What We Do

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, as well as Saturday mornings, our volunteers gather at either 600 or 480 Main Street in Poughkeepsie bringing hot food, beverages, personal hygiene items and seasonally appropriate clothing to the homeless, addicted women (and men) of Poughkeepsie’s city streets. We set up tables and serve our #HOAMfamily with warm smiles, hugs, and encouraging words. We listen, assist, and make referrals to community organizations upon request. At 6pm, we do it again, consistently, reliably, NO MATTER WHAT. Our #HOAMfam relies on us to be there FOR THEM. No questions, no judgment. Restoring dignity with Love and Grace is our mission; compassion is our pathway to meet people where they are.

Last year we served nearly 8,000 meals. We provided over 1,000 blessing bags. Countless pairs of socks, underwear, coats, shoes, scarves, hats, gloves. We held cookouts for summer holidays and blessed everyone on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We delivered emergency blessing bags in the dead of night or in the rain, to any woman able to request one. We’ve spent hours in the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital Emergency Department and at the DC Stabilization Center waiting with our #HOAMgirls and guys for a bed in detox or rehab. We advocated for them to get treatment; we let them know we would be available when they got out. You see, addiction, homelessness, and trauma don’t know time, nor weather, nor circumstance. They know and live fear, urgency, and survival.

All of this is possible with support from community and civic organizations and ordinary people like you and me: Rotary Clubs, church groups, Kiwanis, BNI, National Honor Society, Girls Scouts of America, student clubs at DCC and Marist College, & Hope Not Handcuffs are just the short list.

Our Stories

CaraMia Bacchiochi

Founder of Hope On A Mission

In 2013, CaraMia Bacchiochi found herself inside walls of the same jail cell that she’d been released from over 20 years before.

After much introspection, and a chat with God, she realized the error of HER ways, and she surrendered to HIS way. Two years of intensive treatment for the underlying issues of her Substance Use Disorder and associated behaviors gave her insight to the struggles all humans have, and compassion for women like herself.

While an in-patient at St Joseph's Addiction Treatment Center in Saranac Lake, NY, CaraMia came across the book, A Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren. While reading, CaraMia began to understand that her life had been a training ground; that all of her experiences, and her survival of them, would serve as HOPE to women who had survived the same, but not yet claimed VICTORY.

She was given the Divine assignment to “be the woman you needed” while homeless and addicted; to start a program that would bring help and comfort to other women who are caught in the same cycle of homelessness, abuse, and addiction with which she was so familiar.

Her ministry, begun with prayer, a few pairs of flip-flops and a case of water, now reaches hundreds of homeless and underprivileged people in Poughkeepsie every week.

Certified Recovery Peer Advocate
Certificate of Achievement-Recovery Coach Academy

Celeste T.

I have been volunteering for HOAM for the past (3) years. When I learned of the mission I was immediately drawn to the person to person service and interaction. Since that time I volunteered with CaraMia and many other folks in numerous capacities. Currently I am a member of the Board of Directors of HOAM. I am also an active volunteer both on the street and behind the scenes from everything from food rescue, coordinating volunteers, preparing and serving food, collecting/sorting clothes and any other areas we are needed.

Sue C.

What started out as one evening to help feed some people on a corner in Poughkeepsie has grown into a very fulfilling experience for me. I was looking for a way to get involved in an organization that simply focused on helping people. Hope On A Mission has been that place for me. Having spent the thirty years before this caring for my children and supporting their interests, I had time on my hands. It's been about a year and I continue to feel good with each and every meal I serve and person I help in any way. There's a common goal among the volunteers to treat each person with dignity, respect and unconditional love. As I pack up on Saturday morning or evening, I leave feeling fulfilled. Those we serve have helped me as much if not more than I've helped them.

#HOAMTeams

HOAMTeams are outside groups that help us serve meals by bringing prepared food and people to serve.

#HOAMteamPal

I don’t actually recall exactly how I stumbled upon CaraMia’s amazing Hope On A Mission, I feel as though we’ve been in one anothers lives on and off for many years!
Personally, my mission has always been to be sure people do not go without food. Whether helping people in my community quietly when they ask, donating to my church food pantries, years ago being involved with meals on wheels, volunteering at the lunchbox, it all tied together. Finding HOAM is a blessing to myself and my family. We can contribute by dropping off items regularly, or by choosing an evening to “own” to serve. My children serve with me, they cook the hot meals, make the sandwiches, create snack bags. They have organized toiletry bags, holiday candy bags.
We love HOAM! Serving and helping those in need is a blessing. Building relationships with these people who need us, is a blessing.
I have no words for how thankful I am for HOAM!

New Hurley Reformed Church

Bayhorse is proud to support Hope On A Mission (HOAM) as their Champion-level sponsor for 2023! When we learned about the work CaraMia Bacchiochi was doing to help our neighbors in Poughkeepsie, we knew that we wanted to be a part of it. Providing support to people at some of the most difficult times in their lives is one of the greatest acts we can do. From bringing fresh baked bread to the evening dinners to supporting the HOAM Gathering event, we are honored to help. Please read about the work HOAM does every day and consider making a donation.