Porch of Hope: A Light Always On in Grantsville 

Pulling up to the trailer home on Durfee Street, a few homemade signs welcome you to a small but overflowing porch filled with household items, food and toys. What was not expected was the love felt when entering that humble porch and seeing Mindy’s smiling face. She had been up almost the whole night packing and organizing household items and totes for her non-profit, Porch of Hope, to help with Christmas needs. 

A Desire to Make a Difference 

Mindy’s desire to help the community was there long before Porch of Hope existed. She spent years trying different ways to serve but felt something was missing. “I’ve always wanted to do something impactful for the community.” 

She volunteered her time, tried to reach people through dance fitness and outreach, but consistently found herself drawn toward people struggling with mental health challenges and difficult life circumstances. 

“I never felt like I was reaching enough people,” she reflected. Then an unexpected move to Grantsville changed everything — and opened the door for what would become Porch of Hope. “So life kind of fell apart. We weren’t planning on moving here. But it happened perfectly because this wouldn’t have started if we hadn’t came here.” 

A Cabinet That Started It All 

During the government shutdown, Mindy’s son came across a white cabinet while out for a walk. Initially meant for his room, the cabinet quickly took on a new purpose. An idea sparked, “That would be so perfect just to put in the yard and put a couple cans of food in.” she thought. 

The cabinet was placed outside with a few food items inside, along with a sign letting people know help was available. Soon after, toys and clothes were added — and the response from the community began to grow. 

Turning a Porch into a Haven for Those Struggling 

Mindy runs a retail business, but as donations increased, she felt called to do something different. “I’d rather do something more impactful than a profit. And I have all of this stuff and I really don’t need that much stuff when other people could probably use it a whole lot more than I could.” 

One night, she and her family cleared off their entire porch, installed shelves, and began setting out household items, clothing, and necessities. From there, Porch of Hope became a 24/7 resource. 

“If you need help with household stuff, if you need help with whatever it is that you possibly need, we’re here 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she says this with conviction, and she means it. Recognizing that people can struggle at all times—regardless of season, income, or circumstance—she welcomes you exactly where you are and keeps her light on for you.

Bridging the Gaps Others Can’t 

Mindy saw a recurring issue in traditional assistance programs — limited funding, strict qualifications, and time constraints. “Once they’re tapped for resources, then it’s kind of like, ‘I’m sorry, there’s no funding left.’” 

Porch of Hope exists to step in when those systems can’t. “We thought we would be the one to bridge the gap for those resources.” This includes helping families who don’t qualify for programs, individuals missing paperwork, or people who simply need help outside of standard operating hours. 

Supporting Foster Families in Crisis Moments 

One group Mindy is especially passionate about supporting is foster families — particularly during emergency or late-night placements. “If you have a late night placement and you don’t have a whole lot of stuff because you weren’t planning it… they can call us and we’ll get up anytime day or night and pack a box.” 

These boxes often include toiletries, toys, clothing, and comfort items to help children feel safe and welcomed during an overwhelming transition. 

What Makes Porch of Hope Different 

The porch itself is intentional — not just as a distribution space, but as a place of connection. “You can sit down and feel like a person. You can feel seen. You can feel heard.” This is not just something she says, because once you walk in, you feel at ease with her welcoming and unassuming demeanor. 

Mindy’s personal life experiences allow her to relate deeply to the people she serves. “I know what it’s like to feel unseen and unwanted.” Because of that, Porch of Hope operates beyond normal business hours. 

“Our porch lights are always on and you’re always going to be welcome.” 

 A Community That Gives Freely 

The Grantsville community has embraced Porch of Hope in powerful ways. Donations appear just when they’re needed most. “I’ll be worried about food… and I’ll go out like an hour later and there’ll be food in the cabinet.” Even those who come to receive help often give in return. 

“People that need stuff, they’re always like, ‘Other people need stuff too.’” Mindy prioritizes transparency so donors can see the impact they’re making.“I try to be transparent with people’s donations and share stories.” 

Challenges and Changing Perceptions 

Operating out of a trailer park has presented challenges, but Mindy chose the location intentionally. “I on my own chose to live here because I felt inspired to redo this place and breathe life into it.”  

She hopes to break the stigma surrounding need and poverty. “It doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive. It doesn’t matter where you live. We all struggle.” 

Looking Toward the Future 

Mindy hopes to keep Porch of Hope rooted in Grantsville while expanding to smaller, underserved communities. “We want to branch out to other small communities like Erda, Lake Point, Magna.” The long-term goal is to establish a network of non-profit pantry staples and resource points across these areas.  “All small things start small and then grow big from there.” With every person she’s able to help, her vision expands—reaching further, welcoming more, and lighting the way for those finding their footing

How the Community Can Help and Get involved 

The greatest current need is funding to allow Porch of Hope to operate more efficiently. “Having the resources and funding to be efficient would be a huge game changer.” Support allows Mindy to help more people, more quickly, and with greater consistency. “By helping us, we’re able to help so many more people.” 

Those interested in donating or connecting can reach Mindy directly. “I’ve got my phone in hand on me all the time.” Porch of Hope can be contacted through Facebook, phone, or WhatsApp, and Mindy works hard to remain as accessible as possible. 

The Heartbeat of the Porch 

For Mindy, Porch of Hope has always been about community. “They’re the reason this is possible. They’re the heartbeat of the porch.” 

What began with a cabinet has grown into something much bigger — a place where help is always available, and no one is turned away. 

Please support and make a donation by contacting: Porch of Hope Food Pantry