A Community Job Fair at New Hope Church: How You Can Be Part of It
Looking for work is one of the loneliest things a person does. You update the résumé. You apply. You wait. You hear nothing back, and then you do it again tomorrow.
On Tuesday, October 20, the Life Center Gym fills up with neighbors doing exactly that.
What it is
The Community Job Fair is part of a national movement — Better Jobs — facilitated by the nonprofit Better Together, which helps churches host job fairs built around dignity rather than paperwork. Our mission partner ECHO stands alongside them. Together they bring the employers who are hiring right now, the community resources, and the one-on-one job coaching.
What New Hope Church brings is the building and the welcome.
We did this in March, and 354 people came — almost entirely by word of mouth. At least one of them walked out with an interview the same morning.
If you're looking for work
Come. It's free, it's open to anyone, and you don't need to bring anything but yourself.
Tuesday, October 20 · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Life Center Gym, 213 N Knights Ave, Brandon
For employer lists and registration details, our partners keep those up to date at bettertogetherus.org/newhope, or you can text JOBS to (844) 987-3949.
If you're part of New Hope Church, here's how to help
This is where we need you. Not to run the job fair — our partners have that. To be the reason it feels like a welcome instead of a queue.
Pray with people. This is the real need. Sitting with someone in the middle of a hard month and praying with them is the whole job. No advice required, no expertise, no script. Just presence and the time it takes.
Help with hospitality. Water at the door, and something baked for the way out.
Bake something, or pray from where you are. A Tuesday morning doesn't work for everyone. These still count, and we need them.
Invite someone. You almost certainly know somebody who's out of work right now, or who's been quietly looking for months and hasn't said so. Tell them about October 20.
Sign up to serve
Sign up here: bit.ly/nhjobfairserve
The form covers job fairs all over Florida, so the first thing it asks is which one you're coming to. Choose:
10/20/2026 – Brandon, FL – New Hope Church
Then pick a role: Job Coach, Resume Help, Registration and entry survey, Storyteller, Hospitality, Exit survey, Greeter or floater, or Put me anywhere. Job Coach is the one they say they need most.
If you want to pray with people, email AJ instead. Praying with job seekers isn't one of the options on Better Together's form. Email AJ Rodriguez at aj@findnewhope.com and say you'd like to be on the prayer team. Same for anything else that doesn't fit their list.
Volunteer training
Whichever way you sign up, come to one of these:
Sunday, October 18 · 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Monday, October 19 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you sign up through the form, email AJ as well so she knows to expect you.