Hopes and Dreams offers food, safe haven, and more

May 22, 2025

Thanks to our community partners, we’re more accessible and able to assist neighbors in need in their own community. Hopes and Dreams, a Brandywine Counseling Center, located on West Division Street in Dover, is an oasis for homeless neighbors and those seeking access to addiction treatment. While treatment is not provided at this site, counselors provide meals and a food pantry on site, in addition to time slots for laundry and showers.

At the center’s heart is a refurbished older, two-story home, with additions that provide space for offices, meetings, and more. On a recent Monday morning, about 60-70 people – mostly men – packed into the front room hoping to get breakfast.

Mondays are always busy, explains Prevention Program Manager Shelby Polce. By mid-morning, the staff has already dealt with an emergency situation involving a woman and two children. “We get people dropped off from the hospital, from prison,” Polce added.

Since neighbors stop by when they’re hungry, how does the staff provide? It’s hit and miss, as businesses – like Wawa and Panera – frequently donate breakfast sandwiches, but there might not be enough for everyone. It’s hard to predict how many people will stop by too.

Don Cannon, safety officer, manages the food pantry, and explains neighbors with cooking skills are permitted to use the open kitchen. “They can use whatever we have in the pantry,” Cannon said.
Lunch is served from noon to 1 p.m., with bag lunches on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and donated meals on Mondays and Fridays. Clients leave by 2:30 p.m. during the week; the center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekends.

Many of the neighbors seek more addiction treatment than is available at Hopes and Dreams. “We offer a large array of services for substance use, but this is a drop-in center. They want a treatment center, 90 days, but there are not enough services to meet their needs,” Polce said.

The on-site food pantry operates Monday through Friday, and Cannon prepares food bags for distribution. Neighbors can get one bag a week; the contents are based upon needs, such as whether children are involved or if the person is homeless or maybe if they are moving from homelessness into housing.

“They can request household supplies. People ask for toilet paper the most, and we can’t keep can openers,” said Acting Site Supervisor Kizzie Green.

One of the biggest challenges, the staff concurs is the irregularity of donations mostly sourced through their own outreach. As a result, the pantry might be well stocked with noodles, but there’s a need for salt, pepper, toilet paper.

In addition to food, Cannon sees a “dire need” for men’s clothing, especially socks.

This center is open to adults – age 18 and older, and clients do not need to have addiction issues.