Readers Care Fund: Hope Chest an arm of Project Hope's mission

Tim Newcomb
Tribune assistant editor

Fanny Van Ry and Barb Camfferman, both of Lynden, volunteer at Project Hope's Hope Chest second-hand clothing store on Front Street on Monday.

LYNDEN -- Project Hope is about more than just food.
  The local food bank also helps those in need with heating bill payments and even clothing needs through The Hope Chest outlet at 509 1/2 Front St.
  Project Hope and the Ferndale Food Bank are recipients of the 2008 Readers Care Fund sponsored by the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record-Journal.
  The Hope Chest serves a two-fold purpose for Project Hope. Not only do the proceeds from the sale of second-hand clothes and household items go directly to Project Hope’s general fund, but recipients of Project Hope’s services are also given vouchers to use for free clothing from The Hope Chest.
  Julia Stuurmans, one of the local volunteers who helps manage the outlet, said that supporting the mission of Project Hope is the whole reason that roughly 40 people volunteer to run the operation.
  The store takes donations from the community, everything from kids’ to adults’ clothing right on into small household wares.
  In fact, Stuurmans said, The Hope Chest welcomes all donations and tries to find a good use for any item it receives.
  Jim Grennell, director of Project Hope, said that having a place to send people for clothing goes hand-in-hand with the rest of the food bank’s services.
  “We can give people vouchers, so no money needs to be exchanged,” he said. “It is really an extension of the office here (on B.C. Avenue). It works great.
  “It is a perfect fit,” Grennell added. “When people need food, they could probably use clothes too. Food and clothes become second fiddle to bills.”
  He said that recipients of Project Hope’s services are most in need of pants, shoes, shirts and jackets.
  And, surprisingly, kitchen utensils are also in high demand.
  Stuurmans said that children’s clothing is a popular item for people buying the merchandise.
  The Hope Chest, which was born out of a closet in a local church, has continued to grow over the years.
  Prices are kept low -- roughly 35 percent less than similar thrift stores -- and all proceeds are returned to the Project Hope general fund, which continues to supply food and necessary cash assistance to local neighbors in need.
  The Front Street outlet is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
  Readers can make cash, check or credit card donations to the Readers Care Fund. In cooperation with the Whatcom Community Foundation, all of the money raised will be given to the two local aid organizations. The Tribune will pay all the administrative costs of the effort.
  The goal this year is to raise $10,000. And the Tribune and Record-Journal are already a step toward that since the fund has received a $2,500 matching grant from the Eleanor and Henry Jansen Foundation.
  The first $2,500 donated by readers will be matched dollar for dollar by the foundation, in essence doubling the readers’ gifts.
  A donation form is on page A2.
  E-mail Tim Newcomb at tim@lyndentribune.com.