BLOUNT COUNTY, ALABAMA · FAITH & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Oneonta, Blountsville and Blount County, Alabama
Hope House in Oneonta: Food, Utility Assistance and a Local Ministry’s Reach
Founded by a local pastor, Hope House combines household assistance with a wider community ministry. Its published service instructions give residents separate contacts for food and utility help—and explain why calling before a disconnection matters.
Sources reviewed
A ministry based in a former hospital
Hope House’s account of its history dates the organization to January 2000 and credits pastor and community leader L.G. Jones as its founder. It describes the former Blount County Memorial Hospital as its administrative and program base, within the Blount County Family Services Mall.
The organization presents the shared location as a way to connect families with several services and referrals in one place. That history explains its broader role beyond any single food request or utility bill. It is the ministry’s own account; this feature is based on published sources rather than an on-site visit or interviews.
The county government’s community-resource directory includes Hope House under family support and violence prevention. Its current website lists the Oneonta address as 1000 Lincoln Avenue, Oneonta, AL 35121 and the main telephone number as 205-625-4673.
Who to call for food or utility help
The organization’s Bill/Food Assistance page requires Blount County residency and an appointment. It lists separate extensions:
| Need | Published telephone contact |
|---|---|
| Bill assistance | 205-625-4673, extension 300 |
| Food assistance | 205-625-4673, extension 306 |
That page gives assistance-office hours as Monday–Friday, 8:30–11 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m., and says callers may leave voicemail any day. Use these program-specific instructions when arranging help; the homepage’s general opening hours describe a broader schedule.
The assistance page says utility help can cover items such as power and water, but excludes cell-phone bills and gasoline. It also says help is unavailable once utilities have already been disconnected. Call before that point and ask what assistance is available for the household’s situation.
Prepare for the appointment
The published checklist asks for current-address photo identification for all adults, Social Security cards for everyone, a copy of the bill and proof of household income. Confirm with the office which documents apply to the requested service and how staff want them provided.
For an efficient first call, explain whether the need is food, a utility bill or both; mention any stated due date; and ask which appointment is appropriate. Write down the appointment time, location and the staff instructions. If a document is unavailable, ask what alternatives can be considered before making the trip.
The website’s description is not a promise that every request can be funded or served immediately. This review did not establish current food stock, available assistance funds or waiting times. The program staff can answer those questions for the day of the request.
Two thrift-store locations connect donations with local use
The thrift-store page lists an Oneonta shop at 1000 Lincoln Avenue, Suite B, reached at 205-625-4673, and a Blountsville shop at 78 Liberty Street, reached at 205-429-4673.
Posted store hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. The page describes a donation loading area, unloading assistance and scheduled home pickup for furniture and large appliances. Call to confirm current hours, what items are accepted and whether pickup is available before arranging a delivery.
For a church group or household planning to help, a useful first step is to ask which items are needed now and how they should be sorted. Match the donation to a confirmed need and delivery arrangement. The reviewed pages do not provide a current inventory or a dated wish list.
How this fits the county’s family-support network
Hope House’s homepage also describes counseling, assessments and referral services. Those are separate program offerings; readers should contact the organization about current availability and intake. This feature focuses on the published household-assistance and thrift-store information.
The county directory offers other starting points, including the Department of Human Resources, the Children’s Center, senior services and transportation. A directory can help identify a provider, but it does not establish an individual’s eligibility or guarantee an appointment.
For another local ministry serving parents, read our Blount County Sav-a-Life feature. It covers parenting, fatherhood and family support through that organization’s own programs and contacts.
Sources and reporting
WorthFighting.org reviewed Hope House’s own service, history and thrift-store pages and the county’s resource directory on October 19, 2026. Organizational history and program descriptions are attributed to those sources. No interviews or site visit were conducted. Current funding, inventory, waiting times and individual eligibility were not independently confirmed; readers should verify arrangements with the provider.
- Hope House: history and Family Services MallUndated page; reviewed October 19, 2026
- Hope House: current services and Oneonta contactUndated page; reviewed October 19, 2026
- Hope House: bill and food assistance, appointment instructions and limitsUndated page; reviewed October 19, 2026
- Hope House: thrift-store locations, hours and donationsUndated page; reviewed October 19, 2026
- Blount County Commission: community-resource directoryUndated page; reviewed October 19, 2026