Variety Draws Shoppers to Hope Chest Resale Store
"Don't ever throw anything away that could be useful, just bring it to us at the Hope Chest," said volunteer Donna Pope of the St. Ignace resale shop Friday, February 9. Volunteers at the store on Ferry Lane want the community to know that the shop stocked with quality clothing, housewares, and baby items, and everyone is welcome to shop there. The store, she said, is not just for needy families. Customers set the prices at the Hope Chest, as all sales are by donation. All proceeds fund charitable programs of Project Hope, including the St. Ignace Food Pantry. The store is a collaborative project of area churches.

The Hope Chest features two large rooms stocked with clothing. In the Baby Room, day managers May Balfour (from left), Connie Litzner, and Phyllis Massey show off some of the baby clothes awaiting new owners.

The Hope Chest is well organized and features a large room full of infant and child clothing, plus men's and women's clothing in all sizes, furniture, dishes, appliances, lamps, toys, books, and bedding. Ever-changing message boards in the hallway are used to list "needed items" and "available items" for people in the community.

"We will also take wheelchairs, crutches, and walkers, which are expensive items for people to buy," Mrs. Pope said. Families who have such unused items around the house are asked to bring them to the resale shop.

Hope Chest volunteers will be happy to pick up donations of large items, such as furniture and appliances, and arrangements for pick up can be made at the store. Volunteer E.J. LaDuke of St. Ignace is on hand nearly every day to pick up and deliver furniture.

Inventory at the Hope Chest is constantly changing, Mrs. Pope said, as people regularly bring donations in, and any items that don't readily sell are donated to thrift stores outside the area. Everything gets used by somebody, she said.

The Hope Chest is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations are accepted during open hours. The store is between Gateway Lanes bowling alley and Charters Cove.