How to Add a Story of Hope
Stories of Hope are personal stories from people whose lives have been touched by YouBelong's work.
Important: Use Posts, Not a Separate Section
Stories of Hope are managed through regular "Posts" with a special category.
Step 1: Navigate to Posts
- From the WordPress admin menu, click "Posts" then "Add New"
Step 2: Enter Story Title
- Enter the person's name or story title
- Example: "MUSA RECONNECTED TO FAMILY AFTER TWO YEARS IN MENTAL HOSPITAL"
Step 3: Add Story Date
- Scroll down to the "Story Details" section
- In the "Story Date" field, select the date this story was published or happened
Step 4: Add Story Content
- In the "Story Content" editor, write the full story
- Use paragraphs, headings, and formatting as needed
Step 5: Add Story Photos
- In the "Story Photos" field, click "Add to gallery"
- Upload or select images from the media library
- These will appear in a gallery on the story page
Step 6: Add Featured Image
- In the right sidebar, click "Set featured image"
- This image appears on the homepage and archive pages
- Recommended size: 1200 x 630 pixels
Step 7: Assign Category (CRITICAL)
- In the right sidebar, find the "Categories" section
- Check the box next to "Stories of Hope"
- If you don't see it, click the "Most Used" tab
- Uncheck any other categories (like "Uncategorized")
Step 8: Publish
- Click "Publish"
Where It Appears
- Homepage (Stories of Hope section)
- Stories of Hope archive page
- Individual story page with full content and photo gallery
Important Notes
- Stories will NOT appear on the homepage if the "Stories of Hope" category is not checked
- You can add multiple photos - they'll appear in a grid below the story