Lynda Sargent
Founder & President/CEO
Lynda Sargent was born and raised in the West End neighborhoods of Rock Island. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from St. Ambrose University.
She retired from her work as an Accountant with Unity Point Health at Trinity Rock Island in 2012 to focus on shepherding the vision the Lord has given her for Heart of Hope Ministries.
She is a devoted Servant of the Lord, and the Community in which she serves. She has been given a sincere and caring heart for those in need within our community.
She eagerly looks forward to what the Lord’s divine purpose has ahead for Heart of Hope Ministries.
She is the proud mother of two daughters.
Rosalind Burns
Chair, Board of Directors
Rosalind earned her BA degree in Political Science from Bradley University, and her Juris Doctor from Drake University School of Law.
She is a former legislative attorney for the Illinois General Assembly’s Legislative Reference Bureau and currently works as an attorney for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where she resides with her husband, James, and their Boxer puppy, Samson.
She was raised in Rock Island and shares the heart, soul, and vision of Heart of Hope for her hometown and the surrounding area.
Sue Kaiser Fritz
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Sue Kaiser began her career in Davenport, Iowa as an Accountant for a local CPA firm. She then worked in the Health Care Unit of John Deere. Sue retired in 2018 with more than 10 years in management at UnityPoint Health Trinity. Her last position was the Director of Project Management where she was involved in the $65 million dollar addition to the Rock Island Hospital Campus!
Sue loves the Quad Cities! This is where she raised her family and where her grandchildren call home! She served on the Board of Directors for Gilda’s Club in Davenport, Iowa for 13 years and is a dedicated supporter to many community organizations in the Quad Cities! She appreciates the Heart and Hope that Heart of Hope Outreach Ministry instills in the Quad Cities!
Meecheeca McNeal
Secretary, Board of Directors
Meecheeca is a faith-filled wife to her husband Melvin, and together they have three amazing daughters who are daily reminders of the goodness of God. She is also a Rock Island native who passionately believes in the vision of Heart of Hope, and celebrates the restoring agent that HOH has been to the community.
She holds a B.S. in Mass Communications from Illinois State University, and an M.S.Ed. in Counseling from Western Illinois University. She currently works as an Elementary School Counselor, and enjoys helping shape the hearts and minds of our most impressionable population: children.
Meecheeca’s greatest passion is sharing the Good News, the hope and love she has found in Jesus, with other people around her. Meecheeca enjoys the arts, and often encourages others in their relationships with God through creative writing, music and dance. She looks forward to sharing this same hope with many others.
Cartise Jones
Member, Board of Directors
Cartise fell in love with being of service when he was a young man in Chicago. Inspired at a church summer outreach, he quickly developed a deep passion for charitable work while feeding the homeless and assisting them with locating housing in the community. This resolve stuck with him through college, leading him to get his BA and become a substance abuse counselor, CADC. Cartise held Recovery Boss and Employee of the Month while employed as a substance abuse counselor. He also served on the Committee for Quad Cities Youth Conference, Tobacco Free QC Coalition, and volunteered as a coach for Dads Club.
Cartise dedicated his time with Rock Church of Atlanta outreach feeding and clothing the less fortunate. His interest is spending time with his family, basketball, music, reading, and exercise. Cartise's favorite quote is from Martin Luther King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” His heroes growing up were Harold Washington and Malcolm X.
He serves as a board member at HOH Ministries, where he believes the best way to define who you are is to lose yourself in the service of others. Cartise is happy spending his days positively changing the Quad Cities, one person at a time.
Bob Hotle
Member, Board of Directors
Bob was born in Moline and raised in Rock Island. He is an Augustana College graduate with a BA in Sociology. He said yes to Jesus when he was 27 and has strived to live out Mark 16:15-20.
After raising a family of 5 children and entering retirement, Bob has volunteered his time for over a year delivering food and toiletry items to the elderly and disabled for the Heart of Hope Food Pantry. Bob has been a faithful member of our team, and has a caring servant heart.
He LOVES to feed people, body and soul. He says "I have to fill the tummy first... to get at the soul.” Bob also works with teen boys through the Youth Hope Outreach Ministry in Moline.
Charea Houston
Member, Board of Directors
Charea was born and raised in Rock Island. She earned her Bachelors of Psychology from Illinois State University in 2001. She remained in the Bloomington-Normal area for several years, starting her career in social services at The Baby Fold, where she assisted youth who were engaged in a residential treatment facility.
Charea moved back to the Quad City area in 2008, where she continued working with at-risk youth at Family Resources, and then she became a substance abuse counselor for adults and assisted youth at an alternative school run by the Center for Drug and Alcohol Services. Charea earned her Master’s in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2011 while working full-time. Charea has experience working as a social worker in both Scott and Rock Island County, assisting with reuniting youth with their parents, or identifying an appropriate forever home for them. Charea is currently assisting families who are involved with DCFS to overcome their substance abuse concerns.
Charea wanted to be a professional bowler and computer programmer when she was growing up. God had other plans and took her down the road to assist people. Charea has a desire to help those individuals that are in need. She has a big heart, and wants to give back to the community in any way she can.
Liz Kantner
Member, Board of Directors
Liz has been a passionate educator for 19 years, dedicated to inspiring young people to reach their full potential. She has experience teaching in elementary through high school settings, including special education, ESL, alternative, and co-teaching. She specialized in trauma-informed practices, Adverse Childhood Experiences, culturally responsive teaching strategies, at-risk/homeless youth programming, and educational opportunities for teen parents.
Cellia Rodriguez
Office Manager
Cellia was the program director for a faith-based residential program that reached, rescued, and restored women from lifestyles of addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Cellia has served in full-time ministry for the last 4 1/2 years.
She is originally from Chicago, IL and is a graduate of the Chicago Dream Center. Growing up on the streets of Chicago, Cellia has developed a burning desire to help the lost and the hurting whatever the cost.
Troy Scott
Director of Programs
Troy worked for 29 years combined in Manufacturing and in Management in the Production Industry. In August 2022, Troy, and his family began volunteering at the weekly Heart of Hope food pantry. He took a leap of faith as he felt a calling to pursue an opportunity that would allow him to serve in the community on a full- time basis, and accepted the position of Director of Programs at Heart of Hope, seeking to be actively involved as Heart of Hope seeks to develop and implement new endeavors and further serve the community.
Troy grew up in and continues to live in the Quad City area with his wife, Heather, and one daughter. He has two adult children and one granddaughter.
Carl Jones
Food Pantry Coordinator
Carl does a fantastic job, especially in his deliveries to the elderly and disabled. He delivers more than food and toiletry items; he also delivers Love, Hope, and Healing to their doors every Friday.