Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Store: A Place For Hope

As we begin a new year, the team at the Wilshire Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Store looks for ways in which we can begin to feel anew. From the simple act of opening our windows and letting the new year blow in with fresh air breezes. To perhaps the larger undertaking of starting to look within the depths of our closets and garages for potential items to donate to make space for the new year. Or maybe we’ve been thinking about where outside of our homes we might feel safe for a short outing or friendly visit.

The Wilshire Hope Chest Thrift Store has been a place of hope, a resource in our community for those seeking a friendly face and a worthy cause to support and donate our cherished items to.

One of things that we are the most grateful for during January, and are continually surprised by, is the generosity of our donors in the beginning of the year.

“Typically, after Christmas—everyone is cleaning up and organizing. We always say after Christmas we’ll catch our breath, but that’s just of course never the case.”– Jenann McLennan, Hope Chest Thrift Store Manager.

We are so grateful to benefit from your donations. Every gift of gently used goods gives us hope about the future; it is because of you that we can support our hospice services through sales at the store and with that sustain our organization’s ability to persevere during these challenging times.

When you visit us now you will experience the thoughtful protocols and systems that have sustained our ability to remain open. 

Currently, our Hope Chest store is maintained by a small team of people, both staff and volunteers, that are committed to keeping each other, as well as our customers, safe. From item pricers, to greeters, to cashiers—each element of the store has been streamlined as best as it can be. Despite the shorter hours open, the store has been just as busy. We miss all the volunteers and customers that have chosen to not come in at this time, but we look forward to welcoming each of you back when the time is right.

“The three day a week system has worked well for us—people anticipate it and we’re way busier on those days than we would normally be. It’s amazing how much we can do with less.” – Jenann McLennan.

“Regular customers are still coming in and thank us for being so safe. It feels great to know that they feel safe in our store. They thank us for being open and for having good protocols in place—we get that a lot.”– Joelle Orton-Cartnal.

Our staff and volunteers are grateful for everyone who are following our guidelines and wearing masks. We want to be safe for you.

As we embark on the journey of this new year, we are honored to be a place of hope for our community. We are grateful for our customers that have become friends and the new visitors that comes to shop and support hospice with their purchases. Every donation we receive comes with a story and it touches our hearts to hear each of them. Your visits and your donations give us hope for the future.

If you are organizing your home and have things you’d wish to donate to the Hope Chest, please give us a call at (805) 545-5955. If you are in need of a friendly, safe place with someone to say hello to, please stop by and browse our store. We are here for you.

“This store has really been a source of joy and hope in the community. What we’re doing really matters.”

Happy New Year from all of us at the Hope Chest!

To keep up-to-date with all things Hope Chest, give us a visit our website, give us a call at (805) 545-5955, or follow us on Instagram.