The Margaret Ann Rey Children of Hope Wellness Center received a sizable donation on Thursday.

The $13,000 check for the Hope Family Shelter of HOPE Ministries – a local non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing shelter and services to low-income families – was made possible by District Attorney Ron Freitas and the San Joaquin County D.A.’s Office Asset Forfeiture Fund.

According to HOPE Ministries Chief Executive Officer Cecily Ballungay, the money will go towards services to help pre-teens and teens with behavioral issues at the shelter.

The wellness center at the Raymus House, an emergency center in Manteca that services women and children, opened in February 2021.

spokesperson for the D.A.’s office in Stockton indicated that this special fund was approved by a board of director and is used for youth-based programs – $650,000 of that went to various communities, including Mary Graham Children’s Center.

Ballungay and members of her board were thrilled with the donation to the Children of Hope Wellness Center.

“We can continue our services – this is not a longstanding program,” she said.

Last year, 89 families were housed in HOPE Ministries’ three shelters for three months at a time.

That represents 227 individuals of which 60 percent or 136 were children.

And when 52 percent of those families left the guidance and care of HOPE Family Shelters they went directly into rental housing they were able to secure financially on their own.

The Margaret Ann Rey Children of Hope Wellness Center received a sizable donation on Thursday.

The $13,000 check for the Hope Family Shelter of HOPE Ministries – a local non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing shelter and services to low-income families – was made possible by District Attorney Ron Freitas and the San Joaquin County D.A.’s Office Asset Forfeiture Fund.

According to HOPE Ministries Chief Executive Officer Cecily Ballungay, the money will go towards services to help pre-teens and teens with behavioral issues at the shelter.

The wellness center at the Raymus House, an emergency center in Manteca that services women and children, opened in February 2021.

spokesperson for the D.A.’s office in Stockton indicated that this special fund was approved by a board of director and is used for youth-based programs – $650,000 of that went to various communities, including Mary Graham Children’s Center.

Ballungay and members of her board were thrilled with the donation to the Children of Hope Wellness Center.

“We can continue our services – this is not a longstanding program,” she said.

Last year, 89 families were housed in HOPE Ministries’ three shelters for three months at a time.

That represents 227 individuals of which 60 percent or 136 were children.

And when 52 percent of those families left the guidance and care of HOPE Family Shelters they went directly into rental housing they were able to secure financially on their own.