By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HOOVER – The 8^th annual Harvest of Hope Fundraiser Luncheon was held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center benefiting Oak Mountain Missions Ministries.

The annual fundraiser benefits families who are in need of some help to get through tough circumstances.

Attendants of the luncheon were treated with a silent auction, lunch, musical entertainment and speakers Janet Hall, FOX6 news anchor and Kamaria Givner, recipient speaker. James Spann, ABC 33/40 meteorologist was the emcee for the event.

Diane Cesario, assistant director of Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, discussed her favorite parts of working for the mission. She has been a volunteer since 2007.

“I sit at the front desk and I get to see everybody that comes in, they all come through me first,” said Cesario. “I just enjoy being there and I feel like I am so much more blessed to be there than those that we’re assisting.”

Oak Mountain Missions Ministries strives to “love those that feel they are not loved, and share with the needy just like our Lord shares with us.”

Oak Mountain Mission Ministries has helped 3,650 families receive monthly supplies of food and toiletries and the total mission assistance was estimated at $1.3 million for the year 2013 alone.

Guest speaker Janet Hall delivered a speech that focused on the importance of keeping an open heart and not being so quick to judge others. She talked about different forms of poverty with one of them being poverty of the heart.

Oak Mountain Missions Ministries is located at 2699 Pelham Parkway in Pelham.