PELHAM – The 11^th Harvest of Hope Luncheon, which benefits Oak Mountain Missions and generates one-third of the organization’s budget, will be held Sept. 12 at The Club in Birmingham.

Prior to the luncheon, a silent auction will be held at 10 a.m. and the Harvest of Hope Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Oak Mountain Missions, which was founded in 2001 and is housed in a 10,000 square foot facility in Pelham, is a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, furniture, household items, and financial assistance to those in need in Shelby and Jefferson counties.

Clients are referred to the Mission from area domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, churches and social service agencies. All assistance is provided to qualified, screened clients free of charge. In 2016, the Mission provided assistance to families 6,027 times.

“Harvest of Hope accounts for a significant portion of our annual funding so its success is vital so we can bring hope to those in need,” said Roddy Cooper, the Mission’s founder and director. “The need for assistance has grown each year since the Mission was started but thanks to the support of Harvest of Hope, the generosity of donors, and more than 400 volunteers who devote their time and talent, we’re able to do God’s work.”

The guest speaker for this year’s Harvest of Hope is Shelby County Commissioner Mike Vest, whose own personal story mirrors that of many clients served by the Mission. “In his youth, Mr. Vest was the recipient of assistance by non-profit organizations so he knows first hand how important the work of Oak Mountain Missions is to the community,” said Cooper. “Mike’s story illustrates the impact that Oak Mountain Missions has in eliminating hopelessness among those who are most in need of our compassion,” continued Cooper.

In addition to keynote speaker Mike Vest, Harvest of Hope also features a testimony by a client whose life has been changed by the generosity of donors to Oak Mountain Missions. The master of ceremonies for the luncheon will be Jamie Langley, CBS 42 broadcaster.

To sponsor a table or for reservations to the Harvest of Hope Luncheon, call 685-5757 or go to Oakmtnmissions.com.