RICHMOND, Ky. (LEX 18) — The HOOD program, also known as the House of Opportunities and Dreams, has three main pillars:

Youth mentoring, community support for families and at-risk youth, and volunteer village fundraising.

Every step in the HOOD program is an accumulation of David Townsend’s life experiences.

“The aha moment was kind of from that movie ‘Field of Dreams,’ if you build it, they will come,” Townsend said.

Townsend created a program to educate at-risk youth and young adults.

“I learned about the ability to raise money by doing concessions, so I got some kids to help me do concessions and one thing led to another,” noted Townsend.

Townsend has been a teacher at Madison Middle School for the past four years. He continues to work as a special education teacher and through the Hood program has raised nearly $350,000 since it started in 2014. He says he tackled it with a servant’s heart after 25 years in the military.

“I went into social work. You have this burning desire to want to do more to try to help your community, to help the world,” Townsend said.

Townsend shares the same passion for community service with a HOOD director who has led trips abroad with children in the program for the past several years.

“We’re in Central Kentucky, and so just seeing the perspective beyond Richmond and Madison County provides so much experience for these kids,” Amber Snell said.

Jeremy Cain-Hoover and Raysha Walker reflect on their time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland by turning the pages of a book of travel photos.

“Oh my god that trip was amazing and it was my first trip ever…first plane ride, first everything and it changed my life forever. I see the world
different,” Walker said.

“It definitely influenced my life to see how America is different from other countries,” Cain-Hoover added.

Serenity Allen and Rose Snell visited Paris and London.

“I’m ready to go somewhere else again. I’m ready to travel the world,” said Rose Snell.

“Everything about anywhere is unique, and that’s what I really enjoy experiencing,” noted Allen.

Booth work experience at the UK Games helped raise money to build a group home for HOOD in Broadhead.

“Kids want someone positive around them and they want something positive to do, and if you provide those things, they’re willing to come back. If we can provide those things in their lives, then maybe it will take the place of some of them. negative things they don’t need,” Townsend said.

They gain such skills and the bond Townsend creates, leaving a lasting impression.

The Townsend program also continues to award scholarships while donating gifts and coats to children at Christmas.