We have a men's shelter, a women's shelter, a food pantry, a clothing closet, and God's Kitchen. At Hope Haven Gospel Mission. Contact Us If you have any questions about Hope Haven, about donating, or are interested in volunteering, send a message to us directly using the fields below: Office Hours Send Your details were sent successfully!

Full description of all our services and programs. Shelter Check-In Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 10:30 AM Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 2:30 PM Things to know: New clients should arrive as close to 5:30 pm as possible. Beds are all first-come, first-served. There are no co-ed dormitories. Bring a valid ID. (Lewiston PD will issue a shelter referral if you do not have ID - 141 Mill Street.) Limit your belongings to two bags per person. All new items brought into the shelter go through the heat room for a minimum of 12 hours. No exceptions. This is a point of entry for pest control. Be clean and sober. You must remain clean and sober for the duration of your stay. No sexual offenders will be admitted. Bring documentation showing that you have legal guardianship of any children with whom you will check in. Includes: birth certificates, DHHS paperwork, insurance statements, and final judgment. Remember that a 1-year latency rule applies when you leave or are involuntarily dismissed from the shelter. Once you are assigned a bed, it is yours until you leave. Plan to be proactive - you must actively seek housing, assistance, employment, or other means of reestablishing yourself during your stay. Bible Sudy God's Kitchen Hours Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Dinner: Sunday, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 7:15 am - 8:00 am Lunch: Monday – Sunday 11:45 am - 12:30 pm . Food Pantry/Giveaway Center Monday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Wednesday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Friday: 10:00 am - 11:30 AM Be there no earlier than 9:45 AM. If you do arrive earlier than 9:45 AM you will be asked to wait at the end of the line. Closed most major holidays. Donations Receiving For the convenience of our donors, we accept donations Monday - Sunday from 8 am to 5:30 pm . If these hours do not meet your needs, simply contact our business office and we will give you more information regarding after-hours drop-off. Every Wednesday in our dining room from 6:30 pm till Chapel The first and thirds Sunday of the month. If the month has five Sundays the fifth Sunday is a Chapel Sunday. Faith Baptist Church The second and fourth Sundays of the month we transport to Faith Baptist Church on Washington Stree in Auburn. Transport starts at 10:30 am.

We are on X, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, and Youtube Media Contact: Pastor Willie Ponds Office: 207-457-5710 Cell: 904-930-8585 wponds85@gmail.com Mail: 209 Lincoln Street, Lewiston, ME 04240 Email Me!

Hope Haven Gospel Mission has been assisting the community since 1982. Our History Hope Haven Gospel Mission was established in 1982 by a group of pastors that had a burden for the homeless and the hurting people on the streets of Lewiston.

We have a solid team here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission, Pastor Willie Ponds is the Executive Director, Joselyn Griggs is the Shelter Manager, R. Anthony Feole is the Security Director R. Anthony Feole Security Director, V. Renee Robinson Ponds Communication & Events Director, Jeffrey Hutchinson Maintenance Supervisor, Dawn Page Receptionist, Marjorie Housekeeping, Hope Haven Leadership The dedicated team at Hope Haven is committed to serving those in need with care and compassion. We strive to be the hands and feet of Christ while working constantly to ensure that the dignity of everyone we encounter is maintained and that physical and spiritual needs are met. https://www.zazzle.com/seeing_scripture Pastor Willie Ponds Executive Director • pastorwilliepondshhgm @gmail.com Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, and nurtured in the Cavalier Manor area of Portsmouth, Pastor Ponds is a dedicated servant of faith, a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and a former professional basketball athlete with a 15-year tenure in the NBA and FIBA leagues. Alongside his beloved wife, Verlene Robinson Ponds, they are blessed with a family of five children. His journey of service includes a significant tenure as Shelter Manager and Chapel Pastor at Union Mission in Norfolk, Virginia, for half a decade. His commitment to ministry continued at Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as Study Hall Coordinator, Bible Teacher, and Chaplain at Signature Medical Center from August 2007 until 2018. Presently, he is the Assistant Pastor and Outreach Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Auburn, Maine, serving under the guidance of Senior Pastor Jon Case. Pastor Ponds is well-equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Christian Education, and Biblical Studies, focusing on both the Old and New Testaments, from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; and finishing his studies with seminary school in Richmond, Virginia. His pastoral calling was affirmed through his licensing and ordination at Grove Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, under the mentorship of Dr. Melvin O. Marriner, Senior Pastor Security Director • anthonyfeolehhgm@gmail.com Hailing from Harlem, NY, by way of Boston, MA. He has quickly become a vital part of Hope Haven Gospel Mission. Anthony has shown a passion for helping others and keeping with our motto “Caring Like Christ”. He provides security for our facility, guests, and employees around the clock. Anthony will also assist in other day-to-day operations. Anthony comes from a security background that has assisted us here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission. V. Renee Robinson Ponds Communication & Event Director • reneepondshhgm@gmail.com Hailing from Portsmouth, Va and raised in Greenville, Ms. She returned to Portsmouth in her teens, a devoted follower of Christ. Has been married to Pastor Willie Ponds for 17 years and is mother of 5. She attended Tidewater Community College working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education from 1983-1985. Mrs. Ponds brings her vast experience to community outreach, and her years of ministry experience. She is looking forward to working with the Lewiston and Auburn communities.

