Hope Center - Bakersfield, California

Wanda W.

I started getting groceries for myself at Hope Center on Wednesdays. What I acquire I use to supplement my homeless ministry. The group of volunteers are truly loving Christians and I notice they really do care. The food ministry not only provides food, but also prayer support. They even have a clothing ministry on different days where I have been able to get clothing once every 3 months. I am grateful to Jesus for Hope Center ... for its devotion to Jesus and its service to the community and the homeless. God bless Hope Center!

Dianna C.

Love this place!! Fred is great at organizing the line and keeping people from cutting in front of you- he always has a smile and a friendly “hello” for everyone. And Anne F. Is a super hard worker but never too busy to say “Hi” as well. Lots of friendly , happy people there doing our community a great service

Cecilia R.

The ladies where so welcoming and informative. Thank all of you it was an experience that am going to be forever grateful. I encourage the community to donate there unwanted things that all ages and house items even shoes and toys. There is no charge in getting what you need and thats the best part of it for the people who find themselves unable to purchase there needs. Its suggested every clothing to be washed prior to donating to be ready and displayed for the community.

Dawn S. R.

I'm disabled and my friend drove me . 1 box to car. I had to be dropped off back at home and recieved nothing. The old man who was waving cars was very mean and thought this was a Christian place. Things like this is why people stay away from church.

Chris S.

The staff and volunteers are very friendly. They started handing out food at 9 and was i gone before 9:30. I received bagels, beans, instant mashed potatoes, orange juice, and canned pears. Anything is better than nothing and I'm very grateful. Thank you Hope Center and thank you Jesus!

Amy

Today was my 2nd visit to Hope Center for food distribution. My 1st visit it wasn't busy. Everyone was very nice. But today there was a line. No problem. But, there were no signs indicating multiple lines or direction. So I stopped at the end of the line, which I was just outside the driveway & in the street. There was room to the right of the cars in line but I wasn't going to "crowd".
A man starts walking in my direction & from a distance he is waving me to move forward & to the right. So I move & as I am slowly reaching him he walks towards to center of my car & I continue to move right as not to hit him & he's yelling to move to the curb & waving aggressively . He then come to my window & loudly lectures me about stopping in the street. It upset me but I just ok. Maybe he didn't realize his volume. So I move forward without knowing if they merge lanes or what?! The line to the left moves but there's 2 cars in front of me on the right pulled off to the side no lights. So I started to pull left & the saw the man in the truck look at me. So, I ask him if he is in line & he said yes. So I said sorry & stayed were I was.
That's when Fred comes up yelling at me that if I try that again he would kick me out of line. WHAT!? I tried to tell him I was sorry & I've never been though the line before but he was too busy talking over me telling me to back up to the curb. He repeated the same phrase without listening. Again I tried to apologize, I had no i intention of crowding. But he was not listening at all. So I said knowing he would not hear me that perhaps he should not be so aggressive & that lines are not clear. Then he speaks to me like I am an idiot & says in a insensitive tone all you need to do is stay behind that truck.
OK.
SO, what would have helped me out in this situation would've been someone directing traffic at the end of the line or clear signs indicating multiple lines. (That would've prevented me from a lecture)

OR,
From the beginning I could've been greeted kindly. Asked if I have ever been there before. No, I was yelled at by Fred to MOVE MOVE, while walking in front of my car. I was concerned about hitting him.
My intructions were to: move down stay to the curb.
That's it.

We are appreciative of the help, but there is still embarrassment & shame of needing to ask for help. Being threated loudly that I was going to be kicked out of line for what was a seemly small mistake. To be treated in this manner when I am already vulnerable was devastating today.
Becuase if Fred's unwillingness to even listen to an apology no less or even let me explain I had never been through this line before.
I will not return to Hope Center.

Bev

I have never been there but I have heard nothing but good things about this place and l hope they can help a lot of Homeless people 😁

Skibidi T.

The food giveaway is ok. It's much better since they now do the drive-thru thing. Before, people would try to argue and start fights with me and others in line. The clothing giveaway people are prejudiced and hatefilled unless you believe like them. They embarrassed me in front of people. If they don't want to give clothes to trans people queers etc they should have a sign that says so instead of insisting that I get clothes for my birth gender that I won't wear.