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.
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Meecheeca McNeal
Chair, Board of Directors
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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.
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Rosalind Burns
Secretary, 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.
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Sue Kaiser Fritz
Treasurer, Board of Directors
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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!
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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!
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Bob Hotle
Member, Board of Directors
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Michael Bryant
Member, Board of Directors
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Michael was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He served three years in the United States Army, before moving to the Quad Cities. He served as a Deacon for 16 years at the Word Church in Rock Island, which is now located in East Moline. During that time he founded a mentoring program for youth in the west end neighborhoods of Rock Island. The program operated out of the Rock Island Academy Elementary School. During the 13 years he worked with these young people, the program grew and touched the lives of many. He also was the head coach for the Quad City Wolfpack minor league football team. Michael has served as a faithful volunteer at Heart of Hope Ministries for over two years. Michael and his wife, Tammy, reside in Rock Island.
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Neil Ealy
Member, Board of Directors
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Neil joined the Heart of Hope Ministries Team as a volunteer in the summer of 2022. He is a retired salesman and worked with local hardware stores. Neil has been faithful in helping with the weekly preparation for the Thursday evening Food Pantry. Neil represented Heart of Hope at the United Way informational presentation at John Deere Davenport Works, and the Modern Woodmen Golf Fundraiser for us. He was a GREAT help with our first Dinner Gala Fundraiser. He started with the planning committee in the beginning and stayed with the planning up until the date of the event. He solicited sponsorships on our behalf, and Neil and his wife, donated a wonderful silent auction basket, along with filling a table with 8 other guests! We welcome Neil to our Heart of Hope Ministries our team!
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Cynthia Green
Member, Board of Directors
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Cynthia Green is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She has over 20 years of experience in private practice at South Park Psychology. She is a retired adjunct faculty with 22 years of service from Black Hawk College. Cynthia is a licensed and ordained Evangelist with 22 years of ministry service as a jail chaplain at Rock Island County, Scott County jails and East Moline Correctional Facilities. She provides mental health workshops, conferences, retreats, and presentations throughout the Quad Cities. She has served on many community non-profit boards, committees and organizations including:
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Chair of Moline’s Human Rights Commission
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United Way board member
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) board member
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President of Christian Care Board
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NAACP member of executive committee, and chair of the health committee.
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Community Caring Conference (CCC) board member
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Ellen Hogbin
Member, Board of Directors
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Ellen Hogbin was born and raised in a Chicago suburb, Berwyn. She graduated Augustana College in 1976 and was hired at Deere and Company, Export Order Department in May, 1977. This department handled all the shipments from the US and Canada. After working in Invoicing and Transportation, she got her Computer Program Degree at St.. Ambrose, and began her career in systems. Ellen retired after more than 37 years in Jan, 2015.
Ellen enjoys chauffeuring her grandchildren and is active in her church congregation where she currently serves on the Church Council, directs the Church Choir, a member of the Worship & Music, Finance, and Friendly Visitors Committees .She also directs CASI’s Golden Tones Choral.
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David Staples
Member, Board of Directors
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David Staples, a Chicago native, endured 29 years of wrongful incarceration before being exonerated by the Illinois Innocence Project. While incarcerated, he became a member of Augustana's Prison Education Program. After his release, he continued pursuing his education on campus at Augustana, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology.
As the first resident of the Giving Hope House and now a board member of APEP, David is currently in graduate school at Western Illinois University. Balancing two part-time jobs, he serves as the Ambassador for the Rock Island Downtown Alliance and a Community Engagement Advocate for the John Howard Association, working passionately toward prison reform and community justice.
David also volunteers with Lives of Legacy, teaching the gospel to incarcerated youth every Monday at the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center.
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Cellia Rodriguez
Director of Operations and Outreach Coordinator
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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.
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Troy Scott
Food Pantry Coordinator and Project Manager
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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.
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Samantha Iron Shield
Administrative Assistant
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Samantha was born and raised in Davenport, IA, and resided in her tribe from 2015-2020, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, located in North Dakota. She is passionate about her education, graduating from Scott Community College and earning her AA degree in Business Administration. Samantha is still actively pursuing her education, hoping to be a model to her children. She is devoted to her family and loved ones.
Samantha joined the Heart of Hope Ministries team in September of 2023 and is proud to be a part of the team. Excited about this new chapter in her life, Samantha is happy to be a part of the mission to serve and support the community.
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