Stories of Hope

Stories of Hope is an e-communication that is sent to our subscribers on the 15th of each month. These stories will be brought to you through the lens of our staff, volunteers, donors, patients, and community partners. Our goal is to highlight the hope that is present in our community through the interconnected world of faith, healing, philanthropy, and advocacy. To receive these stories as well as other important messages, click here to subscribe.

June 2024

Everence Financial ® is proud to support Center for Healing & Hope and its Welcome Home Capital Campaign.

We deeply believe in the work that CHH does in our Goshen community to support our underserved and immigrant neighbors and provide them with resources to meet their needs.

At Everence Federal Credit Union, we strive to do the same. While CHH provides the community with access to quality health care and immigrant advocacy, we work to provide equitable access to financial resources to achieve financial wellness and resiliency.

We welcome individuals with ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) status to access our range of banking services, such as our financial education, credit-building credit cards, loan options, and banking solutions. We also offer our services in Spanish. It is important to us that we can provide all members of our community with the benefits of a full banking relationship.

First Photo: Everence Distribution Marketing Director Allison Schrock Pletcher and Everence Managing Director Brent Miller pose outside of the newly named Everence Immigrant Services Office at Center for Healing & Hope’s ribbon cutting ceremony. The space was named as part of Everence’s commitment to the Welcome Home Campaign which helped to purchase the building. 
Second Photo: Brent shares remarks about our longstanding partnership and the way we serve the community together. 
Third Photo: CHH Board Chair Mark Regier holds the scissors with CHH Executive Director Missy Schrock just before cutting the ribbon. 

“Both faith-based organizations, Everence and Center for Healing and Hope are committed to providing resources to community members who too frequently experience hardships in accessing financial and health resources,” said Ken Hochstetler, CEO and President of Everence. “These shared values and callings are key reasons why Everence sponsored the Welcome Home Capital Campaign through the naming of the Everence Immigrant Services Office.”

Everence and CHH are connected – and have been for years. Our credit union is privileged to serve CHH as a long-time member.

In addition, Mark Regier, Vice President of Stewardship Investing at Everence, serves as the CHH Board Chair, and Erwin Zacarias, Community Development Manager at Everence Federal Credit Union, is a member of the CHH board of directors.

A key similarity that Regier sees between the two organizations is that they both have roots in meeting needs in their communities that were being overlooked or ignored by others.

Members of the Everence team volunteer their time each year at Center for Healing & Hope’s Muchas Mochilas event where free backpacks, school supplies, gift cards, and resource folders are given away to local families. 
First photo: Everence Stewardship Consultant Marlene Kroeker offers a resource folder and gift card to a family.
Second photo: A group poses after distributing all of the backpacks. Furthest left is Marlene and Mark, and in the middle is Erwin. 
Third photo: Erwin helps prepare parent/guardian resource folders. 

Founded in 1945, Everence was first established to provide mutual aid to people with financial needs following the economic difficulties of the 1930s. Today, Everence offers a wide range of comprehensive financial and insurance services, including solutions designed specifically for those from historically underserved and underbanked communities.

Similarly, CHH grew out of the faith community’s response to the lack of healthcare access among uninsured immigrants who live and work in Elkhart County.

Together, Everence and CHH work to strengthen our vibrant community through providing individuals access to health and wellness ­– both financially and physically.

Tune in next month for another story!

ARCHIVE
March 2023 – Ale Fraire
April 2023 – Dr. Weldon Troyer
May 2023 – Nancy Liechty Loewen
June 2023 – Goshen Brewing Company
July 2023 – Mayerling
August 2023 – Tiny Free Pantry
September 2023 – Marlene Martin Penner
October 2023 – Medical Assistants
November 2023 – Giving Tuesday
December 2023 – Jane Ross Richer
January 2024 – A Cause for Celebration
February 2024 – John Martens & Marty Suter
March 2024 – Geof Landis & Liz Gunden
April 2024 – Brianne Brenneman
May 2024 – Mary and Doug Liechty Caskey