Jessica Miller and her husband Sam are the founders of the first ever Gather Hope Market in the fall of 2019. After learning about Hope Center Indy’s mission through their church, they knew they wanted to help in some way.
“Sam and I love attending handmade and vintage markets,” said Jessica. After taking a tour of the campus they thought, why don’t we host our own market there to raise money for Hope Center Indy?
Since then, Jessica and Sam have organized six Gather Hope Markets, raising a total of $23,800, not to mention loads of awareness, for Hope Center Indy’s mission.
“Every market we have vendors and lots of shoppers that have never heard of the facility,” said Jessica. “Getting to share the way God is present and moving in the facility and hearing them make plans about bringing a group back to tour or to get involved is heartwarming.”
The spring market this year would have been Jessica and Sam’s seventh market, but some trips to the emergency room over the last year and then a severe car accident in late February that left Sam with a number of broken bones made it necessary for them to sit this one out.
“I knew that was God saying it was ok for me to say we are not organizing the Spring Market this year and that He would take care of it,” said Jessica.
This was a hard decision for them to make and they especially missed working with the vendors and talking with the shoppers.
“We have a lot of vendors who are survivors or know survivors of a past that does not define them any longer,” said Jessica. “We have vendors who have
hearts to serve and have hearts to empower
survivors. It makes my heart so happy.”
The Spring Gather Hope Market this year raised $3,000 from ticket sales and vendor fees alone, not to mention boutique, coffee, greenhouse and other sales. None of this would be possible without the Jessica and Sam who started it all.
“We are deeply grateful to Jessica and Sam for their unwavering support of our ministry through the Gather Hope Market fundraiser over the last five years,” said Sara Feasel, Director of Development at Hope Center Indy. “It is a blessing to have them by our side as we strive towards creating a brighter future for all those we serve. We send all our love and continued prayers for Sam as he makes a full recovery.”
Hope Center Indy’s Gather Hope Markets take place in the Spring, Fall and Christmas seasons. Follow @gatherhopemarket on Facebook and Instagram to keep in the loop.