Standing Strong Together: Our Donation to Hope House

In Liberty Hill, Texas, there's a place where love has no limits and care has no timeline. Hope House has been providing "forever homes" for children and adults with disabilities since 1966, guided by a simple but powerful mission: "For As Long As It Takes."

But this summer, Hope House faced an unimaginable challenge that tested the very foundation of their community.

A mission of forever families

Hope House operates five locations that serve as true forever families for 47 residents with intellectual and physical disabilities. These aren't temporary placements or transitional care facilities—they're lifetime homes where each resident receives individualized, round-the-clock care from more than 70 specialized caregivers and staff.

The need they address is both urgent and often overlooked. Hope House regularly has to turn away 6-8 children every month simply because they don't have space, while regional waitlists stretch up to 10 years. For families who have already given everything, Hope House represents hope itself as a place where their loved ones will be cared for with dignity, compassion, and genuine love for as long as they need it.

Every year, Hope House provides over 2,000 hours of therapy to residents and serves 38,000 meals, creating an environment where each person can thrive in body, mind, and spirit.

When tragedy struck

In early July of 2025, devastating flash floods swept through Central Texas, forever changing Hope House's story. In the early hours of Saturday morning, rising floodwaters threatened their Liberty Hill campus. Quick thinking by staff and heroic efforts by first responders, including multiple helicopter evacuations, successfully removed 12 residents and two staff members from danger to safety.

Despite these heroic efforts, the floods tragically claimed the life of Sherry Richardson, Hope House's beloved HR coordinator and office manager, whose on-property cabin was completely swept away by the raging waters. Sherry worked with Hope House going on three and a half years, and those who knew her said she regarded it as "her favorite job of her life."

Hope House team member Adam Stone described Richardson as the "heart and soul" of Hope House, and Executive Director David Gould said "office mom" Richardson "was the glue that kind of held everybody together. She'd make you feel like you're immediately a part of the family, and then she would set about making sure that you knew you were a part of the family."

Rising from the waters

While the floods left Hope House's main residence with significant water and mud damage, making it uninhabitable for the children who call it home, this is nowhere near the end of their story. In true Hope House fashion—and embodying Sherry's spirit—the community rallied. Over 200 volunteers showed up the following day to help with cleanup efforts. More than 300 volunteers have participated in recovery efforts, clearing debris, fixing fences, and cleaning the property from top to bottom.

The 16 children are currently staying in Hope House's other residential locations while repairs are completed. Despite the trauma and challenges, Hope House continues to provide the same level of care and love that defines their mission.

As Gould put it, "We'll pick up and we'll move on. You know, that's what she would have wanted."

Our donation to Hope House

When UPLIFT Desk learned about Hope House's situation, we knew immediately that we had to help this organization that has dedicated itself to providing lifelong care and support to those most in need, creating forever families along the way.

Through our donation program, we're providing adjustable desks and ergonomic accessories to Hope House as they work to restore and improve their facilities. These workstations will support the administrative staff who coordinate care, manage therapies, and handle the complex logistics of running multiple residential homes.

A legacy of hope

Sherry Richardson's legacy will forever live on through the mission she loved and the family she helped create at Hope House.

Hope House continues to embody their "forever" promise as they rebuild and prepare to welcome their children back home. The floods may have tested their foundation, but the love that built Hope House remains unshakeable.

To support Hope House directly, visit their website at hopehousekids.org where you can make donations or learn about other ways to help.

Learn more about the UPLIFT Desk Donation Program where you can nominate deserving organizations in need of support.