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Eaton employees support Hope on
5th
Employee fundraiser collects more than
$1,300 for local organization
[March 20, 2026]
On Thursday morning, Eaton
staff Jasmine Guadarrama, Jeff Henebry, Scott Tinker and Dustin
Tibbs paid a visit to Hope on 5th in Lincoln for a special check
presentation. Hope on 5th board members Jennifer Kirby, Kim Turner,
Dea Welsh, and Tom Funk welcomed the four to the facility on Fifth
Street.
Henebry presented a check for
$1,377.55 to Hope on 5th board member Dea Welsh. Henebry explained
that the presentation was the result of a fundraiser at the Lincoln
Eaton plant. He explained that each year, Eaton gives appreciation
gifts to employees, among them Eaton shirts. This year after the
gifts were given out there were leftover shirts. Eaton decided to
sell the shirts to staff with the proceeds going toward a worthy
cause in the community.
Henebry said that it was Tinker who advocated for the money to go to
Hope on 5th. Tinker said that he lives close to the center and has
become aware of all the work Hope on 5th is doing to help at risk
individuals. He said that he believes that Hope on 5th is doing a
great service in the community and is changing lives daily.
Representing Hope of 5th, Turner said that she would first like to
express appreciation to Eaton not just for the gift given on
Thursday but for their history of being supporting of Hope on 5th.
She said that it is not only financial support, but the help the
company and in particular Tinker has lent by providing labor for
building projects,
Turner said that community support is utilized for a variety of
purposes, from operating costs to special projects. She noted
recently a new sign had been put outside the facility, office space
has been established for the legal aid program and much more.
Asked about the
function of Hope on 5th, Turner said that they offer several
services. Trillium is now well established at the facility,
Veteran Services provides counselling, and Memorial Behavioral
Health offers peer support. Heartland Community College (HCC)
and L.E.A.D. (Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development) have
partnered with Hope on 5th for a job training project last year
that was successful, and the group is planning another class
this year. In addition, HCC is working with Hope on 5th clients
for a computer literacy program, and there are other projects
with HCC in the works that will be announced at a later date.
Turner added that community support also helps the organization
provide paid staff for the facility.
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From the left, Jasmine Guardarrama (Eaton), Kim Turner (Hope on Fifth) Jeff
Henebry (Eaton) Tom Funk, Jennifer Kirby, Dea Welsh (Hope on Fifth) Scott Tinker
and Dustin Tibbs (Eaton).
Turner was asked
about the temporary housing that is one of the programs at Hope
on 5th. She said that since opening the housing component, Hope
on 5th has assisted 45 people. There are currently 15 people in
residence with an additional 25 on the waiting list for
available space.
It was stressed that while Hope on 5th happily serves veterans,
the services at the facility are not exclusive to veterans. She
said the facility works to help people who are in a variety of
situations, such as financial hardship or other personal
struggles.
She noted that right now, the residents at the facility include
only one veteran.
Turner said that Hope on 5th works well with the Central
Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC) and she was pleased when one
of the Hope on 5th residents became the recipient of one of the
Veteran Tiny Homes built by CIVC.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can reach out to
Hope on 5th via email at rhss2005th@gmail.com or call (217)
871-5144. The facility is located at 200 Fifth Street in
Lincoln. Turner said most of the time there is staff on duty,
but for security purposes the building is usually locked.
[Nila Smith]
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