Information on current projects that we are working on. Upcoming Projects (assistance would be appreciated) Expanding dining room Organizing the basement Moving the giveaway room to the basement Getting blinds for all windows Getting curtains for all windows Looking into new showers and tubs Getting lines down in the parking lot Updating camera system Updating fire alarm system Looking into getting a new stove New floors for the women's dorm bathrooms Getting a bigger van to transport all guests and staff to Faith Baptist in Auburn New pots and pans for the kitchen Others things to come

Volunteer at Hope Haven Gospel Mission to assist us with helping our community Volunteer With Us! Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us here at Hope Haven Gospel Mission! Whether you're a student looking for community service credit or intern hours, a group who would like to schedule a work day, or a family or individual who would like give a couple hours of your time, we want to hear from you! Our volunteers are a valued part of our team here at Hope Haven and we could not do what we do without you! Time is a truly valuable resource and we appreciate every single individual who sacrifices in order to serve our community alongside us. No amount of time is too small. For more information: Call our main line at (207) 783-6086 Use the Contact Us button below Email directly at hopehavengospelmission@gmail.com . Feel free to download our application and fill it out to bring with you when you visit. We hope to see you soon! Contact Us Now Download Application Directions to Hope Haven

Stories from current and past guests on how their lives have changed. Word of the Day Nothing happens by accident. GOD always has a purpose for EVERYTHING. For prayer request please call Joselyn Griggs (207) 599-1115 Renee Ponds (207) 783-6086 Pastor Ponds (207) 740-8667 As people walk through the doors of Hope Haven Gospel Mission every day looking for help. At times that is just a meal or a bed. Other times it is just for love and encouragement to take the first steps towards a fresh start. The stories of Hope show how others have found help here. You can too! Men's Suit Drive All our guests at Hope Haven Gospel Mission attend Church 2 Sunday's a month, and are looking for employment. We would like to assist them to make the transition as smoothly as possible while they are in this chapter in their lives. Also looking for dress shirts, ties, and dress shoes in sizes 8 to 14. As Acts 20:35 states, In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” With much fear and trepidation, I realized the situation i was in. Thanks to someone at church I was told about Hope Haven. Not only are they a safe place but they also provide a meal and clothing. I was going through a really rough spot, and Hope Haven has opened its arms to assist me in getting back on my feet. They are faith based and you can feel the love and caring while there. They have helped restore my faith. Hope Has also become an active part of my healing process. They remind me that when I feel alone I am not, that GOD is always there for me........SC. When I moved back to Maine I ended up homeless, I then contacted Hope Haven . They provide me with a warm place to sleep and good meals that fill you up. The staff is warm and welcoming to all....WD.

Christmas program for families in need this holiday season. Christmas Needs Every year at Christmas Hope Haven receives dozens of applications from all over Lewiston-Auburn from families who need help with providing their children with a few gifts at Christmas. This year we have a great need for gift items for children ages 8-13. Some of those items are: Stocking Stuffers Gift wrap Gift bags/boxes Regulation Footballs, Soccer Balls, Basketballs Art Sets (crayons, markers, paint, etc.) Creativity Sets (create-your-own items, beading, sewing, paper crafts) Lego/Block Sets - name brand not required American Girl-Style 18 Inch Dolls (My Life - Walmart, My Generation - Target) Clothing and Accessories for 18 Inch Dolls Winter Play Items (Plastic Sleds, Snow Toys), ect Small Remote Control Cars (+ batteries). Lego's (generic ones are fine) Arts and Craft Make up Puzzles If you would like to provide some of these or other items, or adopt a family, please contact us at 783-6086, or email at hopehavengospelmission@gmail.com . Thank you for your support! Christmas Applications 2025 Accepted: November 14– December 12, 2025 Pickup Date: Thursday, December 19 Between 9am - 3 pm Criteria: Parent/Legal Guardian must reside in Lewiston or Auburn. Must provide proof of legal residence of Lewiston or Auburn during the application process. Children 13 and under ONLY. No Electronics Parent/Legal Guardian applying for assistance must have custody of the child(ren) and must reside with them. Please be prepared to provide proof of custody during the application process. Assistance is not provided for children receiving assistance from other agencies; information between agencies is shared, and violators will be disqualified from all future Hope Haven events. When turning in your application, please come prepared with your ID and any required paperwork. We will not accept incomplete applications or applications with missing documentation. Applicants: Applications will be handed out in our Giveaway Center beginning November 17, 2 025 to December 12, 2024 Available days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 until December 19th . Pick up date is set for December 18, from 9am to 3pm. Please remember to bring valid ID and verification of financial status and custody of children before arriving to apply. ID must be provided to pick up - no exceptions. 2025 Christmas Assistance Application.docx Christmas Application

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Thanksgiving Meal We will be proving a Thanksgiving meal from 11 am to 1 pm in our dining room. If you are retired or disabled and unable to make it to our dining room and live in Lewiston/Auburn please contact us at (207) 783-6086 to sign up to have a meal delivered to you.

This page has current openings at Hope Haven Gospel Mission staff. Shelter Staff Openings See Openings Job Application.docx Shelter Staff Openings Maintenance Assistant Assist in conducting regular maintenance tasks such as cleaning, painting, and minor repairs Conduct routine inspections of premises and equipment Help set up and take down equipment for events Handle basic repairs and maintenance Handy Man Fix doors in the organization and change the locks if they are bad. Carry out carpentry works Carry out flooring works. Troubleshoot general problems. Repair and replace general hardware. Remove stains and paint building when necessary. Attend to members of staff promptly when called upon. Food Service Manager Keep Inventory Coordinate menu Supervise Staff Maintain paperwork Security Monitor cameras Safety and well-being of staff and guest Monotoring facility Some light office work Help track donations and donor information Coordinate with community partners and agencies Assist with intake paperwork and guest records Organize volunteer schedules Office Manager