As the holiday season begins, Donte Bates is focused on families who may struggle to afford the traditions that make the season feel special. Bates is co-founder and executive director of Love, Hope & Healing Inc., a West Palm Beach nonprofit that serves at-risk, underserved and underrepresented youth and families. The group’s work centers on wellness, mental health support, mentorship and life skills.
Bates said he sees families who cannot afford food or the gifts children expect at Christmas. He expects demand to rise this year, and said the organization is already seeing more people ask for resources before the holiday period has started.
Bates said his own past shapes the work. He spent two years in prison, he said, and now wants to steer young people away from the same path. The nonprofit’s website says he and co-founder Yolanda Bates grew up in underserved communities.
The group also works with parents. Bates said children who return to a harmful home environment often struggle to stay on track, so the organization tries to rebuild a support network around families. It has partnered with Palm Beach State College on summer programs covering skilled trades and personal development, and it has offered entrepreneurship classes for young men ages 14 to 18.
Volunteer Christopher Hepburn, CEO of a West Palm Beach branding and marketing agency, said he has helped at events, including a father-son grill challenge. The nonprofit now operates under the umbrella of United Way of Palm Beach County.
Love, Hope & Healing is looking for donations, volunteers and mentors. Bates urged struggling families to keep hope alive, saying help is coming.
