Hope in Our Community: From the Desk of Our CEO
Recently, our main thrift store at House of Hope, affectionately known as the Hope Shop, received some incredible and well-deserved accolades. According to the online publication Family Destinations Guide, the Hope Shop is the tenth best thrift store in the entire state of Florida. “This Stuart gem,” the Guide states, “has mastered the art of the upscale thrift experience without the upscale prices.”
Family Destination Guide highlighted the inviting storefront at the Hope Shop, a clothing section that feels “curated” rather than collected, furniture that often looks barely used, housewares displayed with artistry, and the friendly atmosphere “that encourages browsing and discovery, making it easy to lose track of time as you examine potential treasures.”
For House of Hope and the community we serve, though, the Hope Shop and our two other thrift stores in Hobe Sound and Indiantown are so much more. Our thrift store customers find great deals every day that help them to save money while they support our organization. Sales are a key contributor to House of Hope’s revenue, generating nearly 20% of the funds needed each year to provide programs and services that help to empower residents to overcome hunger and hardship.
Our thrift stores are also the base for vital programs and services for our clients and partners. Last year our Clothes Closet program distributed nearly 190,000 items of clothing, housewares, linens, furniture and appliances, all at no cost to those we serve. Job seekers and newly employed individuals are able to access professional attire to help them achieve their career goals. We share books with several local teachers and other nonprofit organizations that will get them into the hands of children and adults to encourage reading. We provide no cost access to medical equipment such as crutches, canes, wheel chairs, shower seats and other items as available. The stores are also the site of job training for House of Hope clients.
The wonderful recognition and amazing accomplishments of the Hope Shop and all of our thrift stores are the result of the hard work and dedication of an incredible team of staff and volunteers. Of course, none of it would be possible without the generous support of our community and all of the items, big and small, that are donated every day.
Currently, House of Hope is reaching nearly 12,000 people each month with direct services, and more than 18,000 people through our food bank partners. More than 30,000 of our neighbors that need us most have access to food and other basic needs, enrichment programs, nutrition education and more. To learn more about how you may access or support our programs and services, including our thrift stores, please visit us at www.hohmartin.org. Thank you for helping to grow hope in our community.
