HOPE Family Shelters is staging a “Bingo Breakfast” event on Saturday, March 7, featuring food and games.

The $40 ticket includes a Chick-fil-A breakfast chicken biscuit, side, coffee, swag bag, and six bingo cards.

It takes place at the Thomas Toy Center, 602 E. Yosemite Ave. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., breakfast is at 9:30 a.m. and bingo starts at 10:30 a.m.

Go to hopefamilyshelters.org or call 209-655-7640 to purchase tickets.

 The non-profit formed by the Manteca Ministerial Association in 1993 relies on corporate and private donations for more than 90 percent of its annual $460,000 budget.

That’s because state and federal grants rarely assist high-barrier shelters that have high success rates of getting people off the street and into permanent housing.

HOPE Ministries managed to find permanent housing for a record-high 75 percent of the 225 people the non-profit assisted with temporary shelter during 2025.

The success rate in recent years has been between 42 and 52 percent.

And that compares to the national average of 10 percent for low-barrier shelters that try to place individuals in permanent housing.

HOPE Ministries operates three shelters — one for families, one for single mothers, and transitional housing.

It is considered a high-barrier shelter as residents must be drug free.

If they stumble, they are out on the street. That said, people are given a second chance to return to the program if they stop using.

The bottom line is it forces most to realize that they are putting drugs and/or alcohol, ahead of their children.

Robust case management that includes working with clients to help them to make better financial decisions, working on behavioral factors that contributed to them ending up being homeless, along with mentoring for life skills make a major difference.

Many often have jobs when they become homeless but due to money managing skills or other issues, end up not being able to cover all costs including rent.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com