With a focus on supporting underserved children, proceeds from the stores help fund programs including feeding programs, counseling centers and Camp Lemonade, Cy-Hope Community Outreach Coordinator Gayla Peterek said.
About the program
Cy-Hope’s mission is to bring communities together to empower young individuals to partake in their community.
“So basically, it's helping kids that may be struggling or maybe just don't have opportunities that they can afford otherwise,” Peterek said.
Through several Cy-Hope programs, the nonprofit gives children access to opportunities such as mentorship and education.
“The mission is to make lives better for kids. It started in Cypress after a sermon that said, ‘If you were to die tomorrow, would your community miss you? How much do you impact your own community?’” Peterek said. “So it's been in Cypress for 10 years already, but then after Hurricane Harvey and COVID, it was very clear that the reach needed to be further.”
Through the recent Cy-Hope expansion to Waller and Katy Hope Chest location, Peterek said Cy-Hope can now reach children in those areas.
- Mentoring: This program provides support to middle and high school students through small group discussions with other students and a mentor coach.
- Backpack program: To prevent childhood hunger, the program provides food for food-insecure children each weekend.
- Camp Lemonade: This Christian-based summer camp is designed for underserved youth and includes a five-day experience at Stone Creek Ranch in New Ulm.
- Counseling Center: Cy-Hope provides counseling services from skilled counselors tailored to individual needs. Services include play therapy, behavioral therapy, and family counseling for children and adults.
- Dierker’s Champs: Under the direction of former Houston Astros All-Star pitcher, this program gives students the opportunity to play baseball in a positive environment.
- Hope Centers: Community centers offer a place where kids can come after school and during the summers to work on tutoring, learn life skills, and receive mentoring.
- Devine Virtuosos: This program helps enrich students' lives through fine arts by increasing access to supplemental music instruction.
- Providing Opportunities Program: Cy-Hope helps cover fees for students taking college credit courses in middle and high school or pursuing vocational certifications through career and technology education classes.
Operated by a small staff and volunteers, Peterek said The Hope Chest needs further assistance due to Cy-Hope’s expansion and recent storm damages. The storms affected both resale market locations with lost donations and warehouse damage.
Individuals can volunteer a minimum of three hours per week, donate items to the store or simply shop at The Hope Chest.
Although The Hope Chest focuses on the quality of merchandise sold including a selection of designer clothing, home decor and furniture, The Hope Chest accepts donations in all conditions.
Merchandise that does not meet quality standards are recycled to a company Cy-Hope collaborates with in exchange for funds provided according to the merchandise weight.
At The Hope Chest, customers can find:
- Women’s clothing
- Men’s clothing
- Baby clothing
- Books
- Jewelry
- Handbags
- Backpacks
- Home decor
- Seasonal items
- Toiletry and sanitation products
Cy-Hope’s annual report revealed The Hope Chest had $1.4 million in net sales in 2023 and 172 active volunteers per month.
“We've had a lot of success at the Cypress store, and we are starting to have a lot of regulars at both stores but it just feels like there's still so much community around us that we haven’t met yet,” Peterek said.
The Hope Chest encourages community engagement by holding events such as blood drives and by offering senior discounts, teacher discounts and discounts on certain items throughout the month.
“Hopefully we create a good shopping environment that the people of the community enjoy, but also knowing that when you're shopping here, you're actually helping somebody that could use a little help,” Peterek said.
- 6545 Stockdick School Road, Katy
- 12015 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress
- www.cy-hope.org
