Claremore Nonprofit Raising Money Brick By Brick

Light of Hope, a nonprofit organization in Claremore, is helping bring hope to people struggling with addiction.

The organization moved into its new building in early 2023, and executive director Nancy Phelps said one of the first things people notice when they enter is a brick wall along one side of its large group room.

Phelps said they decided to use that wall to further the nonprofit's mission of "Helping People See the Hope."

Light of Hope, founded 7 years ago by Layla Freeman after she lost her daughter Ashley to addiction, offers recovery services to help families and people who are struggling with substance misuse. The nonprofit also has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to offer drug education and prevention to schools, churches, and communities.

"We want to not only wrap around the person who might be dealing with the addiction, but their entire family," Phelps said. "Everybody knows somebody who is dealing with this right now, sadly, and so we want to be that support for those families, for those individuals, so that we can get through this together."

Light of Hope has launched its "Wall of Hope" brick campaign, where families, individuals, businesses, schools and churches can buy a brick on the wall for $100. The brick can have up to three lines of words, and can include the name of a loved one, an encouraging message or scripture.

For an extra $50, businesses can also put their logo on a brick.

Frances Smith, a volunteer at Light of Hope, said she purchased three bricks in memory of her late husband, Herb Smith, who served as one of the organization's group leaders for many years. Smith said Herb served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and when he retired decided to become a therapist and work in the recovery field.

Smith said her late husband was a recovered alcoholic and became involved with Light of Hope to help others. Herb Smith passed away in 2020, but the organization said he left a lasting impact.

Smith said when she heard about the Wall of Hope, she wanted Herb to have a place on it, and is encouraging others in the community to join the cause.

"It is a place where they can honor their loved ones, and it is also money that they can contribute to help in programs for people whose lives have been touched by addiction and abuse," Smith said.

The goal for the first phase of the brick campaign is $100,000.

To order a brick, call Light of Hope at 918-373-4560 or place an order online here.