My Sister's Hope nonprofit describes backpack feeding, housing stabilization programs for New Kent families

Shanna Abdu, who identified herself as the New Kent County Department of Social Services community resource coordinator and founder of the nonprofit My Sister's Hope, introduced the organization and its programs during the March 26, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting.

"Our mission here is to provide stabilization to vulnerable populations in the community," Abdu said, describing the nonprofit’s work to coordinate volunteers, fundraising and partner referrals to help residents with food, housing repairs and housing education.

Abdu said My Sister's Hope operates a countywide backpack food program supporting all five New Kent public schools. The program provides a weekly supplemental bag containing breakfast, lunch, dinner and a weekend snack; families pick up a backpack on Fridays and return it on Mondays. Abdu said the organization currently serves 95 families in the elementary school program and estimated an average cost of about $4 per child per week. She gave a weekly cost estimate for the elementary backpacks of roughly $952 and said the annual cost for the school year exceeds $38,000. Abdu noted those totals exclude administrative and volunteer costs and said much of the program is sustained by donations from churches and community organizations.

On housing, Abdu outlined the HOPE housing program that aims to combine revitalization, stabilization and housing education. My Sister's Hope plans a housing repair blitz this fall in partnership with Habitat for Humanity to repair approximately four houses, with volunteers and material costs matched through local partners. Abdu said the organization is coordinating referrals to several partner agencies, including Proclaiming Grace Outreach, the SPAN Center, Partnership Housing Incorporated and Project Homes, to provide case‑by‑case repairs, weatherization and senior assistance.

Abdu also described individualized casework for families in crisis under a program labeled HOPE families. She said one family the organization served — a grandparent and grandchild — has been housed and furnished, and that other families remain in active casework for housing stabilization. The nonprofit is working with local banks and credit unions for financial counseling and with local dealerships on vehicle donations to help families with transportation needs.

Board members praised the program and offered volunteer and organizational support. Supervisor Stears urged the nonprofit to coordinate with the county on tax‑abatement concerns for homeowners who receive repairs, and Supervisor Pearson and others offered local volunteer lists and contacts.

Ending: Abdu asked the board to note My Sister's Hope as an ongoing community partner; no formal county funding request or board action was recorded on March 26.