, and Greg's Market), and the Marion's Place storefront at 334 Boardman Street. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Christina Johnston and led by Executive Director Jeanne Montross, supported by a team of 1–10 employees plus board members and volunteers.

Name

Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects

Legal name

Addison County Community Action Group

Website

https://hope-vt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Middlebury, Vermont serving low-income individuals and families in Addison County through a food shelf serving 3,000+ people annually, a resale store, and client services including housing, utilities, and job assistance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination (HSAFAFAG)

Keywords

• Food shelf services
• Community social services
• Poverty assistance
• Resale store operations
• Emergency basic needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Middlebury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: HOPE operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and community members. Donations support all programs including the food shelf, financial assistance, and resale store operations.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: The organization accepts planned giving options including gifts through wills or trusts (bequests), designations as beneficiary of retirement plans, insurance policies, or donor advised funds. This provides long-term sustainable funding through deferred charitable contributions.
3. Qualified Charitable Distributions: HOPE accepts Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs (Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA), allowing donors to direct annual IRA distributions directly to the organization, providing tax-advantaged giving options for donors.
4. Gifts of Stock and Property: The organization accepts gifts of stock, property, or real estate, enabling donors to make non-cash charitable contributions that may provide tax benefits.
5. Marion's Place Resale Store Revenue: Marion's Place is a resale store selling donated clothing, household items, books, and other goods. Revenue from sales supports HOPE's programs for low-income individuals and families.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HOPE operates a community food shelf distributing non-perishable foods, dairy, produce, and baked goods to income-eligible residents, a Marion's Place resale store selling donated clothing and household items at affordable prices, and Client Services programs providing financial assistance with housing and utilities, homelessness support, budget counseling, medical/dental aid, and job-related assistance. All services are provided free to qualifying individuals in Addison County, Vermont.

Product overview

HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects) operates as a community-based nonprofit organization providing social services to low-income residents of Addison County, Vermont. The organization functions as a unified service provider offering three interconnected programs: a Food Shelf serving over 3,000 people annually with nutritious food and salvaged produce; Marion's Place, a resale store offering affordable clothing and household goods; and comprehensive Client Services encompassing housing assistance, homelessness support, budget counseling, medical/dental aid, and job assistance. Rather than offering fixed programs, HOPE works individually with community members to identify and secure resources based on their specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HOPE Food Shelf Food shelf program that distributes non-perishable foods, dairy, produce, and baked items to income-eligible individuals and families in Addison County. Includes a gleaning program that salvages tens of thousands of pounds of produce per year from local farms and serves over 3,000 people annually.
• Marion's Place Resale Store Resale store at 334 Boardman Street, Middlebury, selling donated clothing, household items, furniture, books, lamps, art, and vinyl records at affordable prices. Revenue supports HOPE's programs for low-income individuals and families.
• Client Services Wraparound assistance program providing financial aid for housing and utilities, homelessness support (camping gear, emergency hotel rooms, laundry vouchers), budget counseling, medical and dental assistance, and job-related support including tools, uniforms, tests, and other items needed to obtain or maintain employment, offered free to income-eligible individuals and families in Addison County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 3,000 people annually through the food shelf
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Golden Russet FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolden Russet Farm in Shoreham donates 10% of their sales to HOPE, providing ongoing fundraising support through their business operations.
• Congregational Church of MiddleburyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized a food drive at Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op that collected three quarters of a ton of food for HOPE's food shelf.
• Middlebury Natural Foods Co-opminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted a food drive organized by the Congregational Church of Middlebury that collected significant food donations for HOPE.
• Local BakersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bakeries donate bread and baked goods to the food shelf, providing fresh food items to those in need.
• Local FarmerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal farms contribute meat, produce, and other food items to the food shelf. Farms also participate in a gleaning program that salvages tens of thousands of pounds of produce annually.
• Hare and the HoundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts a food donation drop-off box at Hannaford Plaza on Route 7, allowing community members to donate food to HOPE.
• Shaw's (Washington Street)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts a food donation drop-off box for HOPE at their Washington Street location in Middlebury.
• Greg's MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts a food donation drop-off point for HOPE in Middlebury, providing convenient locations for community food donations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Hunger Free Vermont: Statewide Vermont nonprofit focused on ending hunger through advocacy and nutrition program expansion. Comparable mission to HOPE's food-shelf work but operating through policy/advocacy rather than direct food distribution; serves as a potential upstream partner or funder for HOPE's gleaning and shelf operations.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores (Vermont affiliates): Network of nonprofit home-goods resale stores whose revenue funds housing construction for low-income families. Comparable to Marion's Place through the donation-driven thrift/resale model funding social services, though focused on furniture and home goods rather than clothing.

Direct peers

• Capstone Community Action (formerly Central Vermont Community Action Council): Vermont community action agency (part of the nationwide Community Action network) addressing poverty through emergency food, housing, weatherization, and case management. Closely analogous mission and bundled-services delivery model to HOPE; serves an adjacent but distinct Vermont geography.
• Vermont Foodbank: Vermont's statewide food bank that distributes food to a network of local partners including community food shelves like HOPE's. Directly comparable as the principal aggregator of food donations for the region HOPE serves, with overlapping supply partners (farms, retailers) and beneficiary base.
• United Way of Addison County: Local United Way chapter funding and coordinating human services across the same Addison County geography HOPE serves. Directly comparable funding/coordination model: community-based fundraising that supports a portfolio of basic-needs programs and partners with overlapping donor and beneficiary networks.
• Goodwill of Vermont (formerly Goodwill Industries of Vermont): Vermont nonprofit that operates donated-goods retail stores whose revenue funds job training and community programs. Closely analogous to HOPE's Marion's Place model — converting donated goods into mission-funding revenue while serving low-income populations — and operating in HOPE's same service geography.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: The largest U.S. hunger-relief organization, operating a national network of 200+ member food banks including Vermont Foodbank. Comparable to HOPE in mission (emergency food assistance to low-income households) but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple service lines including food rescue, distribution, and nutrition programs.

Regional players

• Salvation Army of Greater Burlington: Salvation Army affiliate in northern Vermont providing emergency food, shelter, utility assistance, and holiday programs. Directly comparable in service mix (food, housing emergency support, basic-needs assistance) to HOPE but operates primarily in a different Vermont geography (Chittenden County).
• Food Bank of the Hudson Valley: Regional food bank serving a multi-county area in New York state. Directly comparable operating model as a community food distribution organization supporting local pantries, partners, and gleaning programs — analogous to HOPE's food shelf and gleaning work but serving a different rural region.

Others

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Vermont district): National Catholic lay organization operating parish-based conferences that provide direct food, rent, utility, and emergency assistance to low-income households. Comparable in HOPE's client services portfolio (housing/utility aid, case-by-case basic needs) and often operates resale/thrift stores to fund mission work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/hopemiddleburyvt
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopemiddleburyvt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects