The Hope Chest – More than a Resale Shop!
Peace, hope, family and community are all words that may come to mind when thinking of The Hope Chest. The upscale resale shop in Weatherford is a program of Center of Hope. Since June of 2014, The Hope Chest has offered everything from furniture, home décor, and seasonal items to clothing, books and accessories. However, it’s not only the quality items and shopping experience that make The Hope Chest special. It has become to many a place for connecting, a place to call family, and a place where they know they are a part of a greater purpose.
Danell Phillips oversees The Hope Chest alongside her fun group of associates and volunteers. Pictured below left to right are Kim Gifford, Teresa Wilson, Heidi Rodosta, Billie Rumsey, Danell Phillips, Donna Powell and Pat Bebee.
For regular shopper, Pam, The Hope Chest has been a place of refuge where she has found peace and community, especially over the past year. Pam was diagnosed with cancer in late 2017. Not only was she about to enter into heavy treatments of chemo, she and her husband would also soon face unforeseen challenges, leaving them to care for their three grandchildren. In the midst of her trials, the Lord comforted Pam with Psalm 23, the fellowship she found from her prayer partners and her friends at The Hope Chest. She found community at The Hope Chest and encourages others to visit the store as well.
Not only has The Hope Chest been a place for Pam to find rest from her trials, it also has become a safe place to grow and thrive for her grandson, Matthew. Being more timid and reserved, comfortably interacting in a social setting hasn’t come easy for Matthew. Pam reached out to see if Matthew could volunteer during the summer. Matthew began working 3 days a week and continues today on weekends, helping with organizing, hanging clothes, and dusting. The staff and volunteers have cared for and trained Matthew and have seen him grow tremendously in social skills, setting boundaries, respecting supervision and authority and learning new work skills. Even Matthew’s brother and sister love to pay regular visits to the store with Pam. The Hope Chest truly is a place of family between workers and customers, and Pam and her family have experienced the blessing of it firsthand.
Pictured below are Pam (right) with her grandson, Matthew, at The Hope Chest.
The staff at The Hope Chest continue to seek to be a blessing to their customers, the community and their ministry partners. All store proceeds go directly to Center of Hope to support programs that equip and empower people to live a successful, joy-filled life. The purpose of The Hope Chest is to offer a 6-month paid job training program for individuals who have completed the Center’s Jobs for Life course. The program gives the intern the opportunity to work with store staff to improve core work skills and remain connected to their life coach and classes at the Center.
The Hope Chest regularly supports and gives donated items not sold at the store to other ministries within the community. School supplies are donated to school drives, comforters to homeless ministries, stuffed animals to Vacation Bible School ministries, toiletries to upcoming mission trips, worn blankets and towels to animal shelters, clothes to specific local organizations and the list continues. See below for more of The Hope Chest’s community partnerships.
GIVING FORWARD
The Hope Chest distributes to the following community partnerships!
- Everything A – Z Foster Care Closet – Children’s furniture and toys
- Sweet Send Aways – Wedding dresses to create gowns for stillborn or young babies and children who have passed away
- Neighbor Helping Neighbor (Church of Christ)- Clothing (that has been checked for quality), adult diapers, new socks and underwear
- Lions Club – Prescription eyeglasses
- Santa Fe Baptist Vacation Bible School – Stuffed animals
- Camp Fire – Toys and games for Summer Camp & Day Care
- Children’s books for local teachers to have in the classroom to give to students
- Toiletries and simple musical instruments for nursing home residents
- Musical instruments for local High school band (reconditioned by a music company prior for students that are not able to afford them)
- Backpacks for two backpack ministries to fill for the homeless
- Coats and comforters for the homeless
- Cell phones refurbished for the military
Visit the store at 1020 Fort Worth HWY, Weatherford, TX 76086. Shopping and donation hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am-6pm, Wednesdays from 10am-5pm and Saturdays from 10am-4pm. For donation guidelines, visit www.thehopechestresale.com.
The store is updated with new items each day along with weekly sales. You can find out more at www.thehopechestresale.com, by following along on Facebook (@TheHopeChestWeatherford) and Instagram (@thehopechestresale) or by calling the store at 817-757-4410. Visit The Hope Chest today, shop for a greater purpose and become part of the family!